History Of Downhill Skiing

The history of downhill skiing probably extends back further than you think. Also known as Alpine skiing, downhill skiing only recently became a form of recreational entertainment. Before then, downhill skiing was only used as a method of transportation. It’s estimated that this form of skiing has only been used for recreation for the past 100 years.

During the 1920s there was a huge turning point in the world of skiing as recreation. During this decade, European countries began to establish resorts for downhill skiing. Austria and Switzerland also developed ski resorts. During this decade, the Winter Olympics began to host Nordic events.

The sport continued to grow, and in 1932 a government body that regulates the world of skiing was formed. This was the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS). A couple years later, the Olympic Games finally introduced Alpine ski racing in 1936 in Germany. Until that time, only Nordic skiing events were held in the Olympics.

One reason the sport grew so tremendously in the 1920s and 1930s was because long treks uphill were no longer necessary. Cable cars were developed to carry skiers to the top of mountains. With the lack of physical exertion needed to climb the mountain all the time, the sport become more and more appealing. While the question of who exactly invented these much-appreciated cable cars is debated, it’s typically considered to have been invented by the Europeans.

After this invention was able to not only carry skiers uphill but back downhill as well, downhill skiing really took off. In 1960 the Alpine ski events were televised for the first time during the Olympics in California. In 1981, the world of downhill skiing changed again, when newer, more modern cable cars were installed in Colorado.

While the history of downhill skiing doesn’t extend far in the form of recreation, it has been used for transportation for many decades. It’s estimated it has been used as a form of transportation since 3000 B.C. As the world continues to grow and invent new things, the sport is certain to change again, and those changes are expected to bring in another wave of increased popularity.

Resources:

Skiing Heritage

The Official Website of the Olympic Movement