Skiing and Cheese Rolling

Skiing

The way you stand on skis has a massive impact on the likelihood of you falling over when you start sliding. If your feet are shoulder width apart you have a better base of support than if your feet are next to each other. The most stable position when skiing is to have your feet shoulder width apart, with your toes pointing inwards and heels apart, so your skis make a triangle/V-shape (like the shape of a slice of pizza!). The snow plough position (described above) is perfect for both controlling speed and stopping on gentle slopes.
http://www.e4s.co.uk/docs/top-skiing-tips.htm



Cheese Rolling

While in reality the cheese can never actually be caught – with a brief headstart it soon reaches breakneck speeds – the race winner is the first person to cross the line at the bottom of the hill. The slope on Cooper’s Hill in Gloucester, the setting for the world-famous event, is in fact so steep that very few contenders manage to even stay on their feet, instead tumbling head-over-heels down the hill in a desperate effort to catch the coveted dairy prize.The highest injury toll in recent years occurred in 1997 when 33 competitors were treated for everything from splinters to broken bones.
http://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/27837/Gloucestershire-Cheese-Rolling

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/1216228


For both of these, the participants are traveling down a slope at high speed. In both, there is a definite risk for falling and rolling down the hill. Skiing requires a lot of leg strength to be able to turn and cheese rolling requires a lot of balance to be able to stay upright. We should commend them for their balance and determination.