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American Ski Annual, 1937-38
* Lowell Skoog has a copy of each article marked with an asterisk.p. 76: Borgersen, Orville, "Ski and Winter Photography" *
Advice on selecting cameras, film, lighting, exposure, composition, and shooting ski action. The article confirms that Borgersen was a respected ski photographer of the time.
p. 127: Grinden, Harold A., "More Ski History" *
The author writes that the chapters on early skiing in E.C. Richardson's Ski Runner, Arnold Lunn's History of Skiing and Charles Dudley's 60 Centuries of Skiing have the history of the sport in the old world well covered. He believes that skiing started long before the 5th century, when the Skridfinnar were described by Procopius. He feels that recently there has been too much emphasis placed by historians on skiing in countries who followed, rather than on the pioneers in Scandinavia. He notes that a drawing printed in 1825 shows the present day crouch, side-stepping, stepping around, and the kick turn. Early writings by Mikkel Hemmestvedt from the Telemarken province mention downhill and slalom. He believes that skiing reached America with Leif Ericson in the year 1000 and hopes to see his theory confirmed by the finding of skis by archaeologists. He urges the NSA divisional associations to appoint historians to collaborate on a complete history of American skiing.
p. 144: Elkins, Frank, "Reviewing the 1936-37 Season" *
This article concentrates on competitive skiing and notes the unprecedented development of the sport that occurred the previous year. 1936-37 was a disappointment in the East, due to light snowfalls, but the sport was going strong everywhere else. Just before Christmas, during the Madison Square Garden Winter Sports Snow and International Ski Meet, equipment demand outstripped supply. At the Garden Show $125,000 worth of merchandise was sold. The author feels that the poor snow year in 1936-37 in the East could be good for the sport on the long run, because it was growing too fast. He predicts a shakeout of the smaller sports houses and ski areas.
p. 150-153: Goodrich, Nathaniel L., "Editorial and Notes" *
The Editor urges the Safety Committee to investigate Alec Bright's claim (asa-1936-p164) that bindings which hold the heel down to the ski are safer than the free-heel type. No one in the U.S. has cared enough to write anything more on the subject. In the British Ski Year Book, Arnold Lunn objects not only to down-pull bindings but also to modern boots with rigid soles. Lunn says that in these boots one cannot kneel on the ski even with a free-heel binding, an invitation to trouble.
Responding to an article in the California Ski News (9/28/37) about the primacy of Norwegion skiing, the editor writes:
"Everyone whose opinion matters knows that skiing first became a sport in Scandinavia; that Scandinavians brought it to the Alps, and to America; that the downhill phase of the sport, the "Alpine technique," neglected in Scandinavia because their mountains were remote, was developed by the Alpine people, living in the mountains, to a height of excellence far beyond anything which had been done in Scandinavia; that the downhill technique came to America from central Europe and swept the country, because it was, unlike jumping, something everyone could do; that the Scandinavians both at home and over here were at first indifferent to this development, but when they did take it up, quite naturally did as well as anyone else; that in jumping and cross-country Scandinavians were supreme, and in general still are, but that today these are only part, perhaps not the larger part, of skiing. We are all glad to give full credit to the pioneer work done by Scandinavians, here and over there. They should be--many are--willing to extend the same recognition to others' work."p. 160: Dole, Charles M., "Ski Patrols" *
"With the number of weekend and holiday skiers ever increasing, the necessity for some sort of skiing police force has become very apparent to those responsible for the pleasure and safety of visiting skiers in any given locality." Several centers in Vermont and Massachusetts have given time to the organization and functioning of ski patrols. The author outlines recommended requirements for patrolmen, including skiing proficiency, first aid training, knowledge of woodcraft, a tactful personality, and appreciation for the responsibility involved in joining a patrol.
p. 207: Binns, Ken, "The Year in the Northwest" *
In addition to competition results, this report notes the opening of Sun Valley Lodge, dedication of Timberline Lodge, and construction of a Forest Service lodge at Deer Park in the Olympic Mountains. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul and Pacific Railroad is entering into ski train operation. An area near Hyak, in Snoqualmie Pass, is being cleared, a ski hut will be built, and floodlights installed. Ski tows are going in at Mt Baker and Snoqualmie Pass on the Seattle Park Board's ski area. The Forest Service is constructing a cabin at Stevens Pass, "long considered by skiers a fine place to ski if the road were kept open." New clubs in the association include the Mt Baker Ski Club, the Olympic Peninsula Winter Sport Club, representing Port Angeles and Port Townsend, and the Bremerton Ski Cruisers. The Ski Cruisers are described as "a hardy mob," having discovered a skier's paradise deep in the Olympics that requires a 16-mile ski in. They take in supplies in October, when the roads are open, to avoid the more arduous back-packing in January. In technique, the author notes "an obvious swing from what today may be described as the clumsier downhill stance of years before, to the reaching vorlage so essential now to high-speed running."
p. 211: Hostmark, Peter H., "Skiing Trends in the Northwest" *
PNSA is working to raise funds to bring a Norwegian amateur jumping trainer to the Northwest. Olav Ulland, unofficially credited with the world's longest jump, 339 feet, has been selected for the job. To the Leavenworth jumping tournament in February 1937, the Great Northern Railroad sent 3,000 people in three trainloads from Seattle. An additional 1,000 people were turned away at the station in Seattle. Three PNSA clubs are bidding for National tournaments and Olympic tryouts in 1939.
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