Skiing is a winter sport used for both leisure and competition, common in Colorado as well as various states and countries around the world. Skiing utilizes a simple concept which relies on gravity and the inclination at which the slope of the terrain is situated. The mission is simple: go fast and don’t crash. However, such a simple concept poses many challenges to different skillsets which in return makes the sport enjoyable.
Some of you may wonder why skiing can be classified as an aesthetic, and I think the answer is simple. Skiing encompasses multiple contrasting aesthetics: a design/technology aesthetic, nature aesthetic, and lastly an aesthetic of strength and power.
In the practice of skiing, the skis themselves are a well designed and engineered semi rigid material. Skis are unique as they look like simple long rectangles which propel the rider down the mountain, however in manufacturing they encompass an intricate design. To me, the unique layers and other features seen on skis, resembles the intricacies of a clock which can only be seen underneath the clocks face. Thus, the deeper meaning behind a skis technology is a unique and enticing aesthetic.
The next aesthetic which skiing encompasses stems from the open terrain and uncharted territories which skiing provides. Mountains are treacherous terrain with many unmapped and unexplored areas. These areas provide the rider with an escape from reality and enables them to be one with nature. The aesthetic of nature speaks to my soul as it provides a sense of fulfillment and calmness. Nature is a visual enterprise which we are lucky enough to exhibit without any change to our current environment. However, urbanism is slowly destroying the aesthetic of nature which is why this aesthetic speaks so highly to me as a human.
The last aesthetic which I believe skiing achieves is one of strength and power. While skiing, a skier will encounter a magnitude of high speeds, large inclinations, jumps, trees, and even rocks. These features create an increase in the riders heart rate and intensifies the sport. Although strength and power are not visual aesthetics, I believe they encompass the overall goal behind the sport. Skiing is made for people to raise their heart rates while feeling free in an abyss of white snow. Therefore, I believe that not all aesthetics must be visual.
Works Cited:
[1] Bates, Tom. “Awesome Snow Skiing Wallpapers.” WallpaperAccess, 2021, wallpaperaccess.com/snow-skiing. [2] Sauer, Isabell. “How Long Should Your Skis Be?” Snow, 6 Feb. 2020, www.snow-online.com/skimag/how-long-should-your-skis-be.htm. [3] Weinreich, Dieter. “Technology of Kneissl Skis – The World’s Most Innovative Ski Brand.” Kneissl, 2020, kneissl.com/about-kneissl/technology-of-kneissl-skis/. [4] Burrell, Jessica. “5 Ways Skiing Can Benefit Your Health and Fitness.” London Evening Standard | Evening Standard, Evening Standard, 24 Jan. 2017, www.standard.co.uk/escapist/health/5-ways-skiing-can-benefit-your-health-and-fitness-a3448331.html. [5] “All About Ski Touring in Iceland.” Explore, www.explore-share.com/blog/all-about-ski-touring-in-iceland/. [6] SnowBrains. “The 10 Most Intense Runs in the United States of America.” SnowBrains, 25 Apr. 2020, snowbrains.com/10-intense-runs-usa/.
4 Comments. Leave new
Branden, I think you have described more than a personal preference; you’ve described a specific type of skiing aesthetic that has elements of the classic ‘man vs the elements’ perspective, perhaps as described in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”. There is the joy and thrill of overcoming obstacles, and pleasure in athleticism. Maybe call this the Warren Miller aesthetic? The delicacy and softness that Gary refers to can be classified as a separate aesthetic: being one with nature, requiring little strength and no aggression. A more meditative approach?
Professor Herzberg, I really like the sound of the Warren Miller aesthetic. I think my approach here was to push my boundaries a little bit and try think bigger picture, as opposed to a specific everyday aesthetic. I agree that the delicacy and softness is also part of the skiing aesthetic and could be described in a completely different fashion than I did in my post. This is why I liked this aesthetic so much as it gives room for interpretation and allows for various viewpoints on the same aesthetic to be drawn.
Very interesting post, I am amazed how you described Aesthetic as something that is not necessarily visual, I had not thought about it that way but it makes sense. When thinking of Skiing as an Aesthetic I was initially thinking of the graphics on the gear and how they resemble part of the skier’s personality. Some people like dark colors while others like more bright-colored or neon-colored gear. I guess it could be personality but it can also be functionality (trying to be more detectable for safety reasons or so that it is easier for your group to find you within a crowd). I think this area of the aesthetic deserves a little more thought and room within your post so you can have both the visual and non-visual sides of it. As for the guidelines of the aesthetic, I agree, it is completely “nature” related. There are often mountains, snow, pine trees, and other mountainous related decorative elements in skiing gear and skiing graphics. However, I might disagree with the “power and strength” view of it, I think delicacy and softness are more prevalent in the aesthetic. Think about ski commercials, they always show a skier gently carving through powder in slow motion. Yes, it does require strength, but I think the aesthetic relies more on softness and relaxation. Let me know what you think.
Gary, you make good point when it comes to the graphics and the gear as another aesthetic encompassed in skiing. I think you hit it on the head when you discussed how it can be both functionality and personality because you want to have good style while skiing but you also want to make sure you’re easily identified. As for the “power and strength” aspect I think it can be a personal preference revolving around how you view skiing. I think both are correct which makes skiing so exciting as you can view it in multiple dimensions.