Kevin McDonald, age 12, of Portland, Ore., for his question:

WHO INVENTED SKIING?

We don't know exactly who invented skiing, but we do know that it developed as a method of transportation by people who lived in regions with heavy snowfall. The first skis, historians tell us, were most likely made of the bones of large animals and they were used by ancient people in Sweden more than 5,000 years ago.

During the Battle of Oslo between Sweden and Norway in 1200, skis were first used for military purposes. At this time Norwegians used skiers as scouts.

Sweden used ski troops in 1521 against Denmark and the United States ski troops fought in the European Alps during World War II.

Skiing as a sport probably started in the early 1800s. Norwegian immigrants then brought the sport to the U.S. in the mid 1800s.