Editing Ski (section)

==Types==

[[File:SkiCollection.jpg|thumb|Four groups of different ski types, from left to right: {{olist
    |Non-sidecut: cross-country, telemark and mountaineering
    |Parabolic
    |Twin-tip
    |Powder
}}]]

In the [[history of skiing]] many types of skis have been developed, designed for different needs, of which the following is a selection.

===Alpine===
Alpine skis, also called downhill skis, are skis designed specifically for lift-assisted resort runs.
Ski design has evolved enormously since the beginnings of the modern sport in mid-19th-century Norway. Modern skis typically have steel edges, camber, side cut, and possibly reverse camber. During the 1990s side cut became more pronounced to make it easier to carve turns. Alpine skis typically have fixed-heel bindings. Specialised types of alpine skis exist for certain uses, including [[twin-tip ski]]s for [[freestyle skiing]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.silvretta.de/products.php?chid=7&m=4&lang=uk&sid=81c...96948316299d598c9455587c6&prid=13&ac=det |title=Silvretta |publisher=Silvretta.de |access-date=2011-10-25 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Slalom skiing|slalom]] skis, [[Giant slalom|GS]] skis, powder skis, [[Telemark skiing|telemark skis]] and [[monoski]]s.<ref name="ski types">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rei.com/blog/snowsports/understanding-the-different-types-of-skiing |website=www.rei.com|title=Understanding the Different types of Skiing|access-date=2021-02-21}}</ref>

The following table shows different kinds of alpine ski types and their uses within a downhill skiing context.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page- Camelback Alpine and Snowboard Teams |url=https://www.pasef.org/equipment |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Camelback Ski and Snowboard Teams |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harari |first=Thomas |date=2023-12-21 |title=The Different Types of Skis Explained |url=https://www.curated.com/journal/20000/a-guide-to-the-different-kinds-of-skis |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Curated}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Choose Downhill Skis |url=https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/downhill-skis.html |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=REI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Historique du Monoski – Association Française de Monoski |url=https://monoski-france.com/historique-du-monoski/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-07-18 |title=Winter Olympics 2022: Will telemark skiing make its debut in Beijing? |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/44860343 |access-date=2024-02-22 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|Type
|Design
|Description
|-
|Twin-tip
|[[File:Parkski.jpg|center|thumb]]
|Alpine ski designed for recreational skiing. The ski has a wide and similarly wide and tilted up tail, which allows landings where the skier is facing backwards, making it suitable for a [[terrain park]], or attempting features such as boxes, rails, or jumps.
|-
|Slalom
|[[File:Dalibor_Samsal_Spital_am_Semmering_2008.jpg|center|thumb]]
|Alpine ski designed for racing [[Slalom skiing|slalom]] with a narrow midsection, compared with the tip and tail, allowing the short turn radius necessary where gates are close to one another.
|-
|GS
|[[File:PC18_D5_GS_730.jpg|center|thumb]]
|Alpine ski designed for racing [[giant slalom]] with a narrow midsection, compared with the tip and tail, allowing the turn radius necessary where gates are spaced further apart than in slalom. These skis are commensurately longer and wider in the midsection than slalom skis.
|-
|Powder
|[[File:Modern_powder_skis.JPG|center|thumb|211x211px]]
|Alpine ski designed for recreational use with a wide waist area that allows for higher [[buoyancy]] on low-density powder snow by reducing ski pressure on the snow surface.
|-
|Telemark
|[[File:Telemark_competition_gate.png|center|thumb]]
|Telemark skis are generally used for [[telemark skiing]], which is described as a mix of alpine, ski-jump, and cross country skiing forms. The skis themselves are similar to regular skis, although they are typically made lighter for mobility. The main difference is in the binding rather than the ski itself, where the toe of the boot is attached to the ski, with the heel being free to move.
|-
|Monoski
|[[File:Monoski.JPG|center|thumb|229x229px]]
|The monoski is a type of ski designed with the idea of a pair of skis turned into a single piece. The board is designed to have two boots kept side by side, with the skier facing forward down the mountain. The board itself is very similar in design to a [[snowboard]], with the idea of two feet on the same part. Although in comparison the monoski has a wider turnt up tip and is far heavier than a snowboard, with bindings much more similar to that of skis.
|}

===Backcountry===
Backcountry skiing, also known as off-piste skiing, is any form of skiing done outside of ski area boundaries. Most of the time this type of skiing is done with [[Ski touring|alpine touring skis]], or telemark gear, where skiers take advantage of climbing skins and a detachable heel, to ski uphill. When the skier reaches the top of the area they want to ski down, they take off the climbing skins and make the necessary preparations to ski back down. Backcountry terrain can also be accessed with standard alpine equipment by riding a lift uphill at a ski resort and then leaving the resort boundary. However, this is more commonly known as sidecountry because of its immediate access from a ski lift.<ref name="ski types"/>

===Nordic===
In Nordic skiing the skier is not reliant on ski lifts to get up hills, and so skis and boots tend to be lighter, with a free heel to facilitate walking. Styles of Nordic skiing equipment include:
* [[Cross-country skiing|Cross-country]] [[Cross-country skiing#Skis|skis]] are light and narrow, with a slight [[sidecut]]. Three binding systems are popular: [[Rottefella]]'s NNN, Salomon's SNS profil, and SNS pilot. Ski bases are waxed to reduce friction during forward motion, and [[Ski wax#Grip wax|kick wax]] can also be applied for grip. Some waxless models have patterns on the bottom to avoid the necessity of grip waxing for classic technique.
* Skating skis are shorter than classic skis and do not need grip wax. The skating technique is used in [[biathlon]]s.
* [[Ski jumping]] skis are long and wide.
* [[Roller skiing|Roller skis]] have wheels for use on dry pavement, in the absence of snow.