Which One is "the One"?
Snowboarding or skiing, which one is "the one"? Skiing first came to be centuries ago as a mode of transportation. More recently it became a popular winter sport. Snowboarding arose after skiing as a combination of surfing and skating. Both skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports that can be fun for anyone and offer many exciting opportunities, but snowboarding takes considerably less time to learn and it offers extreme fun no matter how small the resort.
No matter what the sport, it is usually physically straining and requires conditioning and proper technique. Snowboarders and skiers are not exempt from these obstacles. Through practice and training a snowboarder can on average make the transition from beginner to expert in about three years. Expert is not saying professional. Expert just describes the rider's ability to ride on expert terrain. Snowboarding requires strong leg muscles; the hamstrings and gluts are especially important. Snowboarders must have all around good balance in order to use their hip and knee movements to steer and complete turns. The stance of a snowboarder puts the most strain on the back of the knee.
Similar to snowboarding, skiing is also a strenuous sport that requires strong leg muscles. Especially important muscles are the quadriceps. Eight years is the average time it takes a skier to make the transition from beginner to expert. In this time skiers learn to steer by using fine motor motions in their knees and ankles.
When a skier or snowboarder has mastered the basics, they will then choose the discipline that they find the most intriguing. Skiing and snowboarding both offer different styles or disciplines. Snowboarding offers two basic styles: racing and freestyle. Racing consists of slalom and giant slalom, which is where the rider races down the hill while maneuvering through designated gates. Freestyle is the discipline of snowboarding that allows for the most creativity. There are two types of freestyle: slope-style and half-pipe. In slope-style the rider goes down the slope attempting as many tricks as possible over natural and man made obstacles, such as rails, bumps, and other barriers. Snowboarders who choose freestyle will most likely do slope-style and half-pipe. A half-pipe is a u-shaped ramp usually several hundred feet long made into the snow. The advantages of snowboarding are that it is fun at even a tiny resort. Riders can make their own fun anywhere. Bigger resorts are not necessary. They only add challenges and excitement with bigger parks and half-pipes.
Compared to snowboarding skiing has an abundance of styles. The many styles are divided into two groups: Alpine and Nordic. The Alpine styles consist of downhill, slalom, giant slalom, telemark, ballet, moguls, and aerials. Downhill is the quickest way from the top to the bottom of the mountain. Telemark is downhill skiing on cross-country skis. Ballet skiing is like figure skating but on skis. Moguls are the bumps and small mounds in the course that add challenge and become jumps for the more adventurous skier. Aerials are when skiers launch off of short jumps and perform spins and somersaults in the air. Nordic styles include cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and biathlon. Cross country skiers use long, thin skis and hiking type boots which are loosely attached to the ski by a front binding. There are two types of cross-country skiing: classical, pushing with a back and forth motion, and skating, pushing out to the side. Ski Jumping is when skiers launch off of a jump and see how far it is possible for them to go before hitting the ground. Biathlon is combination of cross-country skiing and shooting. Participants will ski to a designated point and then shoot at specific targets to earn points. No matter what style, the skier has more restrictions than a snowboarder because of how each discipline is specifically structured allowing for little creativity. There is no doubt that there are far more options for a skier, but to experience most of them, the skier must travel to a resort in the west or somewhere in Europe like Switzerland.
When deciding between boarding and skiing, it is imperative to know the equipment. Snowboarding is generally more comfortable and less to carry. Riders who enjoy racing will have boards that are rounded at the tip and flat at the tail. The longer the board the faster it will go. Racers use hard boots to keep them steady around turns at high speeds. Racing equipment is specific for racing so most riders and stores will have mainly freestyle boards and boots because they are more versatile. Boarders who choose freestyle will have boards that are rounded at both ends to allow for forward and backward movement. Freestyle riders use soft boots to allow for more flexibility.
When skiers choose their equipment they have many decisions because skis and ski boots come in all shapes and sizes. The most notable difference is the length of the ski. This concept is similar to snowboards in that the longer the ski the faster the rider will be able to go. Cross-country skis are thin, and freestyle skis, the ones used for most other styles except racing, are short to allow the skier to maneuver them effectively when hitting jumps, riding over moguls, and performing aerials. Ski boots are similar for all disciplines except cross-country. Most ski boots are made of thick plastic that makes them awkward and uncomfortable to walk in.
In snowy weather the most well known sports are skiing and snowboarding. People find enjoyment in both sports for many reasons. Skiing has been around for years and is found to be most thrilling at large resorts. Snowboarding on the other hand is relatively newer and is more for the creative person who can't always get to a five star resort. Skiers have many different disciplines to choose from, while snowboarders have only two. Snowboarders can perfect their skills in nearly half the time of someone learning to ski allowing for faster results and a quicker ticket to fun. In the end, the decision comes down to location, finances, and the willingness to conform to the rules or make new ones.
TASKS
PRE-READING
1. Read only the title. Predict 5 vocabulary items the article will contain.
2. Skim the article. Write down what the main theme of the text is.
WHILE-READING
3. Is the author trying to persuade or inform you?
4. Define any new words.
5. Write down the main idea of each paragraph.
6. Divide the article into sections (paragraphs). What is the purpose of each section.
POST-READING
7. Write one sentence stating what you learned from this article.
8. Critical reaction. Whose interests does the article reflect?
9. Indicate your interest in this article.
1 – very boring, 2 – boring, 3 – useful, 4 – interesting, 5 – very interesting.
10. Were there any paragraphs you had any difficulty in understanding?
Which ones?
11. Try to work put why you had difficulty. What was the main reason? Tick and explain.
MY PRESENTATION
Let me introduce myself. My name is………….. I am……… years old. I study at Tver State University, on the Physical Education Department. In two years I will get my Master’s Degree in Sport.
1) My first higher education is also connected with sport. My specialization is a Physical Education teacher (a coach).
2) My first higher education is not connected with sport. I have a diploma of an engineer (an economist), (a lawyer)….
Since childhood a) I have been playing hockey (football, basketball…)
b) I have been practicing judo (swimming, wrestling, boxing, taekwondo, ballroom dancing, rowing (canoeing)……..
Sport takes a lot of my time and plays a very important role in my life. Thanks sport I became strong and enduring. Sport also made me more disciplined in my daily activities. I have made a progress in sport. I am a Master of Sport (a Candidate in a Master of Sport, a Master of Sport of the international level, the first sports category, the second sports category…)
I often take part in different competitions. I took first and second prizes. Sometimes I lost, but became more persistent in achieving my goals. If you are an athlete, you must learn to win and to lose, but never give up sport.
Nowadays sport, fitness, physical education and healthy mode of life become more and more popular. A lot of sports clubs, fitness centers, gyms and stadiums are built now.
As for me, I plan to become a highly qualified coach (a referee, a physical education teacher). I want to bring up healthy and strong young people. My studies at the university will help me to get necessary knowledge and have good practice. Moreover, Master’s Degree will open excellent career prospects and I will have a good opportunity to find a well-paid job.
