If you’re a history buff, you may have wondered how skiing got started. While skiing in the United States is fairly new in the grand scheme of time, the activity has been around for a very long time. In this post, we’ll talk about early skiing in history and its start in Europe and Asia.

Skiing, although not exactly as we know it now, existed in some form since the end of the Ice Age. Before recreational skiing, skis were used mainly as a mode of transportation. Let’s dive into it:

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8000 B.C.

The beginning of skiing is widely disputed among historians. Some evidence suggests that it began in China in the Altai Mountains, where there are written records of skis being used for hunting. The Altais skied with one pole, which they used for turning, since it was impossible to use edges to turn on early wooden skis.

The Samis in Scandinavia are also credited for its creation. The first skis were used primarily for transportation through the snow and were made of whatever types of wood were available in the region, like Pine and Birch. The bottoms were lined with fur which allowed them to slow down when going downhill and gain traction going uphill.

6000 B.C.

The oldest skis were found in Siberia and carbon dated approx. 6000 BC. These skis had carved elk heads on the back, believed to be used as brakes. Ski shapes varied based on location and the first skis were shorter and broader, more closely resembling snowshoes. Fragments of skis from this time period have been found all throughout Finland, Norway, and Sweden as well.

3000 B.C.

Skis were located in Sweden dating back to 3000 BC. Along with the skis, a long paddle was found, believed to be used for steering and controlling speed. Then, in 2500, carvings were discovered in Norway depicting cross-country skiers. At this point, militaries were using skis as transportation and it was in this era that backcountry skiing was developed.

Bindings on ancient skis were typically leather or rawhide straps or strings that fastened at the top of the foot. As skiing progressed, heel straps were eventually added to help with control of the ski.

1700 – 1721

The Great Northern War was fought primarily on skis by armies from Russia, Switzerland, and Norway. Soldiers on skis became a more common occurrence as the technology advanced and following a military ski manual written by the Norwegian Captain Jens Emahusen. Following the conclusion of the Great Norther War, Swedish King Gustav Vasa fled from the monarchy on skis, inspiring the still-running annual Vasaloppet race.

1700s

Following the popularity of ski warfare, recreational cross-country skiing became popular in Norway. Skiing competitions, including the biathlon and cross-country races, were introduced. Skis were used as a popular form of transportation and even mail carriers delivered mail on skis.

1800s

Alpine skiing is developed as a recreational activity. It’s believed that skiers in the Telemark region began seeking mountains with jumps and turns, developing what is known as Telemark skiing. During this century, ski jumping also became popular in Norway, eventually leading to ski jumping in the Olympics in the 20th century.

1881

First Ski School developed in Norway. The school was called Albergschule, named after its founder Hannes Schneider. Schneider was an Austrian skier who would go on to invent the modern ski school in the early 1920s. Schneider established teaching principles for all ski instructors and formalized instruction methods, helping to form the ski school we all know today. 

1924

The first Winter Olympics took place in Chamonix, France. Events included cross country skiing, ski jumping, and military patrol, which consisted of participants skiing over a course and stopping to shoot targets.

1930s

In the early 20th century, skiing became popular all over the world, including the United States. In our next installment, we will talk about the history of skiing in North America (and where Shawnee Mountain fits into that timeline)!

Written on: March 22, 2024  |  Written by: Michaela K., Marketing Asst.

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