Fig. 3.—Skrid-Finner (Olaus Magnus, ca. 1550).
Such skin-clad ski were, and are still, employed by the Lapps, as well as by others in Scandinavia, Finland, and throughout Siberia; but several other types have, nevertheless, been used in Lapland for centuries. In Scandinavia and the North, these skin-covered appliances go by the name of “aandre,” “ondurr,” “andor,” to distinguish them from the plain ski. As, however, the advantages of the skin are not now generally considered sufficient to counterbalance the disadvantages, they are gradually disappearing.
There can be little doubt but that the greatest development of the ski has taken place in Europe, notably in Scandinavia, where they have been modified to suit the different requirements of the districts in which they are employed. Thus have the varied types hitherto been many, but may be divided generally into two groups, viz., the short and broad, or loose snow ski, and the long and narrow, or compact snow variety (“skare ski”), this latter pattern being represented by the Oesterdal and Swedish ski (originally one very long and one short ski, but now generally of equal length). These are the most suitable for open country, whether in the lowlands or mountains, and on level or undulating land are superior, so far as speed is concerned, to all others; but in broken country, or on mountains where obstacles such as trees, rocks, &c., are to be met with, the shorter or “loose snow” patterns, owing to their handiness, are invariably employed.
Almost every province, it may be said almost every district, throughout Scandinavia possessed its own type of ski. In Russia they have possibly been of a more homogeneous character than elsewhere, owing to the snow-clad portions of that empire consisting of vast plains which call for no variety of form. Of comparatively late years, however, there has been a tendency in Norway to adopt one sort for universal use, and a sub (lighter) variety for leaping purposes. It is a modified Telemarken (loose snow) type, eminently suited to every purpose, and is gradually superseding all other forms throughout Scandinavia.
Of accessories to the ski, the staff has invariably been recognised as a necessity (except in leaping competitions, when it becomes a source of the greatest danger) and should always form part of the outfit on all long excursions or journeys. It assists the skier both in aiding him when ascending, and as a brake when descending difficult slopes, or as a means of defence if attacked by animals. The Lapps use it, too, as an offensive weapon when attacking wolves, which they occasionally run down on their ski, and kill by a well-directed blow on the snout, or across that most vulnerable spot, the loins of the beast. The most effectual use of the staff can only be learnt by experience or teaching. The fastenings may be regarded as other important accessories, and but a few years ago, and in many parts even still consist solely of toe straps formed of withes or leather. These simple contrivances suited all the requirements of the expert peasants, and it is only of late years, when leaping was introduced, and the ski put to other and harder purposes than originally intended, that stronger and more secure bindings became necessary. Of these, there are many sorts, all good, but none perfect as yet. In some instances the latter may be a source of great danger owing to its being impossible, when peril faces one, or accidents occur, to remove the ski from the feet, and notably so when a man breaks through treacherous snow-covered ice, owing to the ski preventing him from regaining the surface. But while several fatal accidents have occurred in this manner, it is possible that others have been avoided by the greater command of the ski afforded to most people by secure fastenings.
Holmenkollen.
Photo by Rude, Christiania.
Having now given an outline of the history and origin of the ski, it may be well to refer to the movement by which ski-ing has been brought into the prominent notice of sportsmen and admirers of winter pastimes. In the extensive and mountainous district of Telemarken, Norway, one in which ski were employed possibly more extensively than in any other, owing to its remoteness, and the wretched state of the few highways and byways to be found there, the peasants discovered that the ski might be used for pleasure as well as ordinary pursuits, and arranged meetings at which races were run, and the leaping powers of competitors tested on the slopes of selected hills. By degrees news of these trials of skill found its way to the towns and the populated districts in their neighbourhood, and some few citizens having found ski-ing to be a good, and to them attractive, exercise, determined to hold similar meetings at Christiania each winter. The accounts given of those meetings are very ludicrous, the hill being neither steep nor long, the competitors riding astride their poles down the track, and only jumping, if jumping it could be called, a few yards. The exhibitions did not “catch on,” and were discontinued for many years. The townsfolk knew too little about the sport to appreciate it, and the absurd, if not painful, appearance of the competitors was not encouraging to aspirants. Towards the end of the seventies, however, owing chiefly to the exertions of the Christiania Ski Club—a select institution with but few members—some Telemarken peasants[4] were induced to visit the capital, and in the early part of 1879 a ski meeting was held on the slopes of the hill at Huseby, near Christiania, which was attended by a couple of the countrymen, who took part, together with other competitors, in the races and leaping that had been arranged. The Huseby slope was one which, only a few years previously, had been described as highly dangerous, and impossible to descend when the snow was fast and in good condition.
The leaping competition proved most highly interesting. though in some respects quite comical. Every man, except the Telemarkings, carried a long, stout staff, and on that, so they thought, their lives depended. Starting from the summit, riding their poles, as in former times, like witches on broom-sticks, checking the speed with frantic efforts, they slid downwards to the dreaded platform or “hop” from which they were supposed to leap, but over which they but trickled, as it were, and, landing softly beneath, finally reached the bottom somehow, thankful for their safe escape from the dreaded slide. But then came the Telemark boys, erect at starting, pliant, confident, without anything but a fir branch in their hands, swooping downwards with ever-increasing impetus until with a bound they were in the air, and 76ft. of space was cleared ere, with a resounding smack, their ski touched the slippery slope beneath, and they shot onwards to the plain, where suddenly they turned, stopped in a smother of snow dust, and faced the hill they had just descended! That was a sight worth seeing, and one never to be forgotten, even if in after years such performances have been, in a way, totally eclipsed.