Ski-running

Katharine Symonds Furse

Description

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ski-running, by Katharine Symonds FurseThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: Ski-runningAuthor: Katharine Symonds FurseRelease Date: February 7, 2004 [EBook #10969]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SKI-RUNNING ***Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Greg Chapman and PG Distributed Proofreaders[Transcriber's note: The spelling and punctuation inconsistencies of the original have been retained in this etext.]SKI-RUNNINGBYKATHARINE FURSEG.B.E., R.R.C.WITH MAP AND FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS1924PREFACESo many excellent books have been written about Ski-ing that it is, perhaps, presumptuous on my part to think that thereis room for another.Mr. Vivien Caulfeild in his "How to Ski" and "Ski-ing Turns," as well as Mr. Arnold Lunn in his "Ski-ing for Beginners,""Cross Country Ski-ing" and "Alpine Ski-ing," have covered all the ground of the technique discovered up to date. Whatfuture discoveries and inventions may be made, requiring new books, no one knows as yet.Had it not been for the help and coaching these two exponents of Ski-ing have given to me personally, I should neverhave been able to enjoy the sport to the extent I do now, because I should probably have been content to continue ...

Informations

• Publié par: cugal
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 29
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Project GtuneebgrE oBkoo Skf rui-innn bg,aK yraht eniomySFursnds  s eB e Thisif oo kehu rot anf  oseny aneyota erehwtsoc on  hlaomtsa dnw tirictions no rest.revuoY ahw eostity  iv , g ay mop c r -e yroa aw eti thenderit uuse rP eht fo smret g ernbteGut ecojtiw ht he sikooBceLie nsclinedud g.tuneebgrn.te  or online at www

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Greg Chapman and PG Distributed Proofreaders

[Transcriber's note: The spelling and punctuation inconsistencies of the original have been retained in this etext.]

Title: Ski-running Author: Katharine Symonds Furse Release Date: February 7, 2004 [EBook #10969] Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SKI-RUNNING ***

SKI-RUNNING

BY KATHARINEFURSE G.B.E., R.R.C. WITH MAP AND FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS 1924

PREFACE

So many excellent books have been written about Ski-ing that it is, perhaps, presumptuous on my part to think that there is room for another. Mr. Vivien Caulfeild in his "How to Ski" and "Ski-ing Turns," as well as Mr. Arnold Lunn in his "Ski-ing for Beginners," "Cross Country Ski-ing" and "Alpine Ski-ing," have covered all the ground of the technique discovered up to date. What future discoveries and inventions may be made, requiring new books, no one knows as yet. Had it not been for the help and coaching these two exponents of Ski-ing have given to me personally, I should never have been able to enjoy the sport to the extent I do now, because I should probably have been content to continue running across country, falling whenever I wanted to stop, and using a kick turn at the end of my traverses. Their enthusiasm and example gave me new ideas of the standard I wanted to attain, and their unfailing kindness and advice helped me to get nearer to it than I could otherwise have done. The standard still lies away up out of reach, as age undoubtedly tells against the Ski-runner, and the perfect Christiania in deep, soft snow round trees growing close together on a steep slope must be done in heaven rather than on earth by people who are nearer fifty than forty. Much experience of coaching beginners convinces me that there is still room for a book such as I hope to make this—a book containing only the simple answers to questions put to me during the last three years, when I have been responsible for running the Ski-ing in various centres. The object of such coaching is to raise the standard of British Ski-ing, and it is satisfactory to realize that other nations, including the Swiss, already marvel at the fair average of our runners. This is specially remarkable when it is remembered that most British runners can only afford a bare fortnight or three weeks' winter holiday in the Alps, and that they are not always in training when they arrive. Ski-ing is a sport which exercises every nerve and muscle as well as lungs, as is soon discovered during the first 100 feet climb or the first fall in deep snow on the Nursery slopes. In addition to my conviction that there is room for another book for beginners, my love of the Alps, which have been my home for the greater part of my life, also induces me to try to show something of the real objects of Ski-ing; namely getting to the silent places which can only be reached on skis, realizing something of the strength and immensity of Nature at her grimmest, profiting by the wonderful atmosphere of the mountains, to say nothing of the beauty of an Alpine view on a fine day. The greatest pity is that most British winter holiday-makers can only go out for Christmas. This is admittedly the worst time from the point of view of weather. At low altitudes rain often falls early in January, turning the snow into slush and reducing the Ski-er to despair. After the 15th January, the weather is usually better, and in February the days are longer and finer. The best time of all for an Alpine holiday is usually February and early March. My advice to novices, who are not tied by Christmas holidays, is to come out about the 20th January, when the hotels are less crowded, the days longer, the snow more certain and all the conditions more favourable. Some of my own best Ski-ing days have been late in March when the crocuses and gentians were already opening to the sun on the Southern slopes, and a soldanella might be found along some tiny stream. Few experiences can equal a Spring day among the Alps when the wealth of flowers begins to show in the valleys, while masses of good snow still lie on the Northern slopes or on the ridges above 6,000 feet. Early starts are necessary these days as the sun blazes after 11 a.m., but nothing can equal the bodily comfort and well- being enjoyed at midday, lunching at the top of some peak or pass, basking in the blaze and imagining the run down cool slopes. No Ski-runner, who has not been out in late February or March, realizes the joy and comfort of late Ski-ing. The hotels will remain open as long as clients stay to make it worth while, and all the mid-winter amenities will be kept up if they are wanted. In recommending places and equipment, I intend boldly to confine myself to the places I have been to and to the equipment I have used, or of which I have had reports from people I trust. This is a somewhat risky determination as there is great competition among the various centres and business firms which cater for Ski-runners. My reason is that the endless advertisements must be extremely confusing to the novice, who does not know what to believe, and who may sometimes be let down by a glowing description of some place or gear, which proves to be quite unsuitable. The old hands will find nothing new in this book. Not even controversy about the nomenclature of turns or as to which foot should carry the weight in a Christiania. My own view of Ski-ing turns is that they are a means to an end, and not an end in themselves, and that the Ski-runner, who is content to spend weeks on the Nursery slopes, perfecting one turn, has wasted almost weeks, when he might be enjoying what Skis enable one to reach among the mountains above. At the same time every beginner should be content to devote two or three of his first days to the Nursery slopes, learning the elements of good Ski-ing before dashing off on an excursion. As I know from painful experience, there is much to unlearn in what one has picked up by the light of Nature. Scrambling down a run, crashing and sitting on one's Skis, may be great fun the first day, but is tiring and humiliating as time goes on. It is infinitely preferable to learn the knack of Ski-ing tidily, and thereby keeping dry and, in a few days, running well enough thoroughly to enjoy a day out with its slow climb to the top of some peak or pass, and then the slide down under control.

The beginner is wise, who chooses a centre where the Ski-ing is well organized, and where he can be certain of getting coaching as well as excursions suited to his standard, as nothing is lonelier than going to a place where he is dependent on his own initiative; neither is anything more irksome to the good runner than to be asked to admit a stranger to his party, who may keep him back and spoil his run. This will be further alluded to in the Chapter on Etiquette, and if a beginner wishes to be popular, I advise him strongly to adhere to the "Law." A strict code has been adopted, mainly as a result of the suffering from pertinacious runners, who put their standard higher than is admitted by others.

Where the Ski-ing is organized, tests sort different individuals into their different standards and Runs are planned accordingly, so that the novice is not over-strained and the experienced runner is not hindered by too big a party.

The beginner should also choose a centre where there is a railway to help him. A great deal of precious time and energy may be wasted in a short holiday when all climbing has to be done on skis. The first runs are tiring enough without the additional fatigue of climbing, and going up in a funicular or railway opens up numbers of runs which would be far too energetic for most people who are not in training.

os Me.bluaal vsotbuodnu elpoep tompeoy c enjedlyfit dn ,noa itit ongthf  phesiasm si edaut e snr ry quali a necessaf rot ehifacitno hTsii  swhere tests are  ing runn anythan glehtniamigesi ra toe or e the isdradnats ruo fo  ubs of Great Briatnih va eodenm  thetsesf  oe thedeFetarkS dlC iustl eer ehtihveo. Tds t leas it retcarahc fo sse acd any la peefr ,tl teu uf lpsrour weakns give orp ecifob otmocebea tiauntien  isegaruoc elpoep t bu, lfent  iifejtc yh botiesi  n  a vt bewortery nuh-gnitam ,on ytiun, ngkeliot p aaBgd.eB daegh-ssed that, wear pay llfussceuc sgnivah ,dna nuR  y the o tren td th mnat ehaenrotl rmtee inil wdel nigesrenom ,b tsass teste 3rd clnuo  fhtt mider  .eanlb

CONTENTS

PREFACE

HISTORY OF SKI-ING

COST OFA SKI-INGHOLIDAYIN WINTER

SKI-INGCENTRES

CLOTHING

EQUIPMENT

CAREOFEQUIPMENT

THEELEMENTS OFSKI-ING

ETIQUETTE

SNOW AND LIGHT

FALLS

TESTS

GUIDES AND SKI INSTRUCTORS

MAPS AND FINDINGTHEWAY

AVALANCHES

ACCIDENTS

THEATTRACTIONS OFSKI-ING

SUMMER SKI-ING

APPENDIX: REGULATIONS OFTHEBRITISH SKI TESTS

INDEX

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

From photographs by E. Gyger, Adelboden, Switzerland

ACHIEVEMENT!

MAP OFSWITZERLAND

THEUPHILL TRACK

POWDER SNOW

SPRING

SKI-RUNNING

story hiearlthe  .oDi-gnS ik yfoit lryVe fo nwonk si eltives a v Schi" gertsni c gre yniet Hryk oeorcten H kooreD"h nib si ott ca krailehe recoest  He rds.t retpaht gnicar ose uhe bisSkf tnar lsAai narecs thousands of ye nihtt sk tahsikSer wuse  bedCey   ot gnidroccA .eopur Eind se ure yewt ehofer geb lon andB.C.ars  ,nadht "" ciiakSe ththGo d f ve m ro i  sedir dS"hc"i the worhis book thl Al. rdwoe esa ",eredno os dn Laten,"Scinin "mrna eeGehdi" cS berihe tpl s wit eb desu ot csed divide, and might  semnas lptio  r  in Norw popular eerlayltrb cemahe tpo s3 84enwhoba 1 tub sinagef Skse oed ucord yerufllna dre nod mhe . T rsientrof eniplA eht no  na a s llu es dhtme trians and Italiht nwS e,ssisuA 19f -1148,91he wG ert ehrao taW  agafarentilin u emoc evraw otniset nos hao  tem  litetfaporunu en heFra 18r  w70 epenrttaoth va eCentral E ed into S tub emit siht m ee sot ndos kia  si-gnS ik kpuboutat aort a sp hes  tldrehe he . TewS  sedoslaoot  ed, and in 1863 nae hxbitioi naw 1In. soSka 1 86w bulC idnuof sa nd aay a race  Ski r nuw sarTmoa  t rk Oof ldwagnRos etouq eh dna ,st hat es tstatwho .D ) 9.A1(51en y Skw ini-ho show cer sdroe taylraby knighactised psro trp gaw s a ihw hguo yeht hc he tngti hr w t no s htref ru shts ya . Doc pass Hoektor  ra sam eo edht rd oo wofchhiki Sividgno  resapareir action in di  yniA mrignaroew Ski,000ed 2cludht tub ,srennur  oe s d ki Sofe use  tnni.g uD w eh nuh  Swedishring theigeww nadna roN  t08 Nhe iar18n   way thewhic in  N e ro  hht na sewigki Sedustrr fos gnisrevayrtnuoc  he could run on kSsi T . ehS ewidhsis Bp hognMa wusetirni s351 fo 3  werTheyry se vep al eotht . yiw She tve mtos kiaey emasag eh ,rde of sealskin wi irig dibdnni gamki Sbus hat a d limit raom onred ceitocll eeravugy a  onlhave. I redluohs sih no aytra tea  ngyirr vasot eh reltfD el Napieen Colonub ,hw trep mrofngeiim h oonsef  dah I tatulosba  cnoy el. oltronuo t dbaedt niisindihe bo thng sa ,e k I s  wenhtong in tof ahe art hTsid din tom kae much differenc  kot Nt. ingniseI ,retteb gniwonof tans o meth nl oo gronenigithno s bo w-rur erbb ls heppi stocihw  try to  used touoitseo ur nnig  Stf Be. arrn wd,yb seht nom o sk pairs from Norwa oh boatnides mo eatthg inmiy he t881 ni ykniht ,3ir w theof mork ebu hg t lniesuf hC tuomaht da mer toietrchenoc d rtdocuitifsr tni 871. The  nix in 1 ihw ,dnalreztiwSo nt iisSkf  oon ,awarecott lb een ae be havch I geai nam-n esvrnat and a pair of sikSyM .cihtt laesaler wtoe  old eaw fhtsim  yhtlid an s thedown sepols âhc morf htot leca, elot scuing percy, resn hw oew desertai icfftiul iredin aP e .sso seht nolon87 Ct 18Abouemt  racpaeileN nggiinbrs voDao wroN a mih htiw  rom now on Ski-in aw sofmrdea dnf  hr tghout ouitSwps gdaerpar yldi ot oen lscipf didnt r uo aekeh m Sshlingb lu CkiehT .selE sovaD  aptr sfo dtoeh rorest an Black FtsuA.airsa l ni as, el wer GnymaC ulS ikmi,eaetnhe mIn t and.zerl eht ni demrof gnei bsoale er wbs eps m tn ynaruoh ra s pisctg in tonehs olep sebihdn Davos Dorf. The  oD nanoC dna elyd an. Mrug Hs.Mrsbno hoD kput oo gam thed wee an giin wng89 1br3 onk delw htimehte sport a ge of th aghtrededns oo n thro bondsarchRieeb dah ohw ,sre camway, Norn toobtusoa D va eot a s wao spt eagrarB saibhw ,regnand. er stn To The ku e alf Iveid dn owd anlyony  bnew ts tgiard th and so I alwayscaorssa yns olep  ruhtrA riS emits hi tutbo . A lfseh mia trt ehsideractnd pis a of Sk ap l sries darevmp iteorDat s,vo shspoa a s optrand keptortsman  sis  ekS ,htutkctuckey sd I , an on wenk fo gnihtan, ax w th enwhd o  nadsyo fff orm tobogganing. Io dn ylndesueht ki Sass  f aakre at Id th head mysr earevdlt c uo megar reoo p ait eretne reven tI . sat dowy slid Ihtuohg t nna d I aitoo poutht ghnehWeht ag r .em  polwithves mselt ehmrdesra nuenhe tchhi wong onl teef 8 emos se ing downhen runnaeivylw l y aetnh e avy wasol  gons sioohcllihhT .hcoonrs ihhc,lw he mto tmodeore  gniyrrac owt fo  d vero phe tatth  rhtnao eno ln.ysticks was bette skot not ehnhce g Aatrean mboy   emaceb ssiwS ehend anc tigeerennuencir aitshtsudrenchilThe rs. es eo neuoc b dl avst wesar n bl rerio  floti h aapnailed td boots cee tho nt irent hcihw oils yeht theppedeet ir ft ehiwhtnwb rio tsoon. ot  Is n wa a torap ucitlraly graceful game nit ohesd ya.sR  oft he tacg uncoa senol eh svig  1922, aished in ih", uplb " eD rcS s ki Sofn ioptdoa laudarg eht saell as wubs f Clgno roimtsf f ri lufesil fo teht  fd,thur, erusa et rlcmiibgn ,na as a means to win ni sgnint ,9981 ir fhe tineg bst buejehs  tfre tc A .erat liton ture  dn ,edcsG erneale use ofribed thesnai ,ntcoDN ro aokutbohin bos  sifuotna cch si any at m a gre red citcrA rof sikS nd aontiraloxp e vise anyone who iwhsset  onkwom  remoeo pe pl ttot yrg eh.ema da Ig tonnind Do reaH eotcroobko'k s tofe orelev dheo tnempour ikS f

HISTORY OF SKI-ING

Ale th, ki SnepissA ikS noitaico' Skdiesub.i Cl bnaC ul eaL dht ri Batre Gofb lu hsitirB eht ,niatbs i Clu SkitishikC ehS edt cnul ga a dins iterev ehT . irB  gniytuo   is but at there naeco  f ilttel hc  ,erehweohguorht whe tutth, ldor tfAE saa dniracrica Ame els andsla t ni osuA lart, iaw NealZed,an alnuhcde ,on tnoly in Europe, bule losw i  soptrhe snd ts, abook-raey nwo rieht thwis ubCli Ske unemarlb era eniNow ther chnique.  ysr et notnocevoro  te thburingtiers  othcontall eg t ,oRa dnoHged ilfeulnnLud anneiliL daC ,dlefously—Zdarsky an eh rafts na dufir llfoedowac eoth euqi fo -ikS gni