By the time the wonder years give way to high school, Norway's best skiers are usually big men and women on campus.

Which is why you only see the best skiers and instructors doing it.

A few observations after two weeks writing about and contemplating the world's best skiers: They are not human.

You also do not have to be among the world's best skiers to enjoy it.

The discussion started simply enough: Who is the best skier on the mountain?

Last weekend, they might have been the best skiers on the mountain.

The problem is not unusual; the best skiers in the world admit to down days.

His friends were the best skiers on earth, too.

"Not everybody realizes he has been one of the world's best skiers in his age group since he was 12."

"My most important goal," he said, "is to establish myself as the best skier of the 1980's."