Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-21
A SKI TOURNAMENT.
aoRWEGIANs JOIN IN THEIR GREAT
NATIONAL GAME.
Great Speed Attained in Flying Over the
Sow on the Peculiar
Shoes.

A Eau Claire wis., special says
This has been a great day for Norway.
The air has been ringing with the dis
iointed consonants and gently gurgling
novels which go to make up the Morse
dialect A ski tournament, the largest
of the kind ever known in the country,
held here to-day, was the cause of this
gathering. The competing clubs came
from St. Paul, Minneapolis, Redwing,
and Saltwater, Mimi, aud Lacrosse,
Stoughton. and 81. Croix Falls,
Wis. These, with the local club
here. made up two hundred hand
some. athletic fellows in picturesqe uni
form who furnished the sport for 5000
people that crowded the grounds about
Mount Dovre. The ski is a peculiarly
scandinavian instrument, and about as
unpromising as can be conceived, but,
like a singed cat, it Is better than 1t
looks. It's origin dates back to the period
of Morse mythology. From that time
until now it has been to Scandlnavlans
what skates ere 10 the Hollander-the
sole means Of locomOtiOn IN winter. In
the old country ski tournaments are q
regular thing, and the custom has OF late
years been copied in this country.
There is still an unquenchable strife
between the admirers Of the American
end Norwegian snow-shoes as to which
is the best. But the most devoted adj
herents OF the Indian shoes would not
have
DARED THE FEATS
that were performed with ease today by
the ski runners.
The competing clubs arrived ut noon.
After dinner they were escorted to the
grounds by the Eau Claire club. The
procession, with the picturesque uni
forms. brilliant coloring, and dashlng
music, was very brilliant The grounds
had been arranged around the foot Of
Mount Dovre, high bluff south Of the
city. which towers mp above the sur
rounding country to the height OF three
hundred feet. From the top had been
prepared slide down which the contest
ants for the 500 worth of prizes were to
test their skill. The first half OF the
slide had an angle OF about forty de-
erees the remainder was gentle slope
to the plain below. About one third OF
the way down a step or jumping-place
was arranged, from which the bold ski
runners took the drop that was the test
of their skill.
Shortly after , o'clock the crowd Of
people that filled the broad plain below
saw spectre ia gray appear on the blut
above, and the tournament opened.
Imagine man with one Of the slabs to Il
toboggan strapped 70 each foot, and one
has a fair idea OF the appearance of ski
runner. The ski is anywhere from eight
to ten feet long, but when jumps
are to be made the former length IS
always used. The width is three or four
inches, and the thickness one quarter OF
an inch, except near the middle, where a
hump like the Disagreement of the
shoulders of a dwarf furnishes a secure
resting-place for the foot, which Is CON
fined by toe strap. The front OF the
ski is turned up like the front of to-
boggan, and for the same purpose, to per
NIT it to glide easily over obstacles All
this while the little spectre in gray has
been growing larger; down the sharp IN
cline II shoots with
THE VELOCITY OF A CANSoN-BALL.
Before one can catch ones breath it
has reached the jump and Is soaring ont
into the AIR like bird in flight. Out
and on 1t goes until an altitude of thirty
or forty feet Is described between the
thin stand and the snowy track beneath.
Then the attraction of gravity eXerts its
force aud the bunch of gray wool comes
near the track AZ the unfortunate run
ner has miscalculated his skis strike
heels first, and the next instant cry
goes up as in a whiriwind of snow IS
dimly seen a vision of gray wool, of
hands. feet, and skis. Down it comes,
ploughing huge road in tie soft snow,
hurt not II bit. 4 halt-score of hands
assist the unlucky runner to rise, and
when the snow is dug from nose, eyes,
and ears he disappears up the hill 10 try
again.
Before the fun has died away q second
figure athletic in build, aud clad in a
iaunty light blue uniform, is seen coming
over the bluff. Its Hermmestwedt "
shout the initiated as the champion
ski-runner Of the Northwest starts down
the track. Down he flashes at IA speed
of one hundred miles minute, and, as
the breath comes, watch
THE DARING FEAT.
He springs up and ont differently from his