Even as these lines are going to press the news comes to hand of a large association of all the clubs of Central Europe, and, although in the meanwhile no central meeting is contemplated, it seems more than probable that some arrangement of the sort will, at no very distant period, be found convenient.
At these Continental gatherings it was last year (1904) decided to observe the same principles as in Norway, and the chief honours are now awarded to those competitors who show the greatest skill in both long-distance racing and jumping. The long-distance race is thus, in the main, a test of speed and endurance, whilst the jump shows whether a runner is courageous, quick-witted, and skilful as well as strong.
The use of ski from a military point of view is somewhat outside the scope of a book of this kind which proposes to deal with them chiefly as instruments of sport. It is sufficient to say here that the military authorities of all the principal Continental Powers have given practical recognition of the value of ski in winter warfare, and it is now usual to hold races designed specially for soldiers at all ski meetings of importance. In the opinion of all competent judges, ski would be of great value in the north-west frontier of India, but up till the present no good ski-runner has been invited by the Government to put matters to the test. For an interesting essay on the subject see Mr. H. Chubb’s article in the Ski Club of Great Britain’s Year-Book, No. 1., Vol. I.—Ed.
A Norwegian Soldier.
Photo by A. B. Wilse.
THE ELEMENTS OF SKI-RUNNING.
By
W. R. Rickmers and E. C. Richardson.
INTRODUCTION.
Ski-running is a sport which literally throws one into a whirl of excitement from the moment one starts learning it. Thus the novice who has once tried will not worry over the question as to how long he will take to master the art. The constant repetition, however, of the inquiry: “How long does it take to learn ski-running?” forces us to make some kind of reply, though unwilling to compromise ourselves by laying down a hard and fast rule. Given, then, a pair of ski, snow, correct methods, and a certain amount of patience, anyone gifted with average pluck and muscle should know enough after a week’s practice to enjoy excursions of four or five hours’ length. The practice of the first day or two is always the most trying, but after this progress becomes rapid. Every beginner falls continually and expends an enormous amount of energy in getting up again, and every beginner misapplies the greater part of his strength in other directions. But an elementary balance is soon gained, and one quickly learns how to make those little movements of the thigh muscles which save so much. We are far from saying that at the end of a week you will be even a moderately good ski-runner. Downhill your more skilful companions will be able to leave you far behind, and you will be sorely embarrassed when the ground is at all difficult. But at the end of that time you ought to be far enough advanced to enjoy something of the sensations of a swift descent, and to enter upon the confines of that territory of snow-clad forest and mountain which it will be your special privilege to visit. And that is already much.