Why is the difference between alpine skis , touring skis, Nordic skis, telemark skis and crosscountry skis?

Question

Why is the difference between alpine skis , touring skis, Nordic skis, telemark skis and crosscountry skis?

Answer 1

Nordic skis are cross country skis.  They are for non steep terrain and the toes are fixed and the heels can lift.    

Alpine skis or downhill skis have the toes and heels both fixed.  They are what you would use in a ski area or steep terrain.  

Telemark skis are like alpine skis that have special bindings to allow you to lift your heel.  Touring skis are telemark skis.

Answer 2

Nordic and Alpine are the two main disciplines of skiing. The Nordic discipline involves any skiing where only the toe is locked into the ski binding. Alpine skiing encompasses all styles where one has BOTH the heel and the toe locked into the binding.

In Nordic are the following styles:

Cross Country (genericly refered to as Nordic). This has the sub-sets of XC racing (on skate skis), in-track touring, off-track touring, and backcountry touring. Racing skate skis are very thin and very narrow. In-track skis are longer and have a hard edge. Off-track skis are a bit wider and may usually have a metal edge. Backcountry skis are wider yet and have a metal edge. Racing skis typically use SNS bindings, while touring may use SNS or NNN bindings. Backcountry skis almost always will use NNN or 3-pin bindings (with or without cables). All of the above mentioned skis are double cambered so they give additional spring when moving across flat ground and most have a built in scale/skin that allows for uphill movement.

Telemark skis are single cambered skis used mostly for downhill skiing, but can be used with a detachable ski for traversing and going uphill. The Telemark style of skiing was THE way downhill skiing happened until the locking rear binding and the Stem Cristie turn was developed.

Ski Jumping (like the Olympics) is also a Nordic style. The heels are unlocked but the skis are much longer and wider than regular skis. They also do not have a metal edge. The Olympic competition known as "Nordic Combined" involves a skier skiing both a XC course and Ski Jumping.

Alpine skiing is everything else. It doesn't matter if you are skiing a downhill race course, doing jumps in a terrain park, or are skiing the backcountry from a helicopter. If your heels are locked down...you are skiing Alpine. This includes SnoBlades (and their cousins), Twin-Tips, Freestyle, Slalom, GS, Super G, etc. etc.

Alpine Touring (Randonee) skis are also technically Alpine skiing. While the heel is free for touring, the skier locks the heel down when descending and used Alpine techniques.

All Alpine skis are single cambered. They have little or no "spring" and the bases are flat. All (except the old ones in an antique store) have metal edges.