Evening star., 1936-12-26
SKI CLUBS GROW
LIKE MUSHROOMS
Winter Games at Madison
Square Garden Attract
$4,000 Spectators.
~ the Associated Press.
YrUz -. .~.lt-


TIME phenomenal growth of in
terest in Winter sports is
breath-tak Winter sports
and ski clubs are springing up
like mushrooms. Throughout the
country, where climatic conditions are
favorable to skiing, sporting goods
stores, railroads and resorts are prepar-
ing to accommodate the additional
thousands who have become devotees
OF outdoor Winter play.
Many persons have discovered that
snow can be a friend--a friend that
invites them to enjoy an exhilarating
and interesting sport. It used to be
that the word vacation meant only one
thing-a holiday at the seashore or in
the mountains to get away from hot
weather. Skiing has opened the eyes
of many to the fact that vacation also
has q Winter connotation.
There is nothing mysterious about all
this. Almost any individual can learn
to ski in short time we'll enough to
enjoy the sport. One instructor re-
Gently pointed out that he could take
o novice and In couple Of hours
teach him TO 81 After acquiring
equilibrium and itrol there is no
limit to the fun an enthusiast can have
on skis.
It's No Fad.
CKIING definitely has caught on.
1t is not a fad. The thousands
who have invested in skis, poles. shoes
and woolens are not going to lay them
aside after one or two whirls along
the trails. Once they have had
taste of the charm Of the snow-packed
hills. the pines and fir trees dropping
with snow, the silver birch trees and
the dazzling sunshine, they are certain
to come back for more.
And then, too, after they realize
that with little patience and prac-
tice they can whiz downhill in cloud
of whirling snow they will make every
effort to improve their form and there
by widen the scope of their pleasure.
The great majority of newly interested
ski addicts will not develop into ex-
perts, but that will not keep them
from having a world of fun and at
the same time improving their health
by the vigorous exercise.
In the cases of many new Winter
sports enthusiasts, they are merely
being won back to a sport which they
enjoyed in their youth. Remember
how you awaited the first snow OF
the Winter with the greatest expecta-
ton? The thrill of gliding along
swiftly on a pair of ice skates or
rushing downhill at breakneck pace
on a sled was something to look for
ward to. Then, as you grew up. the
snow lost some Of its thrill. There
were things like having to keep the
sidewalk cleared, trouble starting the
cold motor of your car, the difncult
driving on snow-covered streets. and
the like. Then 1t wasn't SO much 1un.
United States Needs Skiers.
Now there Is the other side Of the
picture. It is not at all surprising
20 learn that 250,0o0 enthusiasts on
skis enjoyed themselves over Washing
toms birthday, 1885, on the snow
covered slopes OF rev EhBidhu' INC"
York and Pennsylvania.
In the Winter Olympic meet at
Garmisch Partenkirchen. Germany,
the participation of the American ski
teams was q futile gesture as 53ar as
winning was concerned. America did
not take a single championship. But
by the time the next set of games rolls
around the case Is likely to be diff
ferent. OF the thousands who have
become interested in the sport, some
are sure to become capable performers.
The recent Winter sports show in
Madison Square Garden, in New York,
was a revelation to many. Some u.s.
900 spectators witnessed the four-day
competition and exhibition-tust about
as many as could jam their way into
the famous sports arena.
Before they realize it, perhaps, the
manufacturers Of skis are likely TO
have major industry on their hands
The ski factories are working night
and day in an effort to meet demands
for equipment. 1t is interesting to
note in connection with the business OF
manufacturing these glorified barrel
staves that the best wood for making
skis comes from the mountain region
OF Tennessee, and is good old hickory.