★From prehistoric snow walking to polar exploration, from Telemark turns, cabbin techniques, free gliding to mountain skiing - this book comprehensively presents how skiing has evolved from a sport into a culture.
★José Gutiérrez López combines field research with historical studies to reveal the technological revolution that changed the way snow moved, the commercial economy that gave rise to resorts, and the social norms that formed around mountains.

From prehistoric snow travel and polar expeditions to Telemark, carving, freeride and ski touring, this book maps how skiing became a culture as much as a sport. José Gutiérrez López blends field observation with historical research to show the technique revolutions that changed how we move on snow, the economies that built resorts, and the social codes that emerged around mountains.
The narrative pays close attention to the experience of risk and flow, the education of the body, and how equipment—from wooden boards to shaped skis—reshaped movement. It also brings in under-told stories: women’s roles in developing and popularising the sport; the rise of freeride and touring; and the contradictions of resort development in an era of climate change. Why We Ski opens the door for newcomers while rewarding seasoned skiers with context and memory. It invites readers to think about skiing as craft, community and culture.

José Gutiérrez López is a Spanish writer and educator with training in Physical Education and High-Performance Sport.