Derived from the old Norse word "skio," meaning "a stick of wood," early skis were just that---long, straight wooden planks. Although high-tech materials and design dominate the market today, these tools for speeding downhill have ancient origins.
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Anssi Koskinen
Ice Age
Finding 5,000-year-old rock art in Norway and 8,000-year-old Russian skis, archaeologists have evidence that Ice Age humans used skis to navigate the glacial landscape.
Telemark
Many of the first modern ski innovations were made in Telemark, Norway, in the late 1800's. Though these skis were used for cross-country travel, Norwegians began to shape skis for easier turns.
Alpine
Nineteenth-century American mining camp immigrants introduced skis as travel and sport, racing downhill on 12-foot longboards. It was the English, however, who began organized alpine races in the early 1900's.
Aluminum
In 1947, Howard Head released a wood-core aluminum ski. The flex and ease of turning with these new high-tech sticks earned them the nicknames "cheaters" and "banana skins."
Plastics
At the same time, innovators developed a plastic bottom that did not have to be waxed as frequently. Fiberglass skis proved their superior glide and durability in the 1960's.
About The Author
Kelly Aspen's writing focuses on natural places, cultural sites and wildlife. She has nine years of experience as an editor and writer for magazines, books and websites, including Trails.com, Travels.com and Weekendnotes.com. She attended Vassar College and now lives in the mountains of Colorado.
