Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 6 (September 1, 1938)

Ski-ing in New Zealand

Ski-ing in New Zealand.

The following interesting comments upon Mr. W. F. Ingram's article, entitled Ski-ing in New Zealand, which appeared in our August issue, are made by Mr. A. Singleton in a recent letter to the Editor:—

“Mr. Ingram mentions: ‘Incidentally it is not generally known that skis were first used in New Zealand in 1893—and then for the first time in the world.’

“As I represent here Sportarticles Ltd., Finland, official athletic goods suppliers to the Olympic Games since 1920, I was very interested but surprised that the Alpine Ski should have originated in New Zealand and immediately made investigations. Although the ski was in Finland an object of reverence, and proficiency in ski-ing a condition of existence, strangely enough real mountainous cross-country ski-ing was developed only after the Olympic Games—yet the actual idea of ski-ing was invented by the Finns. Most people do not know that the ski is a development of the Siberian and North American snowshoe. It does really seem that New Zealand invented the first alpine-ski, that is the cross-country ski.

“The first ski-ing contests were organised as recently as 1886 only after hundreds of years of usage of skis. Yet within three years an annual competition was arranged and this has continued ever since.

“At the end of last century the Finns and Swedes were busy entertaining each other at International Sports and the Finns were unbeatable—only when the contests were held over flat terrain. Things have changed considerably since then, for this year at the World's International Contests, Finland won its share of prizes.

“I think it would interest your readers if I mentioned the following point as showing with what care the Finns prepare for their contests and how far we in New Zealand will have to go before we can compete successfully in an international event, and I am sure that all New Zealanders hope the day will come when our country will rank as a worthy competitor. Before Finns enter the winter ski-ing contests they practise both summer and winter with a definite plan; in summer they go in for baseball, track and field athletics, and in winter they take long cross-country walks, practise hill climbing and work at tree felling and wood cutting. What strength and stamina is being built up!

“The Finns believe that in a few years with a planned indoor athletic campaign they will soon be in the forefront in competitions such as swimming, boxing, etc., this indoor branch has been neglected, due to the lack of stadiums.

“I hope that the above will be of sufficient interest to publish, and I also hope that the page ‘Panorama of the Playground’ will continue for many years.”

* * *