Grass Skiing Was Meant to Be HUGE...

You may not have heard of it, but grass skiing was once seen as the next big evolution in skiing. It aimed to bring skiing down from the snowy mountains and onto grassy hills, offering accessibility and affordability to people far from ski resorts.

The grass skiing history begins in the 1960s in Germany and Austria as a training solution for alpine skiers during snowless months. Early grass skis were bulky and hard to use. But as the equipment improved in the 1970s, interest grew. Clubs formed, competitions started, and by 1986, it was officially recognized by the International Ski Federation.

For a brief time, it looked like grass skiing might go mainstream. Resorts promoted it, athletes trained on it, and the grass skiing Olympic dream gained traction. It was also pushed as an option for off season ski training, especially for children learning to ski without the cost of indoor slopes or luxury winter holidays.

But problems emerged. Grass skiing was fast and unpredictable. Falls were dangerous because they happened on hard ground, not snow. Injuries piled up. Insurance premiums rose. And although it promised to be cheap, the gear was expensive and wore out quickly. That made the sport inaccessible for many, undercutting its main appeal.

By the 1990s, a wave of new action sports like snowboarding, BMX, and skateboarding captured global attention. Grass skiing suddenly looked outdated. Resorts began removing grassy slopes in favor of mountain biking trails and other attractions that drew bigger crowds.

By the early 2000s, the grass skiing decline was underway. Attempts to revive the sport continued. Supporters pointed to its long history and international competition record. But it joined other failed Olympic sports that never made the cut.

Indoor slopes began popping up in places like Dubai and the UK. Despite high prices, they offered real snow and a more authentic skiing experience. For many, they were a better option than skiing without snow on grass.

The skiing community never fully accepted grass skiing. It was treated as a ski training alternative, not a real sport. That perception stuck, and it limited the sport’s ability to grow. Media coverage faded. Public interest disappeared.

Still, grass skiing never died. Today, small communities in Austria, Italy, and Japan still participate. Clubs remain active. Specialized equipment is still made. The International Ski Federation holds world championships every two years, though these events are barely noticed by mainstream outlets.
Grass skiing remains one of many niche sports stories that sit outside the spotlight. It exists in a space between hobby and sport, caught between past hopes and current obscurity.

The story of why grass skiing failed is about missed timing, high costs, safety risks, and public perception. It's also about a sport that never got the support it needed to grow. But for those who still practice it, it lives on in hillsides and regional clubs.

This is the rise and fall of grass skiing. A once-promising sport that now survives on the fringe. One of many unusual skiing sports that never fully broke into the mainstream. One of many obscure sports documentary subjects the world nearly forgot.

📌 Chapters:
00:00 The promise of grass skiing
00:55 How grass skiing started
01:23 Skis improved in the 70s
01:33 Growing popularity in Europe
01:55 Recognized in 1986
02:08 The promise of accessibility
02:39 Grass skiing is dangerous
03:14 High equipment costs
03:36 Competing extreme sports
04:10 Declining popularity in the 2000s
04:33 The rise of indoor slopes
04:50 Traditional skiers dismiss it
05:13 Still survives in small circles
05:46 Why it never succeeded