Identifier: encyclopaediaofs02suff Title: The encyclopaedia of sport Year: 1897 (1890s) Authors: Suffolk and Berkshire, Henry Charles Howard, Earl of, 1833-1898 Peek, Hedley Aflalo, Frederick G. (Frederick George), 1870-1918 Subjects: Horses Sports Games Publisher: London : Lawrence and Bullen Contributing Library: Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine Digitizing Sponsor: Tufts University

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Text Appearing Before Image: of being sewn at thesides, the large piece of thick leather which goesunder the foot is brought well over the top andsecured to what might ordinarily be called aleather tongue. At the back of the boot is asmall strap, which is used to fasten the ski heel-strap securely to the lauparsko. Once fixed on theski, the foot is so secure no fall can loosen it,and the only way to extricate the foot is to undothe three straps. Outside these huge ungainly ascents and descents are about four hundredfeet, the competitors having to cross clefts andravines, hillocks and mounds in turn, a roadwith every possible kind of obstacle beingchosen to tax the proficiency of the performers.Along the flat the skilober shuffles, at each stepaccomplishing a distance of several feet; downthe hill side they glide gaily over the crisp-frozen snow, keeping their ski as nearly togetheras possible and bending their knees ; the speedbecomes tremendous and would be dangerouscould it not be lessened by thrusting into the

Text Appearing After Image: Learning to Jump. hair stockings and strangely comfortable bootsthick gaiters are worn. It is necessary to keepthe feet and legs warm in such a cold land asNorway, where the mercury freezes in the ther-mometers, and snow six or seven feet deepcovers the land sometimes for months together.Such cold sounds appalling, but it is quite thereverse. The air is absolutely dry, and there isseldom any wind. The great annual competition at Christianialasts two days ; the first day is for distance,about twelve English miles ; the second forjumping. About a hundred competitors comefrom various parts ot the country to strive forthese blue ribbons of the ski-racing world. The snow a pole some six feet long which theskilober carries, to act as a kind of drag. Goingup hill—even to the initiated—is a trial of skill,as the general tendency of the ski is to slidebackwards. The clever performer stamps thesnow with his shoes so as to get a betterbite. The twelve English miles are generally ac-complishe

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