The History of Skiing
The History of Skiing
Skis have been used for thousands of years, and their use has evolved from hunting and transportation, into a multi-billion dollar industry that millions of people participate in each year. There are many technological advances that have caused skiing to evolve, along with the creativity in people’s minds. In this paper, I will give a brief summary of how skiing has changed through the years and different ways it has been used. The first depiction of skis can be traced back to 4500-5000 years ago on a rock drawing in Norway. At this time, skis were the fastest method of transportation that there was in winter, and they were also used by hunters for quicker transportation. The first skis were simply wooden sticks that people slid along with their feet. Ski poles were also used, and they probably came from a walking stick to help with balance or a spear or bow used for hunting (History Of). Next I will skip ahead in time to how skiing has become more modern (Ski History Timeline). Throughout the 1800’s and early 1900’s, skis were a very different style than what is used today. They were mostly similar to cross country skis and were hard to control and had uncomfortable and hard to use bindings. Ski manufacturing techniques and the actual techniques for skiing itself vastly improved leading to more people skiing and the sport becoming more popular. In 1850 a man named Sondre Norheim from Norway discovered a better type of heel strap made of birch tree root. It improved control even when going off a jump, which made modern ski jumping possible. In 1870 Norheim introduced the telemark ski which was designed for downhill skiing and had a movable heel. Later that decade in 1879 the first ski manufacturing was undertaken by an immigrant from Norway in Minnesota. In 1882, the first modern ski club in the US was organized in Berlin, New Hampshire. In 1905, The National Ski Association was founded in Michigan by a man who was
Skis have been used for thousands of years, and their use has evolved from hunting and transportation, into a multi-billion dollar industry that millions of people participate in each year. There are many technological advances that have caused skiing to evolve, along with the creativity in people’s minds. In this paper, I will give a brief summary of how skiing has changed through the years and different ways it has been used. The first depiction of skis can be traced back to 4500-5000 years ago on a rock drawing in Norway. At this time, skis were the fastest method of transportation that there was in winter, and they were also used by hunters for quicker transportation. The first skis were simply wooden sticks that people slid along with their feet. Ski poles were also used, and they probably came from a walking stick to help with balance or a spear or bow used for hunting (History Of). Next I will skip ahead in time to how skiing has become more modern (Ski History Timeline). Throughout the 1800’s and early 1900’s, skis were a very different style than what is used today. They were mostly similar to cross country skis and were hard to control and had uncomfortable and hard to use bindings. Ski manufacturing techniques and the actual techniques for skiing itself vastly improved leading to more people skiing and the sport becoming more popular. In 1850 a man named Sondre Norheim from Norway discovered a better type of heel strap made of birch tree root. It improved control even when going off a jump, which made modern ski jumping possible. In 1870 Norheim introduced the telemark ski which was designed for downhill skiing and had a movable heel. Later that decade in 1879 the first ski manufacturing was undertaken by an immigrant from Norway in Minnesota. In 1882, the first modern ski club in the US was organized in Berlin, New Hampshire. In 1905, The National Ski Association was founded in Michigan by a man who was