Skiing is way of traveling over snow, using skis strapped to one's feet.

In modern times it has been mostly an athletic activity. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding.

Types of skiing
Alpine skier running a downhill course

Many different types of skiing are popular, especially in colder climates, and many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Ski Federation (FIS), and other sporting organizations, such as the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association in America. Skiing is most visible to the public during the Winter Olympic Games where it is a major sport. In skiing's traditional core regions in the snowy parts of Scandinavia, as well as in places such as Alaska, both recreational and competitive skiing is as likely to refer to the cross-country variants as to the internationally downhill variants. Skiing techniques are difficult to master, and accordingly there are ski schools that teach everything from the basics of turning and stopping safely to more advanced carving, racing, mogul or "bump" skiing and newer freestyle techniques. There are two primary types of downhill skiing "telemark" and "alpine." For beginning skiers learning under a trained instructor, skiing speeds are low, the terrain is not steep and is often well-manicured, and the risks are relatively low. For extreme skiers, testing their expert abilities against ever more challenging terrain, the risks may be much higher. [edit]Alpine

skiing

Alpine skiing is also called downhill skiing. Typically, downhill skiing takes place at a ski resort with specified ski pistes or ski runs. Ski resorts that offer downhill skiing exist all over the world in cold climate areas. Non-competitive alpine skiing is recreational skiing. Also in the category of Alpine skiing are the competitions known as Slalom, Giant Slalom (GS), Super-G (Super Giant Slalom) and Downhill. [edit]Freestyle

skiing

Alpine Freestyle: This kind of skiing employs the use of aerial acrobatics and balance, balance being necessary for rails. The use of rails is known as grinding or jibbing. Alpine freestyle was pioneered by Stein Eriksen in 1962. It developed in the 1970s into a style called Hotdogging. In this type of skiing, skiers use jumps (also called kickers or launches) or rails to do aerial tricks. These tricks are reinvented and progressed in technique and style every day.[25] Freestyle/Newschool: Freestyle skiing is the type of skiing with which tricks are usually associated. The skis used are generally of a twin tip design, made to land switch tricks (backwards) as easily as forwards. Tricks are generally spins and flips, that can be conjoined with a grabbing of the ski to improve the image

of the trick. Freestyle skiing generally takes place in terrain parks at ski resorts, with a wide variety of jumps, rails, jibs and other features to session. Mogul skiing is also considered as freestyle skiing. Freeskiing/Freeride Related to freestyle skiing in nature is freeriding, which involves taking the tricks done in the park to the rest of the mountain and the backcountry. Thus, fatter skis may be used to float on top of the powder. Freeriding often involves steeps, cliffs, powder, and glades. In part due to the growing popularity of freestyle skiing in recent years and the obvious limitations in that aspect of the sport, freeride skiing has also been growing in popularity in recent years as more and more skiers have access to good backcountry gear and skis. [edit]Nordic

skiing

Cross country skiing : Skiing tracks in snow in mountains in Sarek, Sweden.

Nordic skiing is also called Cross-country skiing or Cross-country racing. The name distinguishes it from Alpine skiing. Typically after donning appropriate clothing, the skier goes outside and skis in a local park or even on a snowy street. Nordic skiing is the oldest form of skiing and was developed in Scandinavia as a way of travelling in the winter. Telemark skiing refers to skiing downhill on nordic skiis. 'Nordic jumping, also called ski-flying and ski jumping, is a competition in which skiers glide down a long ramp before becoming airborne. This is done with Nordic style skis, meaning that the heels of boot and binding are detached from the ski. The skis are much longer and wider than other types of skis and jumping is typically done without ski-poles. [edit]Military

skiing

Military Skiing: In addition to its role in recreation and sport, skiing is also used as a means of transport by the military, and many armies train troops for ski warfare. Ski troops played a key role in retaining Finnishindependence from Russia during the Winter War, and from Germany during the Lapland War, although the use of ski troops was recorded by the Danishhistorian Saxo Grammaticus in the 13th century. The winter Biathlon was developed from military skiing patrols. [edit]Other

types

Telemark skiing is a form of downhill skiing where the heel of the boot is not attached to the ski like an alpine ski binding. Telemark skiing is used quite often for backcountry ski touring as the free heel allows for easy movement while "skinning" (walking on flat ground or uphill with a specialized fabric on the bottom of the ski). However, there are comparable disciplines of telemark skiing for almost ever discipline of alpine skiing; including racing, freeskiing, and freestyle/newschool. Turning telemark skis requires a specialized technique because of the heel of the boot can move up and down freely, because of this

telemark skiing is usually only done by skiers with adequate alpine skiing experience (intermediate level or above). Kite skiing is skiing done while being pulled or carried by a parasail, hang glider, or kite. Water skiing is done on water and is where a skier is pulled by a leash attached to a boat, generally a speed boat, and the speed allows the skier to skim or ski across the water. Water skiing is also sometimes done with only one ski or sometimes no skis at all. Paraskiing is accomplished either by jumping from a plane or starting from a high altitude on the ground (i.e. from a mountaintop). Once the parachute is deployed, it is used heavily for steering. Paraskiing has been a competition sport for years, and can be scored for such things as speed and slalom accuracy. This is very different from kite-skiing, as gravity is the sole means of propulsion, rather than wind, thermals, or motors. Backcountry skiing: Also see ski touring. Randonne: See also ski touring, backcountry skiing. Skijoring, also called Euro-style mushing, is skiing while being pulled by an animal(s), typically dogs or horses, or by snow machine. Dry Slope Skiing: This is skiing on artificial or dry snow, or dirt. Dry slope skiing is a year-round sport in countries like the UK where the snow cover is insufficient for traditional skiing. There is a thriving race programme on British slopes. [4] Adaptive skiing is skiing done by individuals with physical disabilities. Adaptations to standard ski equipment or accompaniment by a non-disabled guide has enabled individuals with amputations, spinal injuries, TBI, deafness and visual impairments to ski, and in some cases, even race. The venue, speed and technical difficulty associated with the sport can lead to collisions, accidents, hypothermia and other injury or illness, occasionally including death. Regional Ski Patrol organizations, such as the National Ski Patrol in the U.S., exist as a voluntary organization to provide guidance, help, medical assistance and emergency rescue to those in need of it. [edit]Skiing

competition

Skiing competition is organized by the International Ski Federation, which is responsible for development of rules and scheduling of competitions worldwide in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping. Competition is managed in each country by its national association. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is responsible for competitive skiing in America. [edit]Skiing

for people with disabilities

A person without the use of his legs learning to ski on a sit-ski, using two outriggers.

Skiing for people with disabilities became popular after World War II with the return of injured veterans.
[citation needed]

It is both a recreational pastime and a competitive sport open to those with any manner of

cognitive and/or physical disabilities. Adaptations include the use of outriggers, ski tip retention devices, sit-skis like monoskis and bi-skis, brightly colored guide bibs, ski guides, and inter-skier communication systems or audible clues for blind skiers. A guide skier can assist the sit-skier from behind, this is known as "bucketing". Recreational skiing programs for people with disabilities exist at mountains across the globe. Currently the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Ski Federation (FIS) sanction a number of regional, national, and international disabled skiing events, most notably a World Cup circuit, a Disabled Alpine Skiing World Championships, and the Paralympic Winter Games. One of the strongest disabled programs is the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, organized by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and the U.S. Ski Team. Risk of injury In alpine skiing, there are around three injuries per thousand skiing days.[26][27] Knee injuries are most common,[28] but broken bones and death do sometimes occur. Ski helmets, once used only by racers, are now in common use by all classes and ages of skier. There is also a risk of being caught in an avalanche.

Ice hockey rink

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Detailed diagram of an ice hockey rink

An ice hockey rink is an ice rink that is specifically designed for ice hockey, a team sport. It is rectangular with rounded corners and surrounded by a wall approximately 40-48 inches (1 m) high called the boards.

Dimensions
There are two standard sizes for hockey rinks: one used primarily in North America, the other used in the rest of the world. [edit]International Hockey rinks in most of the world follow the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) specifications, which is 61 metres (200 ft) 30 metres (98 ft) with a corner radius of 4.2 metres (14 ft). The distance from the end boards to the nearest goal line is 4 metres (13 ft). The distance from each goal line to the nearest blue line is 17 metres (56 ft). The distance between the two blue lines is also 17 metres (56 ft).[2] [edit]North

American

Most North American rinks follow the National Hockey League (NHL) specifications of 200 feet (61 m) 85 feet (26 m). The corners are rounded in the arc of a circle with a radius of 28 feet (8.5 m).
[3]

The NHL attacking zones are expanded, with blue lines 64 feet (20 m) from the goal line and 50 feet

(15 m) apart.[4] [edit]Origins The rink specifications originate from the ice surface of the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, constructed in 1862, where the first indoor game was played in 1875. Its ice surface measured 204 feet (62 m) 80 feet (24 m). The curved corners are considered to originate from the design of the Montreal Arena, also in Montreal, constructed in 1898. [edit]Markings [edit]Lines The centre line divides the ice in half lengthwise. It is used to judge icing, meaning that if a team sends the puck across the centre line (red line), blue line and then across the goal line (that is to say, shoots or dumps the puck past the goal line from behind their own side of the centre line) it is said to be icing. It is a thick line, and in the NHL must "contain regular interval markings of a uniform distinctive design, which will readily distinguish it from the two blue lines." When discussing differences in the rules of the game, it is often said that a game is played with no red line. This simply means that there is no two-line pass violation. The centre line is still used to judge icing violations. There are two thick blue lines that divide the rink into three parts, called zones. These two lines are used to judge if a player is offside. If an attacking player crosses the line into the other team's zone prior to the puck crossing, he is said to be offside. Near each end of the rink, there is a thin red goal line spanning the width of the ice. It is used to judge goals and icing calls.

[edit]Faceoff

spots and circles

There are 9 faceoff spots on a hockey rink. All faceoffs take place at these spots. There are two spots in each end zone, two at each end of the neutral zone, and one in the centre of the rink. There are faceoff circles around the centre ice and end zone faceoff spots. There are hash marks painted on the ice near the end zone faceoff spots. The circles and hash marks show where players may legally position themselves during a faceoff or in game play, [edit]Spot and circle dimensions Both the center faceoff spot and center faceoff circle are blue. The spot is a solid blue circle 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. Within the spot is a center, a circle 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter, painted with a blue line 2 inches (5.1 cm) in width. All of the other faceoff spots have outlines 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick, forming a circle 2 feet (0.61 m) in diameter measured from the outsides of the outlines, and are filled in with red in all areas except for the 3 inches (7.6 cm) space from the tops and bottoms of the circles, measured from the insides of the outline. [edit]Goal

posts and nets

At each end of the ice, there is a goal consisting of a metal goal frame and cloth net in which each team must place the puck to earn points. According to NHL and IIHF rules, the entire puck must cross the entire goal line in order to be counted as a good goal. [edit]Goal

area

The crease is a special area of the ice designed to allow the goaltender to perform his or her duties without interference. In most leagues, goals are disallowed if an attacking player enters the goal crease with a stick, skate, or any body part before the puck. For the purposes of this rule, the crease extends vertically from the painted lines to the top of the goal frame. The rule preventing goals while an attacking player is in the crease was eliminated from the NHL and other North American professional leagues beginning in the 1999-2000 season. In amateur and international hockey, the goal crease is a half circle with radius of 6 ft (1.8 m). In the NHL and North American professional leagues, this goal crease is truncated by straight lines extending from the goal line 1 ft (30.5 cm) outside each goal post. In the NHL, two red lines 2 inches (5.1 cm) in width extend 5 inches (13 cm) into the goal crease, parallel to the goal line.

Note position of goaltendertrapezoids behind the goal nets at each end of the rink.

[edit]Goaltender

trapezoid

During the 2004-05 American Hockey League (AHL) season, an experimental rule was implemented for the first seven weeks of the season, instituting a goaltender trap zone, more commonly called the trapezoid in reference to its shape. Under the rule, it is prohibited for the goaltender to handle the puck anywhere behind the goal line that is not within the trapezoidal area. If he does so he is assessed a minor penalty for delay of game. The motivation for the introduction of the trapezoid was to promote game flow and prolonged offensive attacks by making it more difficult for the goaltender to possess and clear the puck. The rule was aimed at reducing the effectiveness of goaltenders with good puck-handling abilities, most notably Martin Brodeur and Marty Turco.[5] The area consists of a centred, symmetrical trapezoid. The bases of the trapezoid are formed by the goal line and the end boards. The base on the goal line measures 18 feet (5.5 m) and the base on the end boards measures 28 feet (8.5 m). The seven-week experiment proved so successful that the AHL moved to enforce the rule for the rest of the season, and then was approved by the NHL when play resumed for the 2005-06 season following the previous lockout. The ECHL, the only other developmental league in the Professional Hockey Players Association (along with the AHL) also approved the rule for 2005-06. [edit]Referee's

crease

. Under USA Hockey rule 601(d)(5), any player entering or remaining in the referee's crease while the referee is reporting to or consulting with any game official may be assessed a misconduct penalty. The USA Hockey casebook specifically states that the imposition of such a penalty would be unusual, and the player would typically first be asked to leave the referee's crease before the imposition of the penalty.
[6]

The NHL has a similar rule, also calling for a misconduct penalty.[7]

[edit]Zones

The blue lines divide the rink into three zones. The central zone is called the neutral zone or simply centre ice. The generic term for the outer zones is end zones, but they are more commonly referred to by terms relative to each team. The end zone in which a team is trying to score is called the attacking zone or offensive zone; the end zone in which the team's own goal net is located is called thedefending zone or defensive zone. The blue line is considered part of whichever zone the puck is in. Therefore, if the puck is in the neutral zone, the blue line is part of the neutral zone. It must completely cross the blue line to be considered in the end zone. Once the puck is in the end zone, the blue line becomes part of that end zone. The puck must now completely cross the blue line in the other direction to be considered in the neutral zone again. [edit]Half

boards

In a hockey rink, the half boards are the areas along the side boards half-way between the blue line and the goal line, roughly from the hash marks to the top of the faceoff circle.

[edit]Stanchion Upright bars located at the ends of the team benches. Synthetic ice is a solid polymer material designed for skating using normal metal-bladed ice skates. Rinks are constructed by interlocking panels. Synthetic ice is sometimes called artificial ice but that term is ambiguous, as it is also used to mean the mechanicallyfrozen skating surface created by freezing water with refrigeration equipment.

omparison with true ice

Skating on natural ice, the skate blade increases the temperature of the microscopic top layers of the ice reducing drag and causing the blade to glide on top of the ice.[3] On synthetic ice rinks, liquid surface enhancements are common among synthetic ice products to further reduce drag on the skate blade over the artificial surface. Although some synthetic ice products allow skating without liquid, liquid is still used to optimize gliding. 1. With most synthetic ice products, more effort is required to skate. Although this side

effect can be positive for resistance training, skaters report to miss out on the fun of effortless skating.

2.

Synthetic ice surface wears out skates much faster.[4] Most synthetic ice products still

wear-down the skate blades very fast, with 30 min - 120 min the industry average.

3.

Many synthetic rinks produce a large amount of shavings and abrasions. Although this

disadvantage is less on a practical level than on an aesthetic level, surfaces have to be cleaned more regularly and the attractiveness of the rink can be reduced significantly. 4. Temporary markings for hockey or other sports wear off. Only permanently embedded

markings do not scratch off. [edit]Materials A typical synthetic ice rink will consist of many panels (usually in typical building material sheet sizes) of thin surface material assembled on top of a sturdy, level and smooth sub-floor (anything from concrete to wood or even dirt or grass) to create a large skating area. [edit]Usage Synthetic ice rinks are sometimes used where frozen ice surfaces are impractical due to temperatures making natural ice impossible. Synthetic ice rinks are also used as an alternative to artificial ice rinks due to the overall cost, not requiring any refrigeration equipment.[5] For pleasure skating, rinks have been installed indoors at resorts and entertainment venues while newer installations are being made outdoors. For purposes of ice hockey, synthetic ice rinks are typically smaller, at about 50 feet (15 m) by 50 feet (15 m), and are used for specialized training, such as shooting or goalie training.[5]