Alpine skiing

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alpine-skiing

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the sport classification?Olympic discipline within the sport of skiing
2. What is the binding type?Fixed-heel bindings that secure the boot to the ski
3. How did alpine skiing become a sport?Skiing started as a way to travel on snow over 8,000 years ago. In the 19th century people in the Alps began turning and controlling descents, and the first ski competitions were held in the late 1800s. It became an Olympic sport in 1936.
4. Why do alpine skiers wear special boots and bindings?Alpine skiers wear rigid boots with fixed‑heel bindings so the heel stays attached to the ski. This gives more control and power for fast descents and sharp turns.

Edge Control: The ability to use the metal edges of skis to grip and maneuver on snow.
Sidecut: The inward curve on the side of a ski, designed to facilitate turning.
Gate: A marker (usually poles with flags) that skiers must pass between during a race.