WINTER SPORTS GUIDE > SKIING
It’s coming round again — sports lovers are dreaming of heading for the finest snowy peeks the world has to offer. Over the next few pages we take a look at the treasures to be found in Canada, France and Norway. Better still, we pick the best gear and clothing so you’re kitted out in all this year’s must- have fashion accessories. First up, James Smart talks about why skiing — pushed aside of late by the young gunslinger that is snowboarding — is still darn good fun.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH TISO AND THE NORTH FACE
kiing has had a rough ride over the last 2()
years. with snowboarding rattling its way
from l’ringe proposition to mainstream sport. You can see why: it's quick to learn (as long as you don‘t mind l‘alling over a fair bit) and rather hip. It has the sheen of novelty and a strong association with skatelmarding‘s underground cool. Advertisers love its outlaw chic. its youth appeal and the fact that its practitioners need lots of (usually highly branded) gear to do their thing.
Therein lies the rub — or. at least. one ol‘ them. Whether you‘re skiing or riding. you‘re likely to be doing it on a designated piste or snow park. or a part of oil-piste that the resort managers -— through their positioning of barriers. lifts and warning signs — tacitly permit access to. And you're likely to be doing it in and on gear produced in bulk by large companies. Snowboarding‘s rebellious image is all very well. but in reality this rapidly maturing sport is no more edgy than its more established counterpart.
It does have its advantages: it‘s easier on a board to land jumps and pull off grinds. Boarders also have the edge when it comes to oil-piste: boards lloat far more easily on powder than skis. while digging your edge in on even the most precipitous slopes should not be underestimated.
Snowboarding. with its jumps and its oil-piste.
revolutionised snow sports. giving a shot of
youthful vitality to an activity dominated by dayglo jumpsuits and middle managers. It‘s helped make skiing a better sport. more open to
new ideas and technology. The development of
increasingly curved skis (or carvers) means even
Mia
www.tiso.com
average skiers can lig/ag at speed. w hilc broader skis have made powder more approachable.
()n piste. ol' course. skiers have a distinct head start. They can get oll lil‘ts without looking idiotic (and can take button tows all day without developing bow legs and burning ankles) and they can go very last indeed. liven the best boarders need to check their speed and change their angle. A good skier can bomb their way down the steepest black bel'ore a snowboarder has done up their straps.
It's cross country that you really see the dil'l'erence. With normal skis. you can tramp I'or miles. heading uphill as well as down to get to untouched locations and slopes ol unspoilt powder. With 'l'elemark skis and removable skins that allow the base ol‘ the ski to grip onto even steep slopes. breathtaking hikes taking in ridges. peaks and genuine wildernesss are possible. It's the best way to get away Irom the blabbering crowds and ugly resort architecture. and into the aching beauty of the snow coated hills which. alter all. is why we're here in the lirst place.
None of this means that skiing is better than snowboarding. The latter is still gaining on the former in terms ol' popularity. But the last decade has seen a growing acceptance that skiing and boarding shouldn't be in competition. Both sports can learn from each other. and experienced snow users will often be masters of the two disciplines. As for beginners. it really all depends on whether you want old school style or new school l'ashion. ol'li-piste ease or cross country potential. It‘s two planks or one. and the only person who decides which is better is you.
79, Ho. ’/’/,A'~ THE LIST 21