Black Diamonds Are A Girlz Best Friend

Downhill, or alpine, skiing grew from cross-country skiing. Early skis did not allow for the control necessary to effectively manage speed because the straps holding the ski to the boot of the skier were too loose. Although some historians believe that some downhill skiing was taking place as early as the 1700’s, it was in 1850 that a Norwegian named Sondre Norheim introduced the first equipment believed to be the precursor to modern day telemark, or “free heel,” skiing. He used a stiff birch binding which tied his boots to his skis and a shorter, curved ski that allowed for better turns and control to win the first Norwegian downhill skiing competition. Skiers had yet to invent bindings that would hold the entire boot to the ski.