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American Ski Annual, 1944-45
* Lowell Skoog has a copy of each article marked with an asterisk.p. 37: Bradley, Lt. Charles C., "A Mountain Soldier Sings" *
"Perhaps the best measure of the spirit of a group of men can be found in the music that comes from them." The author describes the 87th Mountain Infantry as "one of the singingest outfits to ever shoulder an army pack." He joined a group including Pfc. Charlie McLane, Cpl. Ralph Bromaghin, Cpl. Glen Stanley and Lt. Dick Look that gathered almost every night to sing. "Bromaghin was very much the spark plug. He could feel out harmony better then anyone else I've known and was able to get it across to the rest of us." Bromaghin and McLane composed many of the lyrics, but the rest of the group all pitched in creatively.
The author gives the background and lyrics of the following songs: "Oola," "Sven," "The 87th Is Best By Far," "Underneath the Take-Off," "Systems and Theories of Skiing," "Two Boards," "The Palestine Ski School," "You'll Soon Be Moving Out," "86th Fighting Infantry," "A Happy Lad," and "Too Much Hay." He also describes the birth of the song that would become "Ninety Pounds of Rucksack" (by Sgt. Don Hawkins) but doesn't include all the lyrics.
p. 49: Elkins, Frank, "G.I. Skiing" *
The article describes military ski training at Camp Hale, Colorado. Ski technique is based on the Arlberg system, with refinements to cope with heavy packs. "In addition, the problem of 'bushwacking'…learning a technique that will give maximum safety to men traveling through dense woods…must be solved." Ski training consumes six to eight hours a day. It takes twenty days to turn an ordinary soldier into a combat skier. Rank beginners are taught walking, sidestepping, herringboning, snowplow and snowplow turn. This phase consumes about ten days. Then the beginner moves to the main slope of Cooper Hill, with its long T-bar lift. Lifted stem christies, pure christies and cross-country techniques are taught. Eventually day-long and week-long ski trips are undertaken. "It must be remembered all the time that Uncle Sam does not train men to be expert competitive skiers. The Army is only interested in teaching its men to transport themselves by the quickest, safest and best means under snow and hill conditions in combat."
p. 52: Holden, John S., "Let's Get Together" *
The author suggests ways in which the Swiss and Arlberg techniques could be combined into a more effective, unified system. He provides clear explanations of the differences between the schools. Aspects of French technique are described but with less emphasis. The stem turn is the greatest bone of contention between the Swiss and Arlberg schools. The Swiss emphasize a solid traverse position from which the new outside ski is stemmed, then weighted, and the hips drive the turn around. Rotary movements are minimized. In the Arlberg system the new inside ski is stemmed (abstem or counter stem) while the outside shoulder drops back. The weight goes to the outside ski and, after the turn is half over, the outside shoulder swings around exerting more force in the last half of the turn. The author notes that the Arlberg stem is used by U.S. mountain troops, "even though a preponderance of Swiss skiers helped formulate the technique used."
p. 73: Dole, Minnie, "The President and Aide Go Travelling - II" *
In March 1944, the author and NSA President Roger Langlie traveled to Camp Hale to see mountain troop training there. Of the men in the division about 7,000 were recruited through the National Ski Patrol System office. The author describes a ride in an M-29 Weasel driven by Lt. Col. Paul Lafferty.
p. 100: Howard, Dr. Frank H., "Safer Skiing" *
A doctor recently declared skiing the most hazardous of participant sports. In some states, football coaches and high school authorities ban their athletes and charges from skiing.The author argues for safety bindings to reduce skiing injuries. He discusses Hjalmar Hvam's Saf-Ski binding in some detail. He notes: "The Hvam Saf-ski binding is based on the principle that it is the rigid toe iron that twists the foot; that the cable, so often maligned in the past, isn't the offender at all."
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