Imperial Valley press., 1937-02-21

nEFORE the echoes of football die away, the
d Northwest begins waxing it's skis and cast
ing weather eye at the mountain peaks Then
suddenly in the dawn of some morning, it shoul-
ders the slender hickory slabs and trudges off
to an enchanting world From then on through
spring, the snow fields reverberate with the
gaiety of thousands of skiers as they take their
spills in the feathery banks, or soar from the
brow of some hill to more than hundred feet
beyond in perfect jump, to the delight of a
great throng of enraptured spectators.
On holidays and weekends cars, special busses
and trains bristle with skis and enthusiasm
lovers of the sport, forsaking all else, armed
with supply of their cherished wax and pack
age of durable sandwiches, retreat to their IA
vorite haunts. Lodges and cabins tucked among
the snow-laden frs resound with the clank of
wood and tramp of heavy shoes Around their
glowing fires at night, good companionship and
good coffee offer inviting solace to healthily
weary bodies. There is talk of snow and speed,
friendly tips on things to do and help with
stubborn bindings as men and women united by
common zest, join in easy camaraderie. For no
more friendly sportsmen ever lived than those
who have taken the mountain tops for their
province.
A SIX anyone who has ever flown along on the
"a magic wings of skis and he will tell you it
is the king of sports. His eyes will light up as
forget the dull accounts he is pouring over, the
knotty brief he is preparing, or the metal he is
welding while he takes you along the snowy
terrains into world of clean white beauty and
Intoxicating freshness He will make you feel
the exhilaration of it as he skins along like
bird, exuting in the speed and skill of the human
body It is more thrilling than flying, he will tell
YOU for one experiences the rapture of conquer
ing the lightning fast mountain courses solely
by his own power and control. And control is
the important thing. To develop sense of bal
ance, to learn to stand to STOP to turn, to climb
those are the first simple requirements. But to
swoop down the slopes at a mile minute and
swerve around the tree or boulder that rises
right in front of you, TO run the zigzag Down
Hill Slalom race to fly over the lip of HILL
to tour around between glaciers, all take years
of arduous practice and expert mountaineering.
Anyone, though" he adds as he lights his
pipe which has gone out anyone who can dig
up a pair of runners and patch of snow can
have some fun, for it's everybodys sport"
And there's something else" he will continue
as YOU start to go. There very few casual
ties for only the most skillfu go the dangerous
places"
SAY" and he looks at you suddenly with
captivating expression, why don't you come out
and try it one of these weekends?
All Of which may help to explain why the
whole country has gone ski-minded in 30 short
time. For we can remember rev years pdck
when Youngsters whitfield out some crude boards,
daubbed thera with bees wax stealthily borrowed
from their mothers pantries and disported them
selves on the hills back of town. Now and then
some grown-up lover of the outdoors would dare
10 Join them, but for the most part the mature
and staid remained below to balance their bank
books Or restock their grocery shelves. And a
pair of skis strapped to the running board OF
4 car was as wild and curious sight as a fresh
-a~s~ loo- <.ot1fi IN hV orY1o
So the snowy slopes were left to daring young
boys, a few professional sportsmen, and the
Laplanders. ~
~KIING Is as old as the hills themselves. AS
y far back as 5000 years ago, xenophon, famed
Greek historian, wrote of trip to Asia Minor
where he saw horses trotting easily over soft
snow by means Of light disks attached to their
hoofs And Procopius, Byzantine chronicler, told
tales of strange people far to the north, named
'skrid -Finnar." or 'sliders." No doubt long be-