Who Are The Best Skiers In The World?
For a sport that has been going strong for hundreds of years, there are many different styles that have evolved since the early days. Within its modern history, skiing has taken on different formats including Alpine skiing, Freestyle skiing, Nordic and many other types of skiing.
To answer the question, ‘who are the best skiers in the world?’ is a difficult one. The question would have to be answered with a look at different disciplines; otherwise we would be doing the sport and those skiers a huge disservice.
Alpine Skiing
This is effectively downhill skiing on a piste or ski run. Within alpine skiing, there are many different events including downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom. It is essential that when looking at the best skiers, they are equally competent at these different disciplines.
The person with the most World Cup wins is Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden with 86 wins; however he only won the Slalom and Grand Slalom. It could be argued that the best skiers have won medals in all disciplines and so in that case it’s been suggested that the best Apline skier is American Bode Miller.
With over 400 World Cup races being victorious 32 times, he is lauded as the most successful American Alpine skier and one of the very best in the world. He became one of only five people to have won World Cup races in downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom and combined. Miller has often been compared to Alpine skiing legend, Jean-Claude Killy.
Frenchman, Killy is generally regarded as one of the top alpine skiers of all time, having dominated the sport during the 1960′s. He won two World Cup titles as well as three Olympic gold medals.
Freestyle Skiing
It is also argued that today’s best skiers are not just those that can race quickly, but actually perform freestyle tricks and skills. Within freestyle skiing, there are a number of disciplines including, alpine freestyle (uses acrobatics and jumps to perform aerial tricks), freestyle/newschool (spins, flips and grabs), freeskiing/freeride (taking newschool tricks to steeps, cliffs, and untouched powder).
The pinnacle of this type of skiing are the Winter X Games, a winter sports competition created and organized by American sports broadcaster ESPN. Just like with Alpine Skiing, the best freestyle skiers are those that can perform a number of disciplines.
Therefore, it is generally regarded that Candide Thovex, a French professional skier is one of the best in the world for this type of skiing. He has won the big air, superpipe and slopestyle at the X Games. He has also won the Freeride World Tour (a competition for the best freeriders in the world) in 2010. Another top skier within this discipline is Tanner Hall. The American has numerous career achievements, but like Thovex he has performed at the highest stage winning the X Games Trifecta.
Nordic Skiing
This is also called cross country skiing or racing and is a completely different disciple to alpine and freestyle skiing. A different discipline means that different skills and abilities are required and for Nordic skiing, the very best must have high endurance and fitness levels, as well as an efficient and effective technique.
This sport is dominated by the Scandavian countries and at the past Nordic World Ski Championships, the winners of both the men’s and women’s cross country skiing have all been Scandanavian. For example, at the 2011 Championships in Oslo, Matti Heikkinen of Finland won the 18Km and 15km for the men and Marit Bjorgen of Norway won the 10km for the women.
About the Author
Vincent Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for many UK businesses. He recommends SnowSkool for winter sports instructor courses, which can help you become a ski instructor.
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