NORWAY S NATIONAL SPORT.

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Lester Hutchinson
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1 THE JUMPING RACE AT HOLMENKOLLEN. NORWAY S NATIONAL SPORT.

2 THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN GUARD AT SKI DRILL. NORWAY S NATIONAL SPORT By T. W. Schreiner (Photographs taken especially for OUTING by Th. Thorkelson, Christiana.) NO nation in Europe except Norway has a national sport which is capable of attracting hosts of visitors from other countries; and especially inviting must it be when it is borne in mind that it takes place in the midst of a rigorous winter, and that the visitors can very seldom at first be other than onlookers. Ski running differs in that respect from its nearest parallel, the national sport of Holland, skating, because the visitors who go to Holland mainly go because they can enjoy the sport from the first, as much as if they were natives to the manner born. Yet in spite of the drawback I have mentioned, more and more foreigners, and from farther distances, are every year drawn into the fascination of Norway s national sport and they enjoy it as much as do the natives. They travel hundreds of miles to SKI CLUB HUTS AT FROGNERSÆTREN. CHRISTIANIA IN THE DISTANCE.

3 712 Norway s National Sport ON THE VERGE OF THE HOP. JUST ABOUT TO JUMP. witness the annual ski races and leave with souls as filled with enthusiasm for it as are their kodaks with snaps. So enthusiastic have these visitors become that on their return home they planted the sport in parts of Germany and Austria, where it has taken root and grown so favorably that championships are held every year. Up to the present Norwegians have naturally won but they may soon find hard competitors in foreign countries. Nowadays the running and jumping on skis is indulged in very largely as a healthy sport; but for the old Norseman his pair of ski was a necessity, and it is so to-day for the out of the way farmers, as a means of communication in the winter, when many feet of snow cover the woods, mountains and valleys. The ski differs from the Canadian or Indian snow-shoe. It is usually as long as the wearer can reach upwards with his arm. Its width is from 3 to 5 inches. The front (toe) is pointed and bent upwards, so as to prevent it from cutting down in the snow. Ash is considered the best material, and the most used. Pine and oak are also usable, but do not slide so quickly as ash. It is most important in ski running to have the feet firmly fixed to the middle of each ski. This helps what is called the binding. The foot must not be allowed to slide sideways or backwards. But as in every sliding movement forward the foot must necessarily come on toe, the binding must not prevent that movement. These bindings are, and have been, subject to many improvements and patents, still even now very few are good. Beyond the ski there is required to complete the outfit the long stick and the peculiar laupar shoes made out of thick, soft leather, pointed and bent upwards at the toe, so as to fit in the binding. The low heel has a strap fixed to it, to keep the binding in position. All women and most men and boys, have their special ski suit. Women like to make theirs very picturesque. The material used is dark blue or grey home spun, and the pattern a short skirt, red or yellow cap, belt and other ornaments. The accompanying photographs show the spirit and local atmosphere of the sport but do not show the colors. It is indeed a most beautiful sight to see the reds, blues and yellows of the original dresses against the pure white snow. As common as the baseball bat is in the United States so is the ski in Norway. Children have hardly learned to walk before they start on skis, and on a clear frosty Sun- IN MID-AIR AFTER THE TAKE OFF.

4 Norway s National Sport 713 day it is an interesting and inspiring sight to see the thousands that turn out from the city, striding over fields and hills up to the woods, where the clear air and the magnificence of nature brings life and spirit to the dullest boy, or weariest man or woman. There may be seen old grey-headed fathers with sons and daughters, and companies of healthy, rosy-cheeked boys, in the best of spirits with the family provisions on their backs hurrying to reach their destination, which is nothing more than a small simple hut, way up in the woods, or a hill, where they can compete in jumping. The surroundings of Christiania are specially adapted for these interesting outings. High ridges are all around it which lend themselves to the sport, as well as make the location of the city one of the most beautiful in Europe. On the top or one of these ridges the well-known resorts and sanatoriums Holmenkollen and Frognersætren are located. The latter is about 1200 feet A SUCCESSFUL LANDING FROM THE HOP. JUMPING IN COUPLES. above the sea, and something like six English miles from the city. It is in winter the Coney Island of Christiania. An electric troley, the only one of the kind in Scandinavia, will carry you up to it through the most beautiful and wild landscape of moods and mountains. You need not trouble the trolley on your return your skis will provide for that. The real sportsmen among the ski runners are, as a rule, organized into clubs as numerous as the football teams in the United States; Boys, business men, students and professional men, all belong to a club which either rents or builds its own timber ski hut some eight or ten miles from the city, up in the woodland, usually near a steep hill where jumping can be practiced and annual club races held. Of course the trip to the club s suburban hut takes several hours running up and down over the magnificent ridges and the intervening valleys. Every Saturday afternoon in the winter months the members of the various clubs start for their simple, but comfortable hut, which at that season they would riot change for a millionaire s mansion. Late that evening or early on Sunday morning they reach their destination. What, a collection of genuine, healthy, good-spirited sportsmen these club members are! How could they be otherwise, enjoying the most healthy, inspiring and amusing sport to be found anywhere? And then the magnificent, majestic winter nature of old Norway! I should like to take a real American sportsman on a lively ski tour in a clear frosty, moonlight evening. I should like him to pass one night among the boys in a ski hut! When the dozen fellows had

5 714 Norway s National Sport made up the fire at peisen, put their coats up to dry, and were busy preparing coffee in the big copper kettle, joking, telling stories, singing to the tunes of a musical box, or enjoying an honest game of cards. One could not find more genuine enjoyment however much money was paid for it! They leave sleep alone that night and make order by cutting out trees from the forest. About one third way from the top, where the flag is seen, the hop is built up. This is an elevation between one and two yards high, covered with snow. the first third of the hill before the hop furnishes the sliding speed and gives the impetus, and when the hop is reached, the jumper straight- A NORWEGIAN SLEIGH. good use of the time till Sunday night, when ens up, and sails through the air, touching they start for the city again. the hill again may be twenty to thirty yards Every February the Norwegian Derby from the elevated hop. Now comes the takes place, and on the two days during exciting moment. Will he continue down which competition among the one or two the rest of the hill standing? or will he fall hundred of the best ski runners and jump- out of sight for some seconds in a snow ers is going on, the newspapers discuss nothing else. The day is made a local holiday cloud? Many fall and make some terrible summersaults in the snow, during which and thousands turn out from Christiania they very often break one or both skis. to witness the Holmenkollen races. For- Many manage to keep their balance and eigners, especially Englishmen, are in great finish the hill standing. Some jump longer numbers on the grand stands along the hill. This hill is very steep, and made to than others, and if such an one s position in the air is correct and he does not fall, he * Hop Norwegian word for jump.

6 Norway s National Sport 715 A BOY S SKI CONTEST. has a good chance of capturing one of the first prizes. Each one, however, has to stand down twice. The greatest honor obtainable in these competitions is the King s Cup. The second day of the Holmenkollen races is devoted to long distance running. The route is generally up to about twenty miles long, through the most difficult territory up and down over a wild route. One person, with a number on the breast, starts every two minutes. It is round trip, and it is very exciting to watch the finish. Skis now form part of the outfit for some THE FINISH OF THE LONG DISTANCE RACE AT HOLMENKOLLEN.

7 716 Norway s National Sport LONG DISTANCE RACE AT HOLMENKOLLEN. THE START NEXT MAN READY! of the Norwegian military companies and in case of war in the winter the possession of drilled ski-soldiers would undoubtedly prove very valuable. Norway in summer is visited by thousands of tourists, among them numerous Americans. But Norway in winter dress is the more interesting.

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