Skiing is a competitive sport where athletes attach skis to the soles of their boots and engage in racing, jumping, and downhill maneuvers on snow.

Ski boards are typically made of wood, metal, and plastic. Alpine skiing consists of downhill, slalom, and giant slalom (obstacle skiing).

The combined event in alpine skiing includes these three components. Participants stand upright, hold ski poles, and maneuver ski boards on the snow.

The critical elements of skiing are "stand," "board," "snow," and "slide."

In the 18th century, skiing gradually evolved into modern competitive skiing. In 1733, the first ski team was formed by Norwegians. In 1861, the world's first ski club was established in Oslo, Norway, and the first national ski competition in Norway occurred the same year. Modern competitive skiing has developed into various disciplines, including cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, and ski mountaineering.

In 2022, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board approved the event lineup and athlete quota for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, adding ski mountaineering as a new discipline.

Skiing originated and developed in the Scandinavian countries. The International Ski Federation was founded in 1924, and Nordic skiing events were included in the first Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

Leading nations in world skiing include Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland and countries around the Alps in Western Europe, including France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. Generally, Scandinavian countries dominate Nordic skiing events, while countries around the Alps favour Alpine skiing.

As skiing, especially modern competitive skiing, has evolved, the number of events and the scope of the sport have continuously expanded. Each major discipline includes numerous sub-disciplines, with dazzling gold medals at national competitions and the Winter Olympics motivating individuals to strive and share.

Pure competitive skiing is characterized by intense competition, specialization, and strict requirements, making it suitable for only those with specific skills and adaptability. Recreational skiing, done for entertainment and fitness purposes, is less constrained by external factors, allowing people of all ages and genders to enjoy the pleasures of skiing on snow.

High-altitude skiing is considered the essence and symbol of skiing due to its thrilling, graceful, dynamic, and versatile nature, making it the preferred and central activity in recreational skiing. Generally, the assessment of skiing proficiency is often based on high-altitude skiing.

Skiing is a remarkably addictive sport, often referred to as the "white opium" of health. Once individuals learn how to ski, many become deeply enamoured with it. With the widespread popularity of skiing, its significance extends beyond sports, evolving into a healthy and fashionable lifestyle. As an outdoor activity, the most extraordinary charm of skiing is returning to nature, which individuals experience during the sport.

Skiing is a full-body exercise that provides comprehensive training and improvement for the nervous system. While delivering the thrill of speed, it also enhances balance, coordination, and flexibility. Skiing requires the coordination of various joints in the body to achieve the best balance effect while sliding. Therefore, almost all joints are effectively exercised during skiing, activating stiff muscles and enhancing overall flexibility.

Learning new skills benefits us, and acquiring new skills after middle age can delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline. Trying to learn new skills, such as skiing, can reduce the risk of symptoms and diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer's.