History of cross-country skiing: from its origins to the present day. The history of the appearance of skis among mankind Ski history
It has not yet been possible to find out exactly which country and from what time can be considered the birthplace of skiing (well, at least definitely not African countries). This question is of great interest to people not only in those regions where the use of skis was a necessity and became a tradition, but also in many others, where the “sport of sports” (that is, skiing) has spread so much over the past 20–30 years that it has barely become perhaps not the most favorite winter sport. Nansen, in his book “Skiing across Greenland” (1890), tried to comprehensively cover this issue. Based on his own and other people's research, he comes to the conclusion that skiing was first spread by the peoples of the outskirts of the Altai Mountains and Lake Baikal in Asia. Skis came to us from Norway via Finland, and the Norwegians and Swedes must have learned to ski from the Laplanders.
But Nansen, based on his research, came to the conclusion that it was the Siberian tribes who spread skiing to the east, west and north. It is possible that skiing began simultaneously in different places in these vast northern spaces.
Peoples, in their struggle against nature, also had to defend themselves against snow. Concern for facilitating communications (especially when the invention of the Internet is still tens of thousands of years away) and subsistence by hunting prompted man to invent something that would make it possible not only to stay on the surface of the snow, but also to move along it. This is how the so-called “trugen”, the ancestor of the current snow rocket, arose. The North American Indians did not yet know anything about skiing, and the Trugen was already very widespread among them. But Nansen claims that even in those distant times the Indians used very narrow devices, a kind of real skis.
These “trugen” devices were tied to the legs so as not to sink in the snow. They were of different shapes and made of different materials. historian Xenophon, around 400 BC e. learned from the inhabitants of the mountains of Armenia to tie horse hooves with furs. Strabo in 20 BC e tells how the inhabitants of the Caucasus tied leather soles to their feet in winter, in which sometimes they were driven. Another author talks about a device made of wood, very similar to the Norwegian Trugen.
The need to move over long distances on snow led to the invention of skis. They developed slowly, starting from the round shape of the trugen, then turning into an oval shape, and then each time longer, until they reached the modern shape. To prevent the trugen from falling into the snow when walking, they began to bend it slightly upward from the front. From here there was only one more step to “trugen skis”, lined with leather, used in central Siberia.
Nansen believes that this transition from Trugen to skiing took place in the Altai Mountains. The only question is when exactly? Of course, this happened a long time ago. In Siberia the skis are still in almost their original form. Olsen tells in one letter to Nansen that some peoples of Siberia and Finland have long used short but wide skis lined with leather.
With the migration of peoples, skis came to the inhabitants of the Scandinavian Peninsula from the east. Here is what the ancient legend tells about the Scandinavian ancestor Nora: “He waited with his tribe in Kvenlandi (Finland) until the snow became suitable for skiing, then, going around the Baltic Sea to the north, they went down through Norway to Trendeljagen, where they settled.” .
Only one thing is unclear. Having borrowed skis from the Laplanders, the Norwegians took the name for them neither from them nor from the Finns. Philological research diverges from historical research here. The Norwegians have the name “ski” and “aandar”, the Swedes “skid” and “andor”, where there is nothing Laplandish. Laplanders have the names “savek” (skis lined with leather and wool) and “golyas” (long, unlined). The Finns have several names: giden, suks, liliy, tracing paper, etc. They also have nothing in common with the name in Lithuanian (“luskes”) or in Russian (“skis”).
And no matter where skis in Norway came from the north, east, or even south, or originated there on their own, they are at least a couple of thousand years old.
Skis are even mentioned in Norse mythology. Ulz, god of winter, snow and hunting, appears on skis, well dressed in white, shiny snow with a red face and frost around his lips. In one poem from 980 Odin is also called the god of skis. There is also a ski goddess.
Residents of northern Scandinavia in the 6th century. The Laplanders were called “skridfinner”, that is, “Finns moving on the snow.” The Norwegians generally considered the Laplanders to be primitive skiers. Queen Gungilda, who was raised by two Laplanders (around 920), says of them: “The Laplanders are such good skiers that neither animals nor people can hide before them.” One collection of Icelandic laws from 1250 states, among other things: “The criminal must be driven as far as a Finnish man can run on skis.” Norwegian history (1200) tells about the Laplanders: “... when they move from place to place, they place smooth wooden branches under their feet, with which they cross mountains and valleys faster than the birds of the air fly.”
The chronicler Saxo (also around 1200) narrates: “The Laplanders run hunting through the mountains covered with snow, on pieces of wood bent in front.” The historian Storm believes that in Norway the use of skis became widespread already in the 10th century. Frequent mentions of skiing in various poems of that time definitely indicate that even then skiing was generally known.
Olaf Trygveson (995-1000) was then the best skier. And ancient folk songs mention medieval ski races. Today's skiers do not want to believe that one skier in the year 1000 rode with two people who stood on the tails of his skis, as easily and well as if they were not there. Skis were also used for mail
For some time, the skiing business has been declining in Norway, which was previously the pride of outstanding people. But in subsequent centuries, skis were used almost exclusively for communication between cities and they became necessary again. In 1784, Rev. Smith declared that skiing was indispensable in his parish. In addition, hunters began to use skis, mainly those who caught wild animals with lassos. But skiing as a sport appeared around 1870, and immediately became the national sport of the Norwegians.
Since the beginning of the 18th century. skiing is starting to gain more and more importance again. Around this same time, the first separate ski troops were created. When leaving home, the skiers had: 1 pair of skis with one pole, 1 pair of rough, long stockings, one calfskin backpack. In addition, every five people had a leather fur for food, and every ten had a sled on skis, which they harnessed, and a hand ax. In the barracks, everyone received shoes designed specifically for skiing.
Skiers from the southern part of the region used narrow and long skis made from bark trees, and in the northern mountainous regions - skis made from birch. During severe frosts, yoke skis broke much faster than birch skis. Knitting was made from birch branches cut in July, which were very hardy.
On Sundays there were meetings near churches, where people came from distant outskirts and stayed for four days to make their own skis and look at ski competitions. The competition was limited to driving along the side of the road (maybe with a jump). The races lasted no longer than 15 minutes. These Sunday meetings contributed a lot to the spread of skiing among the people. Using skis eliminated the monotony of winter and maintained courage and good mood. In the battles of 1808, Norwegian skiers distinguished themselves very well, bringing invaluable benefits to their army.
But within a few years after the war, skiing began to fade away again. Military ski departments disappeared completely, and former competitions and awards distribution fell into disrepair. Skiing has only been delayed in some areas. But in 1861, the “Central Society” was founded, which made every effort to revive skiing again, did strong propaganda in the region, and in 1863 sent images with various models of skis everywhere. And there was no need to wait long for the consequences. Already in 1865, skiing was resumed in many places, even where it had been completely forgotten for a long time. In 1866, the first skiers' society was founded. In 1867, the first major competitions took place with the distribution of awards. This was the first time the desire was expressed for skiing to become a Norwegian national sport.
In 1877, prominent people founded the Christian Ski Club. Two years later this club organized the first major competitions, combined with a very rich and interesting ski exhibition. Skiers from the vicinity of Telemarku came to these competitions for the first time. They made a very good impression by skiing the entire length of Norway.
In the 20th century, the active development of skiing continued, and how can one not remember the brave Finnish partisan skiers, who caused a lot of trouble to the Bolshevik occupiers during the Soviet-Finnish War of 1940. And in conclusion - there is snow outside the window, which means stop reading - let's go skiing!
P.S. Ancient chronicles tell: Yes, skiing has become so popular in our time as both a sport and just entertainment that many avid skiers even go to the French and Austrian Alps in the summer (where there is a glacier all year round) to ski. But during such trips it is very important to find suitable accommodation. This is actually not so difficult when rental houses in Europe are at your service (including on the website http://rental-home.ru/), all that remains is to find a house and business that is suitable in price and quality via the Internet in advance made.
“Skiing may not be happiness, but it can easily replace it,” one of the great French skiers once said. At the height of the ski season and before the main period of trips to ski resorts, we offer you a photo story about how skis themselves have changed and their role in the lives of our compatriots from time immemorial to the present day.
1. The first mentions of skis were found in rock art thousands of years BC. For northern peoples, including our distant ancestors, this invention was simply vital in order to be able to move through the snow and get food in the winter.
2. Many centuries later, namely around the middle of the 16th century, skis began to be used by the military. In the photo: painting by Ivanov S.V. “The march of the Muscovites. XVI century." The painting itself dates from 1903.
3. In general, until the very end of the 19th century, skis were used mainly for hunting and in the army, so skiers all this time used only one stick - the second hand had to remain free. Skiing in Russia received official recognition as a sport in 1895, when the first ski races took place. Photo: Getty Images
4. At first, skis did not have special shoes and were simply tied to existing ones. And given the famous Russian frosts, the first ski shoes were most often felt boots. This was the case until the 30s of the 20th century, when welted boots and bindings appeared, which were actively used by skiers until the 70s, and sometimes continue to be used now. In the photo: Russian soldier on skis and in felt boots, 1900-1919.
5. In the Soviet Union, as is known, physical education and sports occupied a very honorable place in the life of every citizen. And skiing - primarily cross-country skiing - has become one of the most widespread and popular winter sports. Millions of fans of a sporty and healthy lifestyle annually took part in mass ski races.
6. They began to get involved in skiing from childhood - during the long winter months, all Soviet schoolchildren, without exception, engaged in physical education on cross-country skiing. In the photo: Moscow State University, Moscow, 1959.
7. And this is a physical education lesson in Ulyanovsk in 1967. Photo: Sergey Yuryev
8. Among adults, skiing was also considered an excellent way to spend winter leisure time and even often replaced romantic dates. Now is the time to remember the famous Soviet ski ointment with its specific smell, far from any romance. However, without it, wooden skis, an alternative to which did not yet exist, would not work. Photo: Sergey Yuryev
9. As for alpine skiing, they began to develop in Russia much later than cross-country skiing, and at first they were mainly part of the training of climbers. In the photo: Dombay, 1937
10. The first “breakthrough” in Soviet alpine skiing occurred in 1956, when Evgenia Sidorova (pictured) won the first Olympic medal at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The athlete took third place, despite a shoulder injury.
11. After this, in the 60s, alpine skiing began to gain unprecedented popularity in the country. And Dombay began to turn from a mountaineering camp into the main ski resort of the country. In 1964, construction of a recreation and sports complex began here, including a network of hotels, bases, huts and cable cars. In the photo: modern Dombay
12. Another remarkable period in the history of domestic alpine skiing is the era of the “golden team”, the time of our triumph in the late 70s - early 80s, when skiers led by Alexander Zhirov literally burst onto the podium of the World Cup stages. The headlines in the sports newspapers were impressive: “Achtung! The Russians are coming,” “The Russians are rushing to become leaders,” “24 days of the Russian miracle.” The period of the “golden team” was a time of flourishing talent and long-awaited victories for domestic sports. Photo: Roman Denisov
13. In 1974, a real revolution took place in the skiing world - the first plastic skis appeared. At the same time, boots and bindings began to be actively improved. As a result, ski equipment has acquired a completely modern look, although the skis themselves, bindings and boots continue to be constantly improved even now. Photo: Roman Denisov
14. Modern lovers of skiing have plenty to choose from: stores provide a wide range of ski products, among which not only amateurs, but also professionals can find suitable equipment.
15. Nowadays, schoolchildren are still required to learn the basics of cross-country skiing.
16. And alpine skiing and trips to ski resorts are gaining more and more popularity among compatriots every year. Photo: Roman Denisov
17. Some parents begin to introduce their children to their favorite sport from a very early age - ski schools accept students from three years old.
18. And for those who cannot live without skis even in summer, indoor ski resorts with artificial snow are opening.
Osipenkova Taisiya
Skiing was invented by northern peoples during their migration to areas with cold climates and long winters. To survive, people needed to move through snow, sometimes very deep (more than a meter). Most likely, snowshoes were invented first - devices that increase the area of foot support and thereby prevent falling through the snow. There are known peoples of the north who, at the time of their discovery by researchers, used snowshoes, but did not know about skis. In the process of developing this invention, skis appeared. Judging by archaeological finds, snowshoe skis, which appeared in Altai and in the area of Lake Baikal, were widespread until the 16th century AD. But by this time sliding skis were already used. Bishop Olaf the Great, in his book “History of the Northern Peoples” published in Rome in 1555, described the winter hunting techniques of the Lapps as follows: “Those who ski serve as beaters, those who glide beat deer, wolves and even bears with clubs. , because they are free to catch up with them. Animals cannot run quickly through deep, collapsing snow and, after a tiring and long chase, they become victims of a person who can easily ski.”.
The second possible variant of the origin of skis is their origin from sleds. The skis are similar to lightweight sled runners.
Initially, skis were used for their intended purpose - for moving through deep snow in the forest during hunting, military operations in winter conditions, etc. This determined their proportions at that time - they were short (150 cm on average) and wide (15- 20 cm), comfortable for stepping over rather than sliding. Such skis can now be seen in the eastern regions of the Russian Federation, where they are used by fishermen and hunters. Sometimes the skis were lined with kamus (skin from a deer's leg) to make it easier to move up the slope.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, skiing appeared - a form of leisure that involved skiing at speed or for pleasure. Skis with different proportions appeared, more suitable for high-speed running - 170-220 cm long and 5-8 cm wide. The same skis began to be used in the army. Around the same time, ski poles appeared, significantly facilitating and speeding up skiing.
Gradually, skis completely turned into sports equipment and took on a familiar look.
Initially, the skis were wooden, made from solid boards and did not shine in appearance. With the beginning of the development of skiing and the technical revolution at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, skis changed. In addition to changing proportions, they began to be made from several parts, machines began to be used for their production, and ski factories appeared. This state of affairs persisted until the advent of plastic materials, or plastic.
Some plastic materials have properties that are useful for skis - they do not get wet, snow does not stick to them, and glide is better. This is how skis with a plastic coating first appeared, then entirely plastic skis.
Currently, the internal structure of skis can be quite complex - the sports and sports equipment industry invests a lot of money in scientific research. Modern skis use
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Cross-country skis are skis that allow you to move over snowy terrain over short and medium distances (up to 50 km) at high speed. They are divided into two large classes: plastic skis and wooden skis. Plastic skis, in turn, are also divided into two large subclasses: skis with notches and skis with a smooth block (that is, the smooth middle part of the ski). Skis with a smooth last, in turn, are divided into two more subclasses: intended for the classic style of movement (when the skis move parallel to one another in the track) and for the skating style, when the skier moves along a wide snowy road, and his movements are similar to the movements of a speed skater .
Skis are a device for moving a person on snow. They are two long (150-220 centimeters) wooden or plastic strips with pointed and curved toes. Skis are attached to the feet using bindings; nowadays, special ski boots are required to use skis in most cases. Skis move using their ability to glide over snow.
Alpine skiing is a special type of ski used for skiing down mountain slopes and in alpine skiing. At first, ordinary skis with semi-rigid bindings were used for sports descent from the mountains. A great example of this can be seen in the movie Sun Valley Serenade. Gradually the skis were modified. One of the first modifications was the edging - narrow (4-5 mm) metal strips were attached flush to the bottom edges of the ski. This, firstly, prevented the ski wood from grinding off on firn (hard, hard snow that often forms in the mountains, sometimes interspersed with small ice crystals), and secondly, it made it possible to control the skis more confidently.
Plastic skis with notches. They are skis with notches (hooks, notches) in the middle part of the ski in the area of the ski boot. They are a very good fitness tool, but are practically not used by professional skiers. However, such skis are extremely popular in developed countries of Europe and America. Approximately half of all skis sold in Western countries are cut skis.
For skating style of movement. The skating style of movement requires a slightly higher level of physical fitness compared to the classic style. It is no coincidence that most people skiing in the forest use the classic style of movement - it is simpler, more democratic, and less demanding on the quality of preparation and the width of the ski run. At the same time, skating skis are usually 15-20 cm shorter than classic skis. Also, on these skis, on the lower part, along the edges of the ski, there is a 1-2 mm edge for a more stable ride of the ski so that it does not slip to the side. For the same purpose, some manufacturers, for example, Rossignol, began to make two grooves on each ski, instead of one central one. The grooves are located symmetrically and allow you to freely change the left ski with the right.
Skis can be attached to boots using various devices of varying degrees of complexity, called bindings. The whole variety of fastenings can be divided into several types: 1. simple 2. soft 3. semi-rigid 4. hard 5. mountain
Simple bindings were the first to appear; they can be found on hunting skis. They are a simple leather or fabric loop into which you can easily insert your felt boot. Soft fastenings are a development of simple ones. Another strap was added to the loop, covering the leg from behind, above the heel, and preventing the ski from slipping off the leg. Currently, such bindings are often installed on children's skis. Semi-rigid fastenings - the leather loop is replaced with metal cheeks, into which the boot rests, held on top by a sling. Instead of a belt, a cable is used - a metal spring. The cable is tensioned using a small lever, which is attached in front of the cheeks. All three types of mounts listed do not require special shoes, are reliable and easy to use. Semi-rigid mounts have been in service in the armies of various countries for a long time. Also, semi-rigid bindings were used in skiing and jumping in the early stages, before the advent of modern ski bindings and boots.
Rigid bindings - when using them, the boot is “tightly” connected with the toe to the skis, which allows for better control over them. It is rigid fastenings that are now widely used. Currently, three fastening systems are produced - Nordic 75 (familiar to everyone in the USSR), SNS, NNN and its new version NIS. Ski bindings - these specific bindings completely fix the boot relative to the ski, which is necessary for control at high speeds developed by athletes when descending from the mountains. A characteristic feature of these fastenings is the ability to release the boot under critical loads in order to protect a person from serious injuries and fractures.
In addition to these main varieties, there are rarely seen options: Telemark ski bindings - similar to ski bindings, they have specific properties necessary for telemark skiing. Skitour bindings are an intermediate option between rigid and alpine ski bindings; they allow you to move comfortably on the plain, while the boot is attached to the ski only with the toe, and also provide the ability to fix the heel for the ski slope. They have the ability to release the boot under critical loads, just like alpine ski boots. Jumping bindings are a modification of bindings for jumping sports.
“And then there is also a land where all the people have dog heads,” the talkative wanderer Feklusha from A. N. Ostrovsky’s drama “The Thunderstorm” frightened the inhabitants of the town of Kalinov. However, it’s unlikely that anyone would have believed her; would there have been someone like Feklusha - after all, the 19th century was going on, major geographical discoveries had been made, and people already knew a lot about the world around them. Well, if the narrator lived in the 6th century BC and himself visited many countries, then, of course, the listeners did not doubt the veracity of his stories.
“Monsters with one leg live in those snows, and they run through the snow with incredible speed - real devils” - the Roman gold merchant Terence Dar, who returned from the distant Snowy Land, entertained the public with such stories. And he did not invent anything, but honestly spoke about what he saw with his own eyes. We were talking about Scandinavia. Its inhabitants, apparently, were dressed in fur skins from head to toe, which is why the resident of warm Italy mistook them for “monsters,” but why “about one leg”? Yes, because they slid on one ski (it was called a “wooden sole”), the other - a small “outsole” - was used for pushing.
Skis of this design are by no means the most ancient.
It was probably the difficulty of walking in the snow that gave the man the idea of “big soles.” They are believed to have appeared 20-30 thousand years ago. These were round or oblong planks. Then they began to make them from branches - they were bent in the shape of an oval, and the ends were tied together with a winding of veins. Residents of the mountainous regions of Armenia even put such “skis” on their horses, although in this case it would be more correct to talk about “big hooves.” This ancient structure has survived to this day. So, for those who do not know how to ski, a special snowshoeing club has been created in Switzerland. These designs resemble oversized tennis rackets with attachments. Unlike skiing, snowshoeing requires less physical effort and allows you to climb into places inaccessible to skiers. There were even competitions for this sport - walking 5 and 10 kilometers.
Probably, some of our distant ancestors, walking along the slope on such devices, slipped, but did not fall, but traveled some distance. This gave rise to an interesting idea - shouldn't we make sliding skis? At first they had different lengths - this is how the Roman traveler saw them. But his inquisitive gaze did not notice one important detail: the bottom of the skis were lined with fur and slid only on the pile. This is very convenient for hunters: you can easily climb the slope and get close to the animal - the skis do not creak, there is no recoil when running. And now Evenki hunters line their skis with reindeer skins. The ancient skier preferred one stick: after all, he is primarily a hunter or warrior and he needed a free hand to hold his prey, bow, and gun.
Soon skis began to be used in military affairs. 1500 years ago the Normans invaded Scandinavia; according to legend, the conquerors came on skis. In the 12th century, the Norwegian kings kept a special detachment of Finnish ski warriors in their service. And in 1444, the Moscow army repelled a Tatar raid on Ryazan on skis. In the description of this event in the chronicle, among other things, the use of skis in Rus' was mentioned for the first time. Later, in the chronicles of the 16th and 17th centuries, there are also records of such detachments. Skis helped Russian partisans in the War of 1812, and at the end of the 19th century, compulsory skiing training was even introduced in the Russian army. Skis were successfully used by communications and sanitary service units during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
Skiers. Scandinavian engraving.
And of course, ski battalions and brigades played a significant role in the defeat of the Nazis.
The path of skis to widespread popularity was quite thorny. It all started with the legends of the “snow devil”, in which the ancient Italians believed. Later, the Catholic Church began to intimidate its parishioners with the “snow devil”. Anyone who tried to put “the devil’s invention” on their feet was cursed - anathema. But it was not possible to stop the spread of skis. Already in 1555, the first ski races with prizes took place in Russia, whose inhabitants were called skiers by foreigners. There is a mention of such competitions in Norway in the mid-18th century. True, only warriors could participate in them; In 1867, races were held in the Norwegian region of Telemark, in which everyone could participate.
In Russia at the end of the last century, ski races were not uncommon. In 1895, the Moscow Ski Club was created, but the first national championship took place only 15 years later. It took place on Khodynskoye Field in Moscow. 14 racers competed over a distance of 30 kilometers. The race was won by Pavel Bychkov, completing the route in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 47 seconds. But the victory brought the driver a lot of grief. The fact is that the winner was a janitor. And a discussion arose on the pages of the press: can a person whose profession involves physical labor be considered an amateur?
A truly massive passion for skiing began in the world at the end of the last century, when Norwegian explorers crossed Greenland from west to east on “boards.” Photos of the world famous polar explorer Nansen standing on skis appeared in the newspapers.
Skis of the northern peoples.
Skiing has become not only popular, but also fashionable, and this has given rise to many oddities. Smartly dressed ladies attacked the woodworkers, begging them to turn out little skis for their dogs; ardent gentlemen gave the ladies of their hearts skis designed for riding together.
The first attempt to “understand” skis, that is, to create them with optimal size and shape, was made back in 1644 by the Dane Saxo. He completed the first drawing of sliding skis in history. At first they turned out wide and short. But over time, their shape gradually changed and eventually took on a modern look, which turned out to be more convenient for good gliding and practical. For a long time, skis were made from a single piece of wood; birch was considered the best material. Then glued skis appeared - made of several layers of plywood with edging around the edges. Since 1974, the era of plastic skis began. In just a few years, they almost completely replaced wooden skis from the sport. This was due to their lighter weight, greater strength and excellent running qualities.
However, a lot depends on the choice of ointment. The first ski waxes appeared at the beginning of the century. And immediately not only recipes arose, but also secrets. At the same time, here’s what’s curious: the time it takes a good skier to run a ten-kilometer distance is now 34-35 minutes, and half a century ago it was 27 minutes. Paradoxical! After all, skiers have become stronger and more resilient. What is the reason? In skis or in ointment? Neither one nor the other. The track is to blame. Previously, it was laid only on flat terrain, but now it is laid on rough terrain. On the skier's path there are rivers, ditches, and ice cover of lakes. And if earlier the ointment had one task - to increase slip, now it has to be both increased and decreased. The base of the ointment remained the same - paraffins and waxes, but to improve traction with snow, rubber and rubber began to be added to them. Nevertheless, it is impossible to create a universal ointment for all occasions.
Ski poles are also being improved. For example, a smooth rod pressed from a mixture of crushed coal and clay is inserted into each handle, which is lit with a match and smolders for 4 hours. Even in cold weather you can walk along the track without gloves.
Why don't they use skis? At the beginning of the last century, one American cattle breeder decided to go for a ride with his girlfriend. They went outside the city, and suddenly a strong gust of wind inflated the girl’s skirt like a sail, which flew away from the young man with great speed. That same day, the enterprising American was already skiing and sailing.
For some time now people have been skiing not only on snow, but also on water. Some skis are carried at high speed behind a boat, while others do not need a boat: each ski consists of two elongated cylinders connected by a step. Small cylindrical inflatable balloons are also attached to the ends of the poles. They simply “walk” on the water. Later, surfing appeared - riding boards in the surf. And in the north of Australia no one has ever seen snow, but this does not mean that they do not ski there. They ride, all year round, on sandy slopes.
In some countries, “grass” skis have become very popular. This is a rubber track in a metal frame equipped with plastic rollers. You cannot achieve the same speed as on regular skis, but you can train in the summer.
Matthias Zbarski is considered the inventor of alpine skiing. In 1891-1892, he converted Norwegian skis into alpine skis, managing to give them maneuverability and stability in conditions of rapid descent along mountain slopes.
Winged skiers also appeared. The founder of this sport is the Austrian engineer I. Krupka. Thanks to the wings he developed, slalom and jumping became much more interesting. The wings are made of very light metal. They are carried in a special backpack. Before jumping and flying, the skier puts on a belt with a bib, to which is attached a massive rod that carries wings. And it is unknown what other designs will appear...
Do you know?
The Russians made an invention... They have wooden rims approximately seven feet long and one span wide, but the bottom is flat and smooth. They tie them under their feet and run with them through the snow, never plunging into it, and with such speed that one can be surprised at it.
Mons Palm, secretary of the Swedish embassy in Moscow, 1617.
The history of cross-country skiing goes back several thousand years, which is confirmed by rock paintings in caves in Norway, made around 7000 years ago . It all started from the moment when a man discovered that by tying two pieces of wood of a special shape to his feet, he could move faster through snow-covered fields and forests while hunting. Many centuries later, approximately in the middle 16th century , skis began to be used by the armies of the Scandinavian countries, and a little later the military were put on skis in Russia. The first similar competition was held in Norway in 1767 , however, there was no further development of cross-country skiing as a sport until the middle of the 19th century. In 1843 in Norway, and then in 1865 in Finland, official cross-country skiing competitions took place. In 1862, the first result in history was recorded in Sweden - Lars Tuorda from Lapland won the two-part 220 km race in a time of 22 hours 22 minutes. In Russia, the first competition dates back only 1894 , when a quarter-mile ski race took place in St. Petersburg.
Nothing refreshes the will and refreshes the mind like skiing
The feat of the famous Norwegian traveler and Arctic explorer is objectively considered one of the most important events in the development of cross-country skiing in the 19th century.Fridtjof Nansen, who in 1889 was the first in the world to complete a more than five hundred-kilometer crossing of Greenland alone. Three years later, a book was published about this transition, translated into several languages, thanks to which people around the world learned a lot about skiing and developed a love for skiing. It was from the end of the 19th century that sports societies and skiing clubs began to actively appear in all countries.
“Nothing strengthens the muscles and makes the body so strong and elastic, nothing gives reaction and speed, nothing refreshes the will and refreshes the mind like skiing” - these are the words of Fridtjof Nansen.
Over the entire period of evolution of ski equipment, which is several thousand years, there have been very different options for skis, boots and poles. The first devices for moving on snow were more similar to modern snowshoes, but over time they transformed, became longer and narrower to increase speed, they could already glide on the snow and their appearance resembled the skis we are used to. From archaeological data it is known that already in XIII century In Russia, skis about 190 cm long and about 8 cm wide with curved ends were used, but at the beginning of the 20th century skis up to 3 m long were common.
The first ski shoes did not have a rigid sole and were simply tied to the skis, since there were no special fastenings. It was like this right up until until the 30s 20th century, when welted boots appeared and were actively used by skiers until the 70s.
Running poles also have an interesting history. It turns out that until the end of the 19th century, skiers used only one pole. This is due to the fact that skis were used mainly for hunting and in the army. The first sticks were wooden or bamboo, approximately the height of a person. Only in our time have poles become a high-tech product, made from lightweight aluminum or composite materials.
The rapid development of ski equipment began in the 70s of the 20th century. In 1971, a Norwegian company Rottefella has developed a well-known fastening standard NN75 (Nordic Norm 75 mm ) with three pins for welt boots. This standard immediately gained enormous popularity all over the world, and in our country, due to its low cost and ease of production, until recently it was the most widespread. Over the past few years, the situation has changed dramatically; NN75 mounts have greatly lost their positions and are used only by those who have not yet reached progress.
In 1974, a revolution occurred in the production of cross-country skis - the first plastic skis appeared. Soon the tracks began to be prepared by machine, they became wider and tougher, which in the early 80s led to the appearance of skating, the founder of which is considered to be the famous Swedish skier Gunde Swan . At the same time, boots and bindings began to be actively improved. Welt boots were replaced by narrower “sock” ones, and the NN75 fastenings were replaced by Adidas “frogs”, then by the system SDS , but the reliability of these new developments left much to be desired. There was a division of boots into classic and skate. Finally, in the mid-80s, two truly functional, modern fastening standards appeared - SNS (Salomon Nordic System) and NNN (New Nordic Norm, Rottefella ). Boots and bindings form a system that ensures efficient transfer of energy from the skier to the ski.
In the 90s, ski production appeared CAP -technology, “sandwich” skis are a thing of the past. Now all modern cross-country skis consist of a core covered with a “box” on top, the surface of which can have a 3-dimensional shape. The geometry of the skis has also changed - it is no longer parallel. To this day, manufacturing companies are constantly searching for the optimal ski profile, and calculations of the characteristics of new models are increasingly closer to aerospace and “formula” technologies.
At the end of the 90s, a new technological breakthrough occurred - a system of fastenings and boots appeared SNS Pilot – biaxial fastening of the boot, which significantly improved the skating technique. And in 2005, a new revolutionary development was announced - an integrated ski and binding system - NIS ( Nordic Integrated System, Rottefella), now you don’t need to drill your skis to install the bindings.
Modern skiing includes 39 skiing disciplines at the Olympic Games, 26 competitive skiing exercises awaiting “Olympic registration,” as well as more than 20 exercises being approved as a “sport.”
Athletics is rightly called the “queen of sports,” and the rapidly developing skiing among the Winter Olympic disciplines is the uncontested “king of sports.”
