A guide to the main winter sports disciplines: alpine skiing, snowboarding, freeride, freestyle, ski touring, telemark, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
When we think of winter sports, two images almost always come to mind: people skiing down a run or snowboarding. However, the mountain offers many more ways to enjoy the snow.
Some people want to learn a new discipline, some want to feel the adrenaline of riding untouched snow, some prefer to cover snowy landscapes at their own pace, and some simply want to enjoy nature without needing to put on skis.
Each discipline offers a completely different experience. Some require more technique, others better physical condition, and others simply a desire to discover the mountain from another perspective.
If you're planning a snow trip and don't know which sport to choose, in this guide we go over the main disciplines to help you find the one that suits you best.
If there's one discipline that can represent winter sports, it's alpine skiing. It's the most practised option at every ski resort and the gateway for most people discovering this sport for the first time.
It consists of skiing down groomed runs and using the lifts to get back to the top of the resort. Thanks to this, all your attention is focused on enjoying the descent and gradually improving your technique.
One of its biggest draws is how accessible it is. Resorts have runs graded by level, from green runs for those who've never skied to black runs for the most experienced skiers. This allows you to progress gradually and gain confidence with every day out.
It's also the discipline with the widest range of schools and instructors, which makes it very easy to find classes for both children and adults.
If it's your first time on snow, this is probably the best option to start with.
Although it shares the slopes with skiing, snowboarding offers completely different sensations. Instead of having one ski on each foot, both feet stay fixed to a single board, which completely changes the way you slide and turn.
For that reason, many people who surf, skate or wakeboard feel a special connection to this discipline. That said, you don't need to have practised any of those sports to enjoy it.
It's common to hear that snowboarding is harder at the start than skiing, and there's quite a bit of truth to that. During the first days, falls are frequent while the body learns to control the board and its edges.
The good news is that, once that initial stage is behind you, progress tends to be very fast and the whole feel of it changes completely. Many enthusiasts point precisely to that sense of flow as one of snowboarding's biggest draws.
If you're looking for a dynamic, fun discipline, it's well worth giving it a try.
For many skiers and snowboarders, freeride represents the ultimate expression of freedom.
Here there are no marked runs or set routes anymore. The mountain becomes the stage and every descent is different. The goal is to make the most of natural terrain and enjoy untouched snow, away from the busiest areas of the resort.
That freedom is exactly what makes every run unique. No line is ever the same as the last, and conditions constantly change depending on the snow, the terrain or the weather.
However, freeride also demands great responsibility. Skiing well isn't enough; it's important to know the mountain, read the terrain and make careful decisions.
For that reason, it's not a discipline recommended for those starting out in winter sports, but rather for experienced skiers or snowboarders.
While other disciplines aim to cover the mountain or improve descent technique, freestyle has a completely different goal: performing jumps, spins and tricks.
Most resorts have snowparks specifically built for this discipline, where you'll find features, rails, boxes and different types of jumps.
It can be practised with either skis or a snowboard and is a discipline closely tied to creativity. Each athlete develops their own style and keeps learning new tricks as they gain confidence.
Although from the outside it may look reserved for professionals, many snowparks have beginner areas where you can start getting familiar with the discipline gradually.
That said, as with any acrobatic sport, it's best to progress step by step and not attempt overly complex moves before mastering the basics.
In alpine skiing the goal is usually to ski down runs. In ski touring, something different happens: the climb is part of the experience itself.
In this discipline you climb the mountain on skis in order to then enjoy the descent. That's why many enthusiasts feel the reward doesn't start when you go down, but throughout the whole route.
It's a discipline that combines mountain skills, navigation and physical endurance, and one that gains more followers every year among those looking to get away from the busiest resorts.
Besides letting you discover spectacular landscapes, it offers a sense of calm that's hard to find in other disciplines.
Importantly, ski touring requires good preparation and knowledge of the terrain, especially when routes go outside controlled areas.
Although it's a minority discipline today, telemark has enormous historical value. In fact, many consider it the origin of modern skiing.
Its main feature is the way turns are made, bending one knee down towards the snow. That distinctive stance makes it easily recognisable even to those who've never tried it.
Many enthusiasts describe telemark as the most elegant way to ski. It's not about speed or spectacle, but precision and technique. That's precisely why it tends to attract experienced skiers looking to discover a new way of gliding down the mountain and take on a different challenge.
Learning it takes a bit more patience than alpine skiing, but those who practise it say it's entirely worth it.
Cross-country skiing is very different from the image most of us have of skiing.
Here it's not about skiing down big slopes, but covering circuits that are practically flat or with gentle undulations, using your own body's push to move forward.
This makes cross-country skiing one of the most complete disciplines from a physical standpoint. It works your endurance, coordination and practically every muscle in your body, which is why many athletes use it as winter training.
Beyond the athletic side, it also offers a very peaceful way to enjoy the scenery, moving through snowy forests and valleys at a steady pace.
If you're looking to combine nature and physical exercise, it's probably one of the best options.
Not everyone who visits a resort wants to ski, and snowshoeing exists precisely for them.
Thanks to this simple system, it's possible to walk on deep snow and cover trails that would otherwise be practically inaccessible.
It's a very popular activity among families, groups of friends and nature lovers, since it requires no prior experience or specific technique.
Many resorts also organise guided excursions that let you discover forests, frozen lakes and spectacular viewpoints, even at sunset or under moonlight.
Although it's a very accessible discipline, it's best to always stick to marked trails or go with a guide when leaving controlled areas.
Each discipline offers a different experience, so the best choice depends on what you're looking for.
If you've never tried a snow sport, alpine skiing tends to be the simplest way to start. If you come from surfing or skateboarding, you'll probably enjoy snowboarding more. Those looking for a thrill who already have experience will find freeride an exciting discipline, while freestyle is perfect for those who want to learn jumps and tricks.
If what appeals to you most is the mountain in its purest form, ski touring will let you enjoy both the climb and the descent. For those looking for a different technical challenge, telemark offers a unique experience, while cross-country skiing is ideal for combining nature and physical exercise. And if you simply want to walk through snowy landscapes without needing to learn to ski, snowshoeing is a great alternative.
No discipline is better than another. What matters is finding the one that best suits your level, your fitness and, above all, the experience you want on the mountain.
Whatever you choose, what matters is enjoying the snow safely and continuing to discover everything the mountain has to offer.
Discover all the options on Snowteach and compare schools to book your classes directly online.
