Nansen's adventure helped to popularize skiing. [ifyouski.com]

By the nineteenth century, skiing was being practised for enjoyment, and no longer merely for functional reasons.

1840s-50s
Skiing introduced into Australia and the United States by Norwegian and Swedish gold miners.

1860
Invention of the tuck position in La Porte, United States. Tommy Todd set the first speed skiing record of 130kph (80 mph) on 4m skis.

Early 1860's
Founding of the Alturas Snow Shoe Club. Whether or not it qualifies as the first ski club (skis were occasionally referred to as Snow Shoes at the time), the Alturas Snow Shoe Club was to play a pioneering role in the development of skiing and ski racing.

1866
Christiania turn and parallel stop perfected by Sondre Norheim, from Telemark in Norway. He improved his skis' manoeuvrability by cutting them down to 2m40 and carving a waist into them. He also made improvements to his bindings, though he retained the use of a single. Norheim is also credited with inventing the Telemark turn.

1867
First downhill race with prize money. In 1867 the Alturas Snowshoe Club held the first of what were to become annual downhill races. By 1869 the races had a total of $600 in purses (a lot of money then), and the races continued until 1911.

1880's
First use of mechanical power in uphill ski transport. American Gold Rush miners used steam-powered ore buckets as ski lifts on Sundays. The first powered resort is still in operation in Johnsville, CA (Plumas-Eureka Ski Bowl).

1883
Skis used by monks at the St Bernard pass. Their most famous dog, Barry, later gave his name to the Barryvox, a make of avalanche safety transceiver.

1888
Greenland traversed on skis by Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen. His account fired the imagination of skiers across Europe.

1891
First European ski club founded. The title of the first ski club goes either to The Alturas Snowshoe Club, who developed ski racing in La Porte, California, or to the enthusiasts who set up the first European club in Germany.

1896
Snowplough turn invented by Austrian Matthias Zdarsky, who has been called 'the father of alpine skiing'. He shortened his 3m Norwegian skis to 1m80, got rid of the groove and the nipples at the tips, and fixed his heel to the ski. As a result he could negotiate the steep terrain of the Alps, and his Lilienfelder Schilauf-Technik formed the basis of Austrian theory for many years.