The Evolution of Planks

It all began with a pair of sticks used as a means of transportation, hunting, and other day-to-day activities in prehistoric Norway. After thousands of years of evolution, skis made the transition from practical necessity to a flamboyant sporting good, bearing fluorescent patterns and lengths that towered well over the owners of the equipment.

Skis have continued to change with the times, defying the societal norms of stick thin models, and moving on to the more curvaceous breeds. As enthusiasts began to embrace shaped skis over their taller, thinner counterparts, beginners and experts alike noticed how the curves help hug the slopes like an Italian sports car on a winding cliffside road. Colors and patterns have matured as well, as companies started to turn their sponsored skiers into artists in order to allow the average skier to exhibit his personality while careening down the side of a mountain.

In the meantime, skiing has spawned in some way, shape, or form a number of different downhill sports. While skiing’s distant cousin snowboarding is loathe to acknowledge this particular member of the family tree, there is an inarguable family resemblance. The popularity of both is a big commonality, and neither of these sports is going anywhere in the near future. While alpine Darwinism may weed out some of the more eccentric pastimes (the future of snowbikes remains to be seen), skis and boards will most likely continue to evolve with ever-changing technology, and keep people intrigued by where they’ll venture to next...