Connecticut western news., 1888-02-22
NORWEGIAN SPORT.
The National Pastime of the
 Sturdy Norseman is Ski

The National Pastime of the
 Sturdy Norseman is Ski
 Binding on the "Skis," He
 Glides Down the Mountains.
 ''Ski" running is to the Norwegian what base ball is to the American, or cricket to the Briton-the national sport. It is also something more; it is . necessary and practical mode of loco- motion, as is skating to the Dutchman, !, sad snow-sh ocing to the denizcn of the 70 'nadas. Broken by hills, and crossed by valleys, the Norwegian fatherlaud when wrapped in its winter mantel of deep snow presents difficulties to trav- clers requiring extra ordinary means to surmount. Heavily drifted, the roads become wcll-nlgh impossible to horses for long periods, and then the only means of communication from farm house to farmhouse and hamlet to ham, let is pedestrian. In this strait the sturdy Norsemau binds upon his legs his long fleet "skis' and flies easily and gracefully over the drifts and shoots like lightning down the hills and steep mountain sides, and out of stern neces- slty has learned to draw a vigorous amusement. The history of tho "ski" is the history of the wonderful people 1 who use it as birthright. Morse mythology IS full of it, and some of the most stirring passages in Norwegian his- tory draw their roman ce from the bold and daring feats of hardy "ski'' runners.
 The "ski," pronounced softly and de- fantly "she," familiar and dear to the runner as his sweetheart oftentimes, is long and narrow strip of wood, often pine, better of hard wood, made with a curling nose to override the snow, and bearing near It's centre a strap and rest for the foot of tho rider or 'runner." The length varies according to the strength of thu runner and the pur- pose of the "ski," seldom exceeding ten feet however. For mountain and dense forest travelling they are made shorter and for military maneuvres, when worn by soldiers are of unequal length to facilit.t turning readily. Generally they present only the wood- en surface to the snow, but some- times, especially when designed for travel where many hills are to be as- cended, their bottoms are covered with deer hide, the hair pointing backward, and acting as secure anchor against retrogression. They solve the problem of walking on the snow on tho same | principle as the moro clumsy and slower plaited snowshoe familiar in American forests, by dividing the weight of the wearer over Q large sur face. The American snowshoe is also in use in Norway, but as was remarked ly an expert runner, 'it is too slow for men, and we give it to old women and put it on horses"
 The feats of speed and dexterity per- formed on their ''skis" by expert run ners are wonderful. On a level surface they move as fast as good horse, but it is coming down hill that they show their mettle. Curving gracefully over thu crest, as the slope grows sleeper they gather speed like lightning, until, with full hcadway, they shoot through the air with the speed of railroad train, fairly taking away the breath of tho daring runner with the rapid motion. A we'll authenticated account is GU rent in Norway that one Finnish W oman, a very expert runner, one day tried the descent of a peculiarly steep mountain side, and attained such fearful speed that when those who awaited her at the end of her bird-like flight received her, she stood bolt upright on her "skis, |" dead, the breath literally ravished from her lips by her rapid descent. Tho Chop" is the most difficult and danger ous of the many feats of tn, "ski' run ner. In descending hills, broken spots and small precipices are often met with, and over these the care full and the timid runners simply slide, but expert ! and venturesome runners augmcat the danger and the excitement at the same time by leaping into tho air {! just at the verge of the cliff, landing far beyond the point where the sliding runner would alight. In the races and games with tine ''skis," 'hop'' is gen. erally made by building up a cliff with snow at some convenient point of the declivity, and this is made high accord ing to the skill and daring of the run- ncrs. One moment on the earth, a sudden spring, and away he flies through the air. 50, 70, 100 feet, enough of q fall, one would think to break every bone in his sturdy body, but landing safely and gracefully and shooting away on his cours,.
 As a national pastime "skI' running has attracted the widest attention in Norway, tho royal family lending the enthusiasm of their presence to the yearly carnival. h this country it is only recently coming into notice, and Minneapolis is entitled to the need of having been tho home of the first "ski' club ever organized in Anne rica-- Min neapolis Journal.
 The Cost of House.