Stories from skiing's past
Stories from the history of skiing, ski resorts and mountain travel, from early ski equipment and lift development to the growth of the modern Alpine ski holiday.
From necessity to ski holiday
The ski holiday we recognise today developed through changes in equipment, transport, lift technology and mountain tourism. Our Ski History articles explore those developments and the stories behind resorts, inventions and traditions that still influence skiing today.
Skis, boots, bindings and clothing have changed enormously. We explore how equipment developed and how new designs changed the way people could travel and ski on snow.
Surface lifts, chairlifts, gondolas and cable cars transformed skiing by allowing far more vertical terrain to be reached repeatedly and helping ski areas grow into modern resort networks.
Alpine villages, purpose-built resorts, transport links and package holidays all played a part in turning mountain skiing into an international winter tourism industry.
Researching the past
Historical stories work best when dates, places and claims can be traced back to reliable sources.Our history articles aim to separate documented events from stories that have simply been repeated over time. Where useful, we use historical records, archives, resort sources and other relevant material to understand how skiing developed.