ART OF SKI-ING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 154, 15 June 1935, Page 4

ART OF SKI-ING

Record Speed of 54 m.p.h. FASCINATING SPORT f The world’s record jump on skiis is 285 feet, and the record for the downhill mile, held by an Austrian, is 84 miles an hour. The New Zealand downhill mile record, established on Mount Egmont, is 54 miles an hour. Those interesting facts were mentioned at the Hastings Rotary Club yesterday la a talk on the art of skiing by Mr. J. W. Palmer, of the Agricultural Department, Hastings. Mr. Palmer had with him a pair of skiis and other articles of skiing equipment, and gave a denAnstration of how to wear skis and how to execute various manoeuvres with them. It was an uncommon and fascinating lecture. Mr. Palmer began by explaining the pronunciation of the word, and said that the most eminent authorities favoured the pronunciation of “ahee.” The word originated in Norway, where it was spelt shee in imitation of the sound that the ski made in its movement over the snow. The Americana to whom the sport became known only 40 years ago, had given a characteristically hard sound to the word. It was rightly argued that if the k in the word were pronounced phonetically, then the i should be pronounced as the iin “mine.” Thus lie word would rhyme with sky. The International Skiing Association had adopted the pronunciation “ahee.”

Skiing had been introduced by a Major Head, of New South Wales, ipto New Zealand in 1913, bet its present popularity waa only some five years old. The Ruapehu Ski Club, however, was founded in 1913. The sport had spread greatly in this country, and its exponents included many New Zealanders who had had experience abroad. Referring to the necessary clothing and equipment, Mr. Palmer said that a universal dress had now been adopted in this country in conformity with the dress worji in other skiing countries. One of the most important things was the type of boot. A special design for New Zealand conditions had been adopted, and had great strength and comfort. Felt placed around the top gave protection to the leg. Equipment varied considerably. Most skiis came from Norway and the speaker’s skiis, for example, were as long as seven feet nine inches. New Zealand manufacturers had tried to make skiis, but no really satisfactory wood had yet been found. The skiis had to be waxed, and it took some three hours to work up a satisfactory foundation by means of a heated ski iron. Various sorts of waxes were used. Skiis cost from £2 to £7 10/-, the sticks cost about 25/-. and the grips on the skiis about 35/-. Tho equipment was rather expensive Noibody in New Zealand had tackled jumping, but in Norway the children learned to jump on akis from eight years of age.