Grass skiing

Austrian grass skier Hannes Angerer at the 2010 Austrian Grasski Championships in Rettenbach.

Grass skiing, skiing on grass, is a method for training for alpine skiing which has been established as a sport in its own right. The skis used are short with rolling treads or wheels. These skis are attached to the skiers' boots. Depending on the skill of the grass skier, high speeds and jumps can be navigated.

History

Tracked grass skis

Grass skiing was invented by Richard Martin in Germany in 1966. It was created initially as a training method for skiers before the winter season. Two years later, Martin introduced the new skiing variation to the Vosges region of France.

Originally, skis used in grass skiing were like rolling treads attached to the ski boots. Nowadays, there are two types of skis used in grass skiing. These are the wheeled models and the tracked ones. The wheeled model can be used in various terrains and for freestyle skiing and off-piste skiing. The tracked model on the other hand is specifically designed to be used in grassy slopes.

Grass skiing has gained a worldwide audience, with skiing centers in Italy, Taiwan, China, Japan, Iran, Lebanon, Austria, Switzerland, and USA, and a Grass Skiing World Cup has been established.