Popular Winter Sports

Ski

  • Nordic combined

Nordic combined consists of two events: ski jumping and cross-country skiing. It will, therefore, be possible in the resort, in those that have ski slopes (see below ) and cross-country ski.

  • Ski jumping

This one is part of the Nordic combined as stated above but is also a test in its own right. Ski jumping is indeed an exciting event, requiring a certain amount of physical strength and safe technique. The event is impressive, given the speed and length of the participants ‘ jumps. The starting points are only 10 to 30 meters, while those used in international competitions are 90 to 120 meters.  Ski jumping can be practiced in both winter and summer in resorts such as Chaux-Neuve or Les Rousses, in the Jura. The resort of Autrans also offers the possibility of ski jumping for 50€ per hour.

  • Freestyle skiing

All skiers have already experimented, even without his knowledge, with freestyle skiing. Indeed, it is a question of “performing acrobatics” during an alpine ski session. This can be done on slopes with “bumps” or in the different freestyle and snowparks courses that can be found in the resort. The half-pipe is also a possible variant of freestyle skiing. To have the best sensations in your freestyle skiing practice, you must at all costs try :

  • Alpine skiing

It is the world’s most popular and best-known ski discipline. A” ski holiday ” means in 80% of the time a high ski activity. The Olympic events in Alpine skiing include special events such as slalom and giant slalom, as well as speed events such as downhill and super G. Alpine skiing is accessible to all and in any winter sports resort. The stations are most famous for the practice as La Plagne, Meribel, Courchevel, Alpe d’huez, Avoriaz, Chamonix, Les Arcs, Serre Chevalier.

  • Cross country skiing

The cousin of Alpine skiing, although less practiced, is no less known! Indeed, everyone knows this winter sport, and we advise to experience it at least once to live a great mountain experience very different from Alpine skiing and just as enjoyable! Cross-country skiing at the Olympic Games can be found in different events.

Snowboard

The snowboard also holds its “alpine” version with its giant parallel slalom which confronts two participants who are simultaneously on parallel tracks (hence its name) but different, one blue and the other red. The goal is to make the best time.  Each participant realizes two “runs”, one on each track to see the difference at the end when calculating the Times. This test leaves several outstanding outcomes.

The parallel giant slalom tracks are between 400 and 700 meters long with an ideal length of 550 meters. The average door number is 25 doors.

Alpine snowboarding is accessible as a leisure activity for everyone, in the same way as Alpine skiing because it does not require any particular structure.

  • The half-pipe

The half-pipe is both a spectacular and iconic sport for snowboarding and the Olympic Winter Games. This is the first freestyle event to be held at the Olympic Games. The term “half-pipe ” corresponds to the name of the field on which the test takes place, in French “demi-tube” or “demi-pipe”.

The goal of the riders is to create figures by going through the “half-pipe”, using each side to take support and to launch. They have two trials, scored by six judges, with an Optimum score of 100 points. The two extreme scores, i.e., the best as well as the worst, are not counted. The participant’s score is then based on an average of the four remaining scores.

The half-pipe tracks, which measure at least 150 meters, are therefore special to the practice of this discipline, you will not find them in all the stations.

Ian Fehler
Latest posts by Ian Fehler (see all)