SKI-ING IN NORWAY

Chronicle (Levin), 30 July 1946, Page 6

SKI-ING IN NORWAY

| / THRILLS ON THE SNOW TALK TO LEVIN TRAMPERS Ski-ing in Norway, the home of the sport, was the subject of a talk of more than usual interest given by Mr. Arne Larsen as guest speaker at the July meeting oi the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club last ^week. Some forty members found , uhemselves taken in thought to the snowy slopes of Norway as the ■ speaker toid of exhilarating ski giissades down hillsides, jumps and ; ".ompetifions under conditions j vhicn were the envy of everyone present who had experienced the J ohrill of the sporfc. Mr. Larsen was j mtroduced' by the president (Mr. N. |M. Thomson), who said there were jfew more compstent to speak on jt-he subject than he. 1 Mr. Larsen said that he lived for about 20 years in a iittle valley 100 miies north of Oslo, the capital of 'Norway. Usually the first fall of I snow came about the middle of j • November, and from then on it) , never melted until ihe next j ' April. Falis came periodically ! i throughout that time, tne deptn j generaily being about two incnes j ; each time, and it packed down until there were several feet of snow. With it t.ransport became ' difncult and snow p;oughs had to be used to keep railway lines and main roads open. In some piaces ofie snow was so deep that tunnels j were made through it for trains ; and road transport. Wiuh the first | lali oi snow in November skis were j orougfit down from tfie attics and j from tlien on were kept on the ! front veranaahs. They were the j main form of transport for chil- j dren going to sehool and for elder people going to work, shopping or ■/loiuing, or in atueiiding church. Even tne toddlers of two and three years of age could be seen with their skis. In. December and January the temperature dropped, q'uite often as low as 35 and even 40 degrees below zero. Precautions against frostbite were then necessary, but the symptoms were easy to note and by rubbing the affected part in snow the consequences were not serious. There were several types of skis, Mr. Larsen continued. For crosscountry running a narrow biade was used, while those for jumping were heavier. Their iengui was generaily the height which the - person using them could reach. In j the old days the skis had been 1 made of ash, birch and oak, but m : the last forty-odd years imported j hickory had been used. His nrst ' skis had cost ls 6d and were quite good ones. Before the last war the /ery best could be bougnu for only i2s a pair. Ski sticks were not used co any great extent when he was .fiere because one's hands became • .,0 cold holding them. It was oniy m the last 60 or 70 1 years that the people of Norway . iad starued to hoid cross-country .acing and jumping competitions, j jroceeded Mr. Larsen. I11 1915 the ; ecord jump was 165 feet, but j ince then conditions had been greatly. improved and the record was now 265 feet. The jumping was spectacular and was judgea 011 Jie manner of the take-oil, fiight ! through the air, manner of landmg and aistance jumped, points being awarded for each. The most j spectacular jumpers were usually : about 22 or 23 years of age, and it ! was then that they appeared to be 1 at the top of their form. The cross- ; eountry racing was over aifferent ! distances and for various age groups. The smallest distance was ten miles and it went up to 20, 30 I and even 40 miles. The age groups . were 16-20 years, 20-32 and over 32 1 years. The competitions were up and down hills and over eountry which .was quite steep in piaces, and when they were held there was , usualiy about eight feet or snow , on the ground. Every competitor had to be examiiied by a doctor ; before the commencement. Mr. Larsen told his hearers that there were some accidents, but he had never heard of any involving : serious perrnanent injury or deqth , as a result of falls. In conclusion the speaker said that on the last Sunday in March if each year the biggest competitions were held at Holmenkollen, near Oslo. Each district jn Norway sent teams, while Switzcrland, Sweden and other countries were ; represented also. There were about ' 400 competitors in the different age ■ groups, while about 100.000 spectacors watched the event s. The day : was a real gala one and was greatly ' iooked forward to. It usually j marked the conclusion of the sea= ; soii. j A very hearty vpte 01 thanks v/as ' passed by acclamation, Mr. Thom- : son saying that all present I hadi thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Larscii's! talk.