THRILLS ON THE SNOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

THRILLS ON THE SNOW.

CANADA'S WINTER SPORTS.

PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

FROM " SIX YEARS TO SIXTY."

People of all. ages in Canada—"from six to sixty," says tho slogan—indulge in winter sports in Canada. Requiring tio special conditions, they tend to invito one to • participate, rather than look on. There are few scenes moro beautiful than a Canadian landscapo on a winter's day, with thousands disporting themselves at skating, ski-ing, tobogganing, snow shooing, curling, ice-boating or hockey. Ice hockey is tho fastest game on earth. Watching a crack eastern team in action ono has the greatest difficulty in following the puck at the bewildering paco it travels. The long rolling hilly country near Ottawa and Montreal and tho steep slopes of the Rockies aro tho principal centres of ski-ing and ski-jumping, although devotees of the former aro found in almost every part of the country. Whether on the frozen surface of lake or stream, or in huge artificial rinks, with seating capacity up to 15,000, as at Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, all ages enjoy skating, and ski-ing probably requires the briefest apprenticeship, as patrons of the upper slopes of Kosciusko and Mount Cook arc aware.

Snow-shoeing is regaining prestige after the setback received from ski-ing's sudden rush to favour, and marathon races aro now being introduced to add to its interest. Tobogganing requires littlo skill and provides a maximum of enjoyment. Municipally-owned slides are operated in many centres of population. Curling, played in buildings specially equipped for tho purpose, appeals moro to those past middle life. Ice-boating is very popular where tho peculiar conditions required prevail. Dog-team racing is an attractive feature of every carnival programme. At the Quebec Dog Derby, run in February, the world's title is contested annually.

The popularity of ski-ing is shown by the fact that the Ottawa Ski Club has 5000 members. At the week-ends in winter, at least 10.000 residents at Ottawa make their way to the ski-ing trails and jumps, cither in the wooded parks within the city limits or across the Ottawa River in the Gatineau Hills. Experienced skiguides are attached to hotels, and guests at the Chateau Laurier, the principal hotel, enjoy honorary membership of the Ottawa Ski Club.

Another winter rendezvous of great favour with visitors is Montreal. Mount Royal, within the city, provides thrills in plenty for the ski-er; Park Slide, behind llie mountain, is alive with dashing toboggans. The Laurcntians, a short train journey, provido a multitude of hills, varying in steepness. The "ski specials" at week-ends are always crowded. There are usually 10,000 ski-ers on Mount Royal at week-ends.

. Farther down the St. Lawrence, on the edge of the Gulf, and beyond the Old World city of Quebec, lies a favoured winter playground at Murray Bay. Here ilr. Taft, ex-President of the United States, always makes his home in summer. In the Rockies, at Revelstoke, just in. side the British Columbia border, an international ski-jumping contest is held annually, attracting notable European jumpers. The record at Revelstoke is 220 ft., only 20lt. behind the world's record.