Evening star., 1946-12-29


of the Washington area population
will head northward for vaca-
ton this winter. Sunny resorts
of the South, generally hold the
interest. But is is also unlikely
that snow sports meccas, more ac-
cessible than ever before, will fail
to attract a new crop of deyotees.
From the Nortern tier of States,
the mountainous West and Canada
come reports that unprecedented
crowds are expected on the ski
slopes. In these crowds will be some
Washingtonians. And for the nov
ices among them, and those who
plan some day" to take up skiing,
comes a reassuring word: Skiing
is not a dangerous sport.
The estimate is that of an expert,
Minot Dole, who is president of the
National Ski Patrol. 1t is perfectly
possible, he contends, to enjoy ski
ing to the full without risk OF life
and limb, as most accidents are
avoidable.
Repeated surveys" he writes
''have shown the principal causes
of skiing accidents are these three:
Skiing out of control, skiing on ter
rain or snow with which the skier
is unable to cope and skiing when
fatigued"
The outstanding example of the
first hazard, Mr.. Minot says, Is the
"schussboomer.
"He is the lad" writes the SKI
patrol chief, "whose primary pur-
pose is to get to the bottom OF
hill with the least delay in as di-
rect a line as possible. To him
form and technique are superf1uous
control smacks of effeminacy. These
people are merely accidents gong
somewhere to happen"
Unfortunately, their rash conduct
endangers others as well as them
selves. Individually, according u
Mr.. Minot, the schussboomer's acci'
dents are effective in Kidding the
slopes of "skiing's No. / pest
This type of ski enthusiast Is
prone to venture on slopes that only
the expert should attempt, Mr.
Minot points out. They "gayly latch
on to the nearest tow with never a
thought of how they will return. ..
Confronted with trail marked 'Ex'
pert these individuals shut theil
eyes and shove off with a prayer
All too often the prayer fails them
and they become cases for the SKI
patrol.
Another variety Of this gentry Is
made up of skiers who have foune
that they can usually handle steer
trail all right but who never STOP
to consider the additional demands
on their technique required by
bit of ice or packed snow. January
thaws, overnight icing, rotten snow
and such hazards do not deter these
heady people. But alas, they do no
always return under their owr
| power"
Fatigue is an increasing cause O.
accidents, according to Mr.. Minot
and it is up to the individual skie
himself to avoid it. 1T is under
standable, he says, that knee
that spend the rest of the week un
der a desk should suddenly develop
on Sunday afternoon tendency t.
come unhinged. When you get tired
stop and rest"
The popularity of downhill skim
is in part responsible for fatigue
as the increased use of lifts "ha
eliminated the conditioning effect
of uphill climbing"
There is normal pastime avail
able even to city dwellers that cal
fortify the knees for the job o
| steering the hickories downhill a
40 miles an hour. This pursuit i
walking, and Mr.. Minot recon-
mends it.
/ Northwest Airlines will open it
shortcut route from Minnesota
twin cities to Alaska on Thursday
with planes leaving three time
weekly thereafter, on Tuesdays
Thursdays and Saturdays. FLYNN
! the inside route, planes will leav
Minneapolis and st. Paul at 1915
| m, will pause at Edmonton, Cana
da, to refuel and are scheduled t
reach Anchorage at 8:45 the sam
evening.
The company will continue 1t
service to Anchorage from Seattl
and Takoma, affording two routes
The fight from Minneapolis, how
ever, will permit New Workers ant
residents of other Eastern Unite'
States cities to complete the trip o
approximately 3,700 miles within
single day.
In addition to transporting foo'
and other commodities each way
Croil Hunter. Northwestern presi
/ 1-------------