Freeride or freestyle?

"Off-piste" skiing is a relatively young sport, which has branched out into numerous subdivisions. In the recent years the terminology has become very specific and people are confusing different sports and styles of skiing. The problem is that these disciplines do not stand on their own, but are instead interconnected in many aspects. So let me explain!

Off-piste skiing: is a very broad term, which includes any kind of ski activity outside of ski resort boundaries. It is usually referred to skiing on unpacked snow, right besides alpine ski slopes.

Touring skiing: is becoming a very popular sport of winter mountaineering on skies. The emphasis is not on the descend but rather on exploring the mountains and nature on skies. The aim of this sport is not adrenaline and pushing the limits, however the result can many times become just that! Movement on skies is much easier and up to three times faster than on foot. The ski boots are a little softer than alpine boots and can be used for walking as well. The skies are much lighter and the bindings can be released on the heel (similar to bindings on running skies) to allow walking. Skins are usually put on the bottom of skies, to allow walking uphill. For downhill skiing the bindings can be locked; becoming normal alpine bindings for easier descend.



Freeride: In this sport it's all about the descend. Freeriders are constantly trying to push the limits and find harder and steeper slopes. They are also very concentrated on their skiing style. Powder is the preferred snow - of course. Jumping over smaller cliffs is considered - cool. There are many freeride competitions, where the judges evaluate how stylish and extreme the descent was. There are quite many professional freeriders, which are sponsored by big companies of skiing and mountaineering equipment. The skies are usually very wide and heavy. The boots are also much harder and heavier than touring boots. The freeride bindings are very similar to their touring brothers; they are just more resistant and more expensive!



Alpinistic skiing: This is the most extreme sport (actually an upgrade of freeride), with the steepest slopes of up to 65 degrees incline. Here, the boundaries are being pushed to the limit. Big mountains and glaciers are being skied as well as narrow mountains gorges. Mistakes in alpinistic skiing can many times result in death.



Heli-skiing: It is nothing different from freeride or extreme skiing, except for the fact that a helicopter is used to bring the skiers to the mountain. Heli-skiing has become very popular in Canada and America. It is forbiden in many European countries. France is the heli-ski queen in the Alps.



Freestyle: This sport is all about style. Freestylers spend their time in snow parks doing jumps and skiing rails. Half pipe is a must for a freestyler. The skies are wide and light and the bindings are suited for hard landings. There is also big emphasis on the graphics of skies.



And for the end.. some more bazaar variations of skiing! And don't forget to ski with your head and prey for the angel dust - snow;)

Ski kiting

Kamikazi ski