Skiing (nordic skiing and freestyle skiing)

Nordic skiing includes cross-country skiing, cross-country relays, the Nordic combined, ski jumping and biathlon. The term “Nordic” refers to northern Europe, especially Norway, Sweden and Finland where cross-country skiing was a practical means of travel in winter. Nordic competitions were the main event of the first Winter Olympic Games held in 1924.

The basic cross-country movement is the “classic” diagonal stride that resembles jogging on skis. The skate is another movement in cross-country skiing which is much faster than the diagonal stride. To climb extremely steep hills, cross-country skiers often use a movement called a herringbone. Cross-country races are contested over 7.5, 15, 30, 50 km for men and 3, 5, 10, 30 km for women. Cross-country relays are team competitions in which every member of the team races an equal distance. They are 4x10 km for men and 4x5 km for women.

The Nordic combined normally consists of 15 km cross-country race and ski jumping. The competitors jump first and then enter the cross-country race with the time interval according to their jumping result. The biathlon combines cross-country racing and rifle-shooting. The skiers must shoot at the targets from the standing and prone (lying down) positions and are penalized for every miss. The competitions are 10, 12.5, 15 and 20 km and 4x7.5 km relay for men and 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 km and 4x6 km relay for women.

Ski jumping is a highly specialized form of skiing in which a skier slides down a steep hill and flies off a platform at the end. Jumpers are evaluated for both the length of their jump and their jumping style.

Freestyle skiing is a form of skiing in which skiers perform stunts. There are two types of freestyle skiing: aerial and mogul. Aerial skiing resembles diving performed on skis. Aerial skiers ski down and leap off a steep hill, performing spins, flips, and other manoeuvres before landing. Mogul takes place on a steep slope with many moguls and two small jumping hills where skiers try to ski quickly down a course while performing jumps and acrobatic maneuvers.

All international amateur skiing competitions are governed by the International Skiing Federation (FIS). Skiing equipment generally includes skis with bindings, ski boots and ski poles, but the poles are not used for ski jumping and aerial.

II. Give an outline of the text.

III. Answer the questions to the text.

1. What is Nordic skiing and what is its name origin?

2. What are Nordic skiing events?

3. What is freestyle skiing?

4. What are two types of freestyle skiing?

5. What organization is the governing body of the international skiing?

6. What does basic skiing equipment consist of?

7. What Olympic champions and prize-winners of skiing events do you know?

IV. Match the following phrases to make sentences

1. All Skiing Federation 2. Aerial skiing resembles diving performed on 3. The skate is another movement in 4. Cross-country relays are 5. A skier slides down 6. The poles are not used for 7. Every member of the team races 8. Jumpers are evaluated for 9. Mogul takes place on

A. team competitions B. ski jumping and aerial C. a steep hill D. an equal distance E. a steep slope F. the length of their jump G. skis H. cross-country skiing I. the International Skiing Federation

V. Say whether these statements are true or false.

1. Nordic skiing includes slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom, parallel slalom and downhill.

2. Skiing equipment generally including skis with bindings, ski boots and ski poles are used for all skiing types.

3. Aerial skiers ski down and leap off a steep hill.

4. The skiing competitions are governed by the International Swimming Federation.

5. In ski jumping a skier leaps off a steep hill, performing spins, flips, and other manoeuvres.

TEXT 8

Vocabulary