History of Skiing

"One peculiarity about ski running is that it followers never lose their enthusiasm. And small wonder--for it is indeed a glorious sport. There is everything in its favor. It takes one into the open air amid the finest scenery, it tests every facility, it provides exercise for every muscle, and it gives health, strength, and pleasure beyond compare."

--Munsey's Magazine February, 1900

Skiing as a sport is of comparatively recent orgin. Skiing as a means of travel dates to 2500 B.C.. Literacy reference can also be found as early as 2000 years ago in Europe's far North in Vigil's Aeneid. In 1868, however Sondre Nordheim from Telemark distrivt of Norway, began experimenting with new and binding designs which allowed skidors to make 'S' turns on steep slopes without any aid from their 'push sticks' or ski pole. This turn subsequently was named the "telemark turn." Many competitions were held in Christiana (known as Oslo), Norway, and were dominated by Nordheim and his friends. The Christiana boys answered in 1869 with their own style of turn called the "christiana", known today as the "christie". As techniques improved, competition was stiff, and the era of skiing as a sport was under way. In 1870 Norwegian gold miners climbed Mount Kosciusko in Australia on skis and by the end of the century their were skiers on nearly every continent of the world. Much of skiing was strictly used for transportation, that is however until Hannes Schneider introduced skiing to the world. Schneider was able to do this by offering controlled speed through utilizing a crouch which lowered the center of gravity. Also know as the Arlberg technique, this method was used to introduce beginners to the sport. With the strong Scandanavian tradition of skiing, it is no surprise that it was the Scandinavian immigrants who brought skiing to the United States. From the pioneer Midwest, through the camps of the Continental Divide, and to the high country of Colorado, Utah and California, early Norwegian settlers spread their enthusiasim for skiing across the United States. They used their skis for winter transportation, much like they had done at home.

The first Winter Olympics, held in Chamonix, France in 1924 hosted only Nordic (cross-country) competition. It wasn't until after the Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, that Alpine competition was recognized in the form of slalom and downhill. From there, the media brought the public's attention to film celebrities on skis and thus to the emerging glamarous sport of skiing. The development of the Sun Valley ski resort in 1936 brings us to the end of the era of early skiing. From Norwegian "Snowshoe" Thompson who provided the only land communication to the "modern" chairlift powered by a ---- Ford car. It was an exciting eighty years, fortunately "The Mark Miller Collection" represents a piece of an era gone by.

*excerpts taken from

The Art of Skiing by Gary H. Schwartz

Skisport To Skiing by E John B. Allen

First Tracks by Glenn Parkinson