response: The word ski actually comes from skio which is split piece of wood
history: I tried to learn snow skiing.  I just never did very well. So I don't like it I see, but skiing has around 5000 years of history. That is a long time.  Was it invented in the Nordic countries? Modern skiing is traced back to Scandinavia.  However, there is evidence it was practiced in China many years before that China-that is interesting.  WHy are modern skis so long? I'm not sure why the narrow strips of materials are long but they're worn under the foot to glide over snow. Were the Chinese skiis made the same way long ago? I think I would be better with snowshoes. I'm not sure if it was the Chinese skiis but traditional ones had rawhide lacings and a hardwood frame. Now that is interesting. I know I could do better.  Long skiis always cross in front of me.  Can't keep them straight.
knowledge: It comes from the Old Norse word ''skíð'' which means ''split piece of wood or firewood''.