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Skiing

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Alpine Skiing, Downhill Skiing, Skiing Area, Skiing Center, Ski Piste, Piste, Ski Slope, Slope

Category

Sports, Winter Sports, Sporting Activities, Activities, Recreation, Tourism

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the location of facilities for skiing

 

Source Description
BTA 1989 page 3.20: Ski slope BTA 1989 Side view of slope with skier in schuss position
Pictogram Difficult Ski Piste from Chile CNFC Side view of skier in schuss position at extreme angle
Abdullah & Hübner page 107: Erco Pictogram Descent * Erco Side view of skier in schuss position
Icon Skiing from ÖSV website ÖSV Side view of skier in schuss position
U.S. National Park Service, Recreation (Winter): Pictogram Downhill skiing U.S. National
Park Service
Side view of skier in schuss position
Parks Canada Pictogram No 6-4-302: Downhill Skiing Parks Canada Side view of skier in schuss position
Map Symbol: Downhill from Chamonix Chamonix Side view of skier in schuss position
Modley & Myers page 124: Winter Olympics 1972, Sapporo, Pictogram Downhill WO'72 Side view of skier in schuss position
Pictogram Ski Piste (Pista de esquí) from Extremadura Extremadura Side view of skier in schuss position
BS 8501 Public Information Symbol No 9053: Skiing BS 8501:2002 Side view of skier in schuss position
Hora page 163: CNIS Pictogram Skiing, Grass Skiing CNIS Side view of skier in schuss position
ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 68: Skiing ÖNORM A 3011 Side view of skier in moderate schuss position
Pictogram No 87: Alpine Skiing from Aragón Aragón Side view of skier in moderate schuss position
Eco-Mo Foundation Pictogram D07: Ski Ground Eco-Mo
Foundation
Side view of skier in moderate schuss position
SIS Pictogram PI SF 019 Downhill Skiing (Utförsåkning) SIS Side view of skier in moderate schuss position
Pictogram Skiing Area from Catalunya Catalunya Side view of skier
Modley & Myers page 114, Swedish Standard Recreation Symbols (SSRS): Pictogram Ski Running, Downhill Skiing * SSRS Front view of skier
Modley & Myers page 88: NPS Pictogram Downhill Skiing NPS Side view of skier
Hora page 68: Canadian Highway Sign: Ski Area TAC View of skier
Winter Olympics 2018, Pyeongchang: Pictogram Alpine Skiing (Technical) WO'18 Side view of skier
Winter Olympics 2010, Vancouver: Pictogram Alpine Skiing WO'10 Skier making a turn at higher speed
Modley & Myers page 124: Winter Olympics 1972, Sapporo, Pictogram Skiing WO'72 Side view of skier
Abdullah & Hübner page 107: Erco Pictogram Slalom Erco Side view of skier, both arms and poles visible
Pictogram No Pict-20: Downhill Skiing (Centre de ski alpin) from Québec Québec Side view of skier, both arms and poles visible
NZS 8603 Outdoor Recreation Symbol No 41: Skiing NZS 8603 Side view of skier
Modley & Myers page 105, Picto'grafics: Pictogram Skiing * Picto'grafics Side view of skier
Modley & Myers page 130, Nova Scotia: Pictogram Downhill Skiing Nova Scotia Side view of skier
Pictogram Easy Ski Piste from Chile CNFC Side view of skier
BfS Vienna Pictogram Skiing (Skifahren) Wien BfS Side view of skier in moderate schuss position
Aicher & Krampen page 135: Pictogram Piste from Kapitzki Kapitzki Side view of skier
Fiori page 267: Esqui na neve Fiori Side view of skier
Unknown source: Ski piste * Unknown View of skier carrying skis

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

Even though skiing is quite a business, the selection of pictograms available seems suboptimal: many show a skier in schuss position or some other extreme positions not typical for most of the time people are skiing.

Surprisingly one also will find almost no research or test data on that referent:

Gehringer (1976) conducted a Ranking Test with the four variants from the table above marked with a *. In this study the ERCO variant with a skier in schuss position was ranked first and the view of skier carrying skis showed up at the last rank.

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation reached a comprehension score of 98.6 regarding Ski Ground, an almost perfect value (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). Considering these test results, many of the pictograms available probably are well comprehensible.

Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol showing a rendering of a human figure with skis and ski poles which could also be used for the message Cross-country Skiing as both skis were displayed in horizontal position. Results of a Comprehension Test illustrate that such a symbol - maybe originally intended for the message Winter Sports - elicits answers related to Skiing as well as to Cross-country Skiing. To ensure a clear differentiation between these two messages pictograms therefore also have to present more specific renderings.

Recommendations

We suggest to develop additional variants avoiding extreme positions, but still indicating mastery of skiing. Following this stage further studies should be made to identify the pictogram mostly approved by skiing experts and marketing people as well, to reach good acceptance.

ÖNORM A 3011 Public Information Symbol No 68: Skiing

Until then we recommend the use of a pictogram similar to Public Information Symbol No 68 from ÖNORM A 3011 part 3.

Tests of pictograms of referent Skiing

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.

Gehringer, J. (1976): Reihungstest über 18 Begriffe aus dem Sportwesen - Priorität I. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated January 1976, Vienna.

See also

Ski School, Cross-country Skiing, Snowboarding, Skibobbing
Surface Lift, Chairlift, Cable Car / Gondola Lift
Ski Depot, Ski Storage Room, Ski Rack

 

Updated 2024-10-07 by Ch.Brugger