Alpine Skiing: for Laymen and Pioneers

Our Ski season is officially over ;..o(
Of course, you can always go to a glacial region at an altitude of 10,000 feet where you can ski year-round, but it is a completely different experience: mostly yellow, slushy snow, and gals skiing in bikinis...

My daughter and I took ample advantage of our season pass at Welch Village, MN. And don't laugh, even Minnesota has decent ski resorts, so don't hesitate to bring you skis on your next visit! Take advantage of our six months of snow on the ground ;o)

In the pictures you can see me racing against the clock in Vail, Colorado, during the 1999 World Championships (no, I was not a participant). The Giant Slalom is my specialty.

What is alpine skiing all about?
Hey, you're risking your life out there every time ;o)

I love the speed rush. My daughter and I race 30 to 50 mph down those hills. You have to adapt to ever changing snow and weather conditions, but mostly to the dangerous traffic on the hills. There are people of all shapes and skills out there: some don't know at all what they're doing, some know it too well and think they own the mountain. It's a great challenge to survive the day (and night under the lights)!

We own our equipment. But all ski resorts offer rentals for you to try it out. Many offer free introductory lessons and other programs. Learning to ride the ski lifts isn't that hard either. And you start on the slopes that are marked with a green circle, which are the easiest. Then you work your way up to the blue and black runs (reversed pun not intended; see the sidebar for the three shapes). My daughter (10) can go down many of the black ones after only one year of skiing. Must be in her blood...

But now let's talk a little about skiing history:

Matthias Zdarsky
(1856-1940)

The Austrian ski pioneer
demonstrates his
breaking technique
(around 1900)

He was know as
"the father of
alpine skiing"

The oldest ski is about 4500 years old, was found in Sweden, and was made out of wood with stone tools.
But alpine ski racing was only made possible by the innovations of before mentioned Matthias Zdarsky. He developed the Lilienfelder Ski Binding (1896), which was the first binding to hold the foot in a stable position. In the same year, Zdarsky published his first revolutionary book, called "Alpine Skiing Technique." A few years later he founded the first official ski club. Finally, in 1905, he hosted the very first ski slalom race. It took place in Lilienfeld, Austria, on a mountain called Muckenkogel.

Across the finish line going 34 mph!
I hope I ignited your interest in alpine skiing. Go out there, give it a try. But stay away from those st**** snowboards. That is a useless and dangerous invention, only for those crazy hotdoggers! In the old tradition you should use one ski for each foot. I also don't recommend those new short skis. The length of your skis should be about the same as your height.

Have fun, dress warm, and enjoy a hot drink and a sauna afterwards! Ski heil!

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