Monday, September 6, 2010

Breaking away from the norm...

The Millerkar in the Malfon Valley
(Arlberg, Austria)

off-piste - (awf-peest) - adverb, adjective meaning skiing away from regular ski runs.

Back country skiing is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed or unmarked slopes or pistes, including skiing in unmarked or patrolled areas, either within the ski resort's boundaries or in the backcountry, frequently amongst trees ('glade skiing'), usually in pursuit of fresh, fallen snow, known as powder snow. 

Hazards: Backcountry skiing can be highly dangerous due to avalanche danger, exhaustion and mountain weather.  Other hazards include cliffs, rock fall and tree wells.  Source: Wikipedia.

I'd never heard of the term 'off-piste' (not being a skier) until I read an article on our very own 'singing budgie', Kylie Minogue.  Recently she's been turning up at the odd venue, unannounced, for an impromptu performance.

Rufus Wainwright and Kylie Minogue

Kylie recently performed with Rufus Wainwright (who?) at the Watermill Centre Concert in New York and was quoted as saying, "I absolutely adore doing these types of one-off gigs.  To share these moments with fellow artists, to be able to go off-piste and perform different songs and different styles is like food for the creative soul."

I've also read that it can refer to parenting - 'consciously choosing to parent your children different to the way you were parented - off-piste parenting'.  

So, apparently 'off-piste' can relate to anything that is apart from the norm.


Wanda..... said...

The term off-piste is new to me, although I have done a few things off-piste. Reversing the words makes it sound like a phrase one uses when angry.(which I never use)

Mason Canyon said...

It's good to learn a new word and find that it also has a new meaning. I guess even a person could be 'off-pise' then if they are a little different from the norm. Interesting.

Thoughts in Progress

Sam Liu said...

Based on your definition, I think, perhaps, that we all have our own off-piste traits. I quite like that term, and I'd never come across it until I read this post. Well, you learn something new every day :)

alaine@éclectique said...

Wanda...haha, I didn't think of reversing the words; I see what you mean.

alaine@éclectique said...

Mason Canyon...this is why I love a hard copy dictionary. We used to do a word a week at work and used it every day; it was fun. Yes, it could apply to a person who was 'different'.

alaine@éclectique said...

Sam...I'm still learning! Now don't forget to use it this week - 'awf-peest'.

alaine@éclectique said...
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Derrick said...

Not wanting to show off and not being a skier but I did know this term! Not sure that I would have used it in respect of different parenting etc. though. The element of danger could be missing from that!