If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
No Skiing in Switzerland?
All,
It seems odd to think of a time when people didn't ski in Switzerland. However, when Arthur Conan Doyle arrived in Switzerland in 1893 that was exactly the situation. Learn how the man who wrote the Sherlock Holmes novels also helped to popularize skiing in Switzerland - http://www.siracd.com/life/life_ski.shtml Sincerely, M. Perry Webmaster - The Chronicles of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle http://www.siracd.com/ There was a lady at Santarem--but my lips are sealed. It is the part of a gallant man to say nothing, though he may indicate that he could say a great deal. - The Crime of The Brigadier by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
No Skiing in Switzerland?
"MPerry8304" wrote in message
... All, It seems odd to think of a time when people didn't ski in Switzerland. You mean tourists or locals? -- Simon Brown www.hb9drv.ch |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
No Skiing in Switzerland?
I recall many years ago reading a book about the history of skiing. The
British popularised winter holidays in Wengen and to stop them getting bored, they popularised skiing as a recreational sport. Prior to that time, only mountain dwellers skied and then only as a means of transport. Any DHO members going to comment? regards Paul Smith "Simon Brown" wrote in message ... "MPerry8304" wrote in message ... All, It seems odd to think of a time when people didn't ski in Switzerland. You mean tourists or locals? -- Simon Brown www.hb9drv.ch |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
No Skiing in Switzerland?
"PSmith" wrote:
I recall many years ago reading a book about the history of skiing. The British popularised winter holidays in Wengen and to stop them getting bored, they popularised skiing as a recreational sport. Prior to that time, only mountain dwellers skied and then only as a means of transport. Any DHO members going to comment? Your author was in error. There were no skis in Switzerland prior to their importation (by foreign tourists) from Scandinavia in the 1870s. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
No Skiing in Switzerland?
In message , funkraum
writes "PSmith" wrote: I recall many years ago reading a book about the history of skiing. The British popularised winter holidays in Wengen and to stop them getting bored, they popularised skiing as a recreational sport. Prior to that time, only mountain dwellers skied and then only as a means of transport. Your author was in error. There were no skis in Switzerland prior to their importation (by foreign tourists) from Scandinavia in the 1870s. I wouldn't normally agree with anyone, but Funk's right. Skis were originally "nordic", used on flattish ground around the Baltic. To understand why, read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's description of skiing in the Alps in the 1880s (it's in several places on the web, Google for it). Downhill skiing was invented by lazy Brits who CBA to walk up so they took the train up and skied down. They were thrown out of the Club for this, and quite right too - without them there'd be no concrete apartment blocks, no drifts of cigarette butts, no clouds of dope fumes, no mogul fields, no cable cars so big you can see them from outer space, avalanches would inconvenience only the wildlife... -- Sue ];( |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
No Skiing in Switzerland?
"Sue" wrote in message ... In message , funkraum writes "PSmith" wrote: I recall many years ago reading a book about the history of skiing. The British popularised winter holidays in Wengen and to stop them getting bored, they popularised skiing as a recreational sport. Prior to that time, only mountain dwellers skied and then only as a means of transport. Your author was in error. There were no skis in Switzerland prior to their importation (by foreign tourists) from Scandinavia in the 1870s. I wouldn't normally agree with anyone, but Funk's right. Skis were originally "nordic", used on flattish ground around the Baltic. To understand why, read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's description of skiing in the Alps in the 1880s (it's in several places on the web, Google for it). Downhill skiing was invented by lazy Brits who CBA to walk up so they took the train up and skied down. They were thrown out of the Club for this, and quite right too - without them there'd be no concrete apartment blocks, no drifts of cigarette butts, no clouds of dope fumes, no mogul fields, no cable cars so big you can see them from outer space, avalanches would inconvenience only the wildlife... -- Sue ];( Thanks for putting me right. I read the book over 20 years ago when I first I started skiing. So it seems likely that I forgot the fact about the Brits acquiring the skis invented/used by the Scandanavians. I must have remebered that the Brits got the skis from someone and jumped to the obvious answer of the swiss locals. Sorry. Since this is a newsgroup for people sharing an interest in skiing, some of Sue's comments do seem rather anti? I can certainly do without the concrete blocks etc, but the recreational sport does need lifts and accommodation etc. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
No Skiing in Switzerland?
Sue wrote:
[...] Downhill skiing was invented by lazy Brits who CBA to walk up so they took the train up and skied down. They were thrown out of the Club for this, and quite right too - without them there'd be no concrete apartment blocks, no drifts of cigarette butts, no clouds of dope fumes, no mogul fields, no cable cars so big you can see them from outer space, avalanches would inconvenience only the wildlife... When I find myself starting the "It is no longer like it used to be" diatribe, usually in connection with the type of visitors to ski resorts, I am reminded of Whymper telling of how the new mountain railway to Zermatt brought a much less desirable class of individual to the village. I further remind myself of how, if one wishes to find 'un-spoiled' and un-visited mountains then there are .... one or two .... in highly inaccessible countries. These may well go through the same process. Book now so you can whine about the old days when the time comes. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Questions from a new skiing family | Rich Heimlich | General | 11 | March 2nd 04 02:46 PM |
Snowboarding or skiing? | Joe Ramirez | Snowboarding | 53 | February 11th 04 12:23 PM |
Switzerland: Best new year skiing for years | Adrian D. Shaw | European Ski Resorts | 5 | January 13th 04 05:48 AM |
Skiing risks only insurance. | Michael Chare | European Ski Resorts | 3 | January 6th 04 03:21 PM |
Autumn skiing | Doc Paul | European Ski Resorts | 4 | September 25th 03 09:07 AM |