Skiing Heritage News

If you have bound volumes or collections of old ski magazines, please consider donating them to ISHA for inclusion in our reference libraries. A tax-deductible donation or bequest will help us produce a better, more useful, more entertaining magazine. Email seth@masia.org to arrange for a pick-up.

SKIING HERITAGE: A quarterly journal

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Fourth Issue 2008, December, Vol 20 #4 Wengen poster

Cover: A 1925 poster promoting tourism at Wengen, Switzerland. Binding techs had class in those days. Available from the Mammoth Ski Museum (760) 934-6592.

How the Steel Edge Was Invented: A Correction
by John Fry
Y es, Rudolf Lettner of Salzburg invented the steel edge, but our earlier story (December 2004) got the date and circumstances wrong. He got the idea after taking a nearly-fatal slide on an icy pitch during a solo high-alpine tour in December, 1917, and received a patent in 1926. We have photos, too.

The Man Who Made Skiing Famous in America by Morten Lund
A savvy journalist and compulsive adventurer, Lowell Thomas was more than a familiar radio voice. He also jump-started America's enthusiasm for skiing.

Boom! by John Fry
In this editor's memoir, the era of skiing's most rapid growth was colored by irrational exuberance and plenty of incorrectness. An epic of battling ski magazines in the '50s and '60s.

Where are they now: Adrien Duvillard by Seth Masia
A top downhiller in the late '50s, Duvillard's ski testing expertise helped build Rossignol into a world-leading brand. And he founded a skiing dynasty. Now he divides his time between Megeve and a ranch near Durango, Colo.

California's Longboard Ladies by John Allen
Nettie Abbott, Lottie Joy, and other "fair young lassies on Norwegian shoes" were mightily admired by their mining-camp gallants.

Adgate, McIntyre, Briggs and Carmichael named to U.S. Ski Hall of Fame
by Tom West

Historic Lodging: Aspen's Limelight Lodge by Jay Cowan
The Ski and Spur became the Limelite Club under folksingers Glenn Yarbrough and Alex Hassilev. For half a century, the old Limelite teetered as the archetype of the family-run Aspen Lodge.

Farewell, Las Vegas! by Bob Woodward
In January, 2010, the annual SIA trade show will move to Denver. Its run in Las Vegas, begun in 1972, featured fun, frolic and maybe a little business.

Colorado's Rails to the Trails by Seth Masia
Denver's Winter Park ski train has been running continually for 73 years. Here's the story of the train that taught generations to ski. Read an expanded version here.

The Story Before the News by John Fry
Ski Fatalities Set Records 53 skiers and snowboarders died in accidents in the U.S. last winter, compared to a ten-year average of 39.8.
Political Posturing and the Winter Games Should the IOC punish Russia for its invasion of Georgia, by moving the 2014 Winter Games from nearby Sochi? Remember, the U.S. boyotted the 1980 Moscow Summer Games, for the Russan invasion of Afghanistan.

Skier's Bookshelf by Morten Lund
Packs On! Memoirs of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II, by A.B. Feuer. Feuer is a military historian. Here he gathers detailed memoirs of the Italian campaign from John Dewey, commander of Company M of the 86th Regiment, PFC Richard Ryan, and German General Siegfried Westphal. He combines this with a critique of the 10th's training, noting that it was designed by officers unfamiliar with mountaineering and European alpine tactics.

Remembering: Edgar Stern, Sarge Brown, Nick Hock, Edna Dercum, Mike Strauss, Brad Briggs, Ralph Bietila, Drew Judycki, George Bauer.

Chairman's Letter: Poking Around the Museums by Barry Stone
Exploring exhibits at Holmenkollen and Zermatt.

Long Thongs: When An Instructor Screwed Up, He Bought the Beer
by Paul B. McMorris
The code was posted in the locker room. Fall while skiing, and you bought a pitcher of beer. Fall at lineup, buy two pitchers. Fall while teaching, buy five. We drank a lot of beer.

Index of Back Issues

JOURNAL OF ISHA, THE INTERNATIONAL SKIING HISTORY ASSOCIATION
The International Skiing History Association is a not-for-profit corporation, whose mission is to preserve and advance the knowledge of ski history and to increase public awareness of the sport's heritage.

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