Pity those who took to the slopes before 1996. Look at what they had to ride on – skis were straight, narrow and very long. For many amateurs, turning could be an awkward affair: keeping the long skis parallel was difficult; letting one stray often led to a tumble.

In the early 1990s, ski manufacturers began to experiment with a new design: wide at the tips, narrow in the middle and unusually short. Early adopters of the “shaped” ski were unanimous: it transformed the downhill experience. For several years, however, the new “parabolic” design was seen as only a beginner’s aid, a training vehicle for nervous tyros. Long, skinny planks still dominated, especially among the racing elite.