Skiing is an Olympic winter sport performed on snow using skis, ski poles, ski bindings and boots. Equipment is needed due to the cold snow conditions. Hermann Maier is a former Olympic alpine ski racer from Austria who won three World Championship gold medals and 54 races. Skiing originated over 2500 years ago in Norway as hunters used skis to travel through snow covered forests. There are different types of skiing including alpine, freestyle, Nordic and military skiing.