A means of travel
How to get around when everything is covered with snow and ice? This is the question that gave birth to the first skis, these wooden planks that were very useful to men. It seems that the first skis were made in the Baltic region, near present-day Estonia. Archaeologists have found fragments dated by carbon 14 between 6000 and 7000 BC! These skis were carved in the mass, that is to say directly in a trunk and not from boards. Some rock engravings found in Scandinavia and Siberia, dating from about 5000 BC, also attest to the presence of the ski because they represent anthropomorphic figures standing with two lines at their feet. The differential conservation of materials has left few traces of tools in plant material, but the engravings of the prehistoric rock art site of Alta (listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985) in Norway, for example, can attest to their reality: bows and arrows, nets, enclosures and ... skis!
Evolution of skiing
Skis have evolved little by little over the years towards more and more finesse and lightness. Cross-country and telemark skiing then remained for a long time a mode of displacement before finally becoming a sporting practice. The technique of alpine skiing was developed during the two world wars as a means of moving quickly in the mountains. To give you an idea, the first ski lifts only date back to the beginning of the 20th century. Today, skis have obviously changed a lot: alpine skis made of composite materials, revival of wooden skis by young designers, telemark skis, touring skis, Nordic touring skis, skating and alternative cross-country skis, powder skis... Innovation in ski construction is globally constant, with new models introduced every year. If you want to equip yourself and ecology is one of your concerns, prefer French manufacturers who offer skis made in France: Rossignol and Dynastar, where part of their production is still made in France. The revival of craftsmanship in this area also offers a beautiful diversity.
A region of gliding
With its many valleys, all close together, all different, Tyrol has a geography that allows for a variety of skiing. Some 80 ski areas, each one more beautiful than the next, more than 8,000 km of slopes, the most varied gradients of up to 80% for adrenaline seekers. Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Tyrol is alpine skiing, with its wonderful resorts, its top competitions and the many champions that the region has produced, such as Toni Sailer, Gregor Schlierenzauer, Werner Grissmann or the Hinterseers father and son. The Tyroleans have also distinguished themselves in a wide variety of winter sports disciplines, from telemark skiing to ski jumping, snowboarding and Nordic combined. And with good reason: the population of Tyrol must be one of the highest in the world to regularly practice a winter sport. If you like powder snow and freeride, Tyrol is the place for you! But Tyrol's winter sports are not limited to downhill skiing: when it comes to cross-country skiing, Tyrol has nothing to envy anyone else, as there are many beautiful areas to practice skating with beautiful views and varied, well-groomed trails.
Toni Sailer, Tyrolean hero
Anton Engelbert Toni Sailer is one of the great figures of alpine skiing in the world, and he comes from Tyrol! Born in 1935 in Kitzbühel and died in 2009 in Innsbruck, he is the first in the history of Alpine skiing to win three Olympic titles (downhill, slalom and giant) in the same edition at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo. His 7 gold medals (won in only two editions!) make him the most successful skier in the world championship and this record remains unmatched to this day. We know that sports careers are short, and for him it will be particularly so: at 23 years old he stops skiing for the cinema (twenty films to his credit) and music then returns to skiing as technical director of the Austrian team, then in the world of organizations, but also as a businessman with his ski brand and the opening of a hotel in Kitzbühel.
Ski touring
Also called ski mountaineering, ski touring (or ski touring) is one of the new trendy disciplines. This practice consists in climbing the slopes with alpine type skis equipped with skins in order to be able to climb without sliding backwards. Once at the top, the skins are removed and the boot and ski are fixed in "downhill" mode. The system of sealskins was originally developed by the military to move quickly and easily in the mountains in winter. Ski touring has long been called spring skiing because it was practiced from the month of March, the avalanche conditions are then more favorable. It is a dangerous sport because you are in the middle of nature, on sometimes very steep slopes, and therefore never really safe from an avalanche. If you are a beginner, it is imperative to leave with a guide and the appropriate equipment that can save you in case of avalanche: avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, airbag. Don't go off alone without first telling us where you're going and asking about the weather conditions and avalanche risk. Ski mountaineering will make its debut at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. This discipline will have five events: sprints for women and men, individual races for women and men, and a mixed relay. In a good position to win a medal, we can mention the French Axelle Gachet-Mollaret who won the Grand Globe 2021 and Thibault Anselmet, from Bonneval-sur-Arc,2nd in the general classification of the World Cup for men. Ski touring has become more and more popular and is also practiced more and more on alpine ski slopes. The period of Covid-19 has largely contributed to the increase in the number of ski touring enthusiasts because the ski lifts were closed. The animals are a little less of a fan, because ski touring means disturbing wild animals in their natural habitat, which can cause them to flee or interrupt a brood for example, so a minimum of vigilance is required. Fortunately, as far as the Olympics are concerned, this discipline will not require any new infrastructure for its development!
Did you say après-ski?
If it is important to have a good pair of après-ski boots to walk in the snow, the Tyrolean après-ski has nothing to do with a pair of shoes! It's about the festive moments organized at the end of the afternoon in almost every bar to party after a day on the slopes. This tradition takes place mainly in the Austrian Tyrol, less in the South Tyrol. In the Austrian Tyrol, there is a real "after-ski" culture, which has become one of the emblems associated with winter sports activities. The must: be a bunch of friends sitting side by side and drinking shots of local brandy that are fixed on the same wooden board, so that everyone has to drink it down at the same time!
The Streif, a mythical track of world renown
This downhill ski run in Kitzbühel is unrivaled and has all the elements of a classic downhill race course: steep slopes that result in high-speed jumps, curves, sliding sections and spectacular bumps. Every year, thousands of spectators are enchanted by the race on the Streif and the unique atmosphere it creates. Key sections of the course are always closed from around January 6 to allow for the preparation of the race: snowmaking and protection. The entire track is prepared, solidified and frozen, while safety fences, safety infrastructure, spectator stands and TV equipment are also put in place. The Streif takes its name from the Streifalm, the name of the meadow on the upper part of the course. The meadow was probably named after a Brixen farmer named "Straiff". Legend has it that the Mausefalle (mousetrap) jump was invented by Toni Sailer senior, father of ski superstar Toni Sailer, because the section reminded him of an old wire mousetrap. Generally speaking, everyone can ski on the Streif in winter. The Familienstreif is a section from which the most difficult sections are excluded, turning the Streif into a pleasant red run. The highlight sections, such as the Mausefalle, Steilhang and Hausbergkante are classified as "extremely difficult" ski runs because they are often very icy. This means that only experienced skiers are allowed to ski these trails
