The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-03-27
sKlLosNINc m NORWAY.
An Exciting sport In which the Norwo-
giaDs Excel.

An Exciting Sport In which the Norwo-
CLANS Excel.
The jumping is tho thing. The
jumping is awe inspiring. There is
literally nothing a Norwegian cam
not do on ski. And even to an
English novice it is ono of the most
exciting sports imaginable. What
could be moro fascinating than the
tearing descent of mountain on
ski, the roads sparkling in the suns
rays or dimly lighted by burning
torch?
Tho chosen spot for the jumping
competition was vgry steep hill,
rising from q little lake near Frog
nersaotern. The lake was frozen so
solid it made an excellent stand for
the spectators, and on it, horseshoe
fashion, were arranged wooden plat
forms to accommodate tho represent
atives of the university and their
friends, the members of tho various
large clubs and representatives of
tho big institutions of the town, or
for the accommodation of private
individuals who cared to pay for n
seat. Behind these platforms were
the sledges, and between the slodges
and the platform were hillocks of
snow, arranged ON purpose to ac-
oommodato the ski. Here they were
stacked in hundreds and formed q
regular wooden pnling round the en-
tire inclosuro. How any man ever
found his own among that multitude
will ever remain mystery to an
English mind. But i'll spite of that
vast oonoourse the icebound lake
never even groaned or cracked.
Half way up the hill track, which,
of course, was treeless, and which,
like the rest of Norway, was covered
with some eight OF ten feet of snow,
was raised platform about 12 feet
high, perhaps, round the sides of
which was draped the Norwegian
flag, although its top was thiclSly
embedded in snow like the rest of
the course. The competitors were
divided into two lots, above and be-
low the age of 90. They wore the
usual thick gray ski dress double
breasted, with tight knickerbookers
and q woolen cap, the brim of which
was turned down over tho ears to
protect the wearcr from frostbite.
The thick woolen gloves were with
out any fingers, for warmth, merely
q thumb. and made so long and
stookinglilSe that they pulled right
up over the sleeve.
The entire descent, about 400 feet,
was very steep. No. !, who wore
largo placard upon his breast, de-
noting his number OH the pro-
gramme, appeared at given sign
on tho little plateau at the hilltop.
The word to start was given. He
slipped over the plateau, and at tre-
mendous speed, in consequence of
the steep descent, rushed down tho
mountain track. On, on, on, he
came, his arms stretched out in tho
air for balance On to the little plat
form he wildly rushed, and then,
STOPPING his body, with ono huge
spring, his legs doubled up, and.
wildly wbirling his arms in the air
like windmill, he jumped to-
what looked to us, sitting below
tho arms of death. For moment
he was in midair, those great plank
like ski fastened to his feet. it did
not seem possible that he could 1.-Two
through such moment. The excite
ment was tremendous. Would he
fall and kill himself? Would he be
hurt by his ski? Would he tumble
on his head and lose consciousness?
But, no; he absolutely landed on his
feet and calmly slid down the hill
side as quietly and happily as if he
wero merely going for walk
Strand Magazine.