In recent years, some have taken up expensive sports, such as skiing.

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Nowadays, the better-off splurge on such things as skiing trips.

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If it goes ahead, the speed restriction will effectively mean the end of sports boats and activities such as water-skiing.

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Some cater to one activity, such as golf, skiing or fly-fishing.

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Resorts have had to diversify and offer more summer-oriented pursuits, such as hiking and glaciers skiing.

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But because of its size, the U.S. Justice Department won't let Vail expand in Colorado--opening the way for Intrawest to bid for such prime properties as American Skiing Co.

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As for vertigo, what Caillois has in mind is the surrender of stability and the embrace of panic, such as you might experience while skiing.

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Germany starred in traditional Olympic sports such as biathalon, cross-county skiing and luge.

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But perhaps what the ski industry needs to do more than anything is to educate people not to expect such good skiing in December, but rather consider skiing later in the season as climate change affects the snowfall patterns.

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