Alpine Skiing - Snowbasin Ski Area People began strapping skis to their feet as far back as 5,000 years ago. It is believed that Norwegians were the first -- they used skis as a way of hunting across snow-covered terrain. From Norway, skiing expanded throughout Scandinavia and Russia as a mode of winter transportation and eventually as a sport similar to cross-country skiing. Alpine skiing evolved from cross-country skiing. The first alpine skiing competition, a primitive downhill, was held in the 1850s in Oslo. Alpine skiing was introduced to the Olympic program at the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games with a men's and women's combined event, featuring a downhill and two slalom runs. The Oslo Games in 1952 welcomed giant slalom to the program and marked the departure of the combined event. The combined event did not return until 1988. The addition of super-G completed the 10-event program that exists today. With five disciplines for men and women and multiple runs in some events, the skiing never stops at the Olympic Games. Back to top