By Mohamad Yousuf
Winter Sports are becoming increasingly popular amongst the youth of our country. There are so many kind s of winter sports, like skiing, ice-skating, duck shooting and tobogganing etc. But among all snow skiing is very fascinating, thrilling and exciting one. It is one of the fastest sports of the world.
Ski as a refined and great sport is of very recent origin in India. Sometime in 1930’s this sport was introduced in India by some British soldiers. They had established a Ski Club at Gulmarg. The origin of this sport was actually derived from necessity. The idea of skiing was generated in the mind of a postman of Norway, who was entrusted with the work of distributing letters to the people living in snow bound areas of Norway. Natural and normal movement was almost impossible in snow bound areas where the postman had to serve. In order to make his movement easier and to maintain his duty uninterrupted on snow the post man made an improvised design out of two wooden planks to be tied under the feet to be used for walking on snow. The postman used the idea into practice and it clicked into a modest success. In course of time the idea of using two planks for fast walking on snow developed into modern ski. Then it popularized in Ireland, Finland and other northern parts of Europe. At present skiing is very popular in Austria, France, Italy, England, Canada, America, Russia and Germany etc./ It is now very rapidly popularizing in India, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Pakistan etc.
Ski is the only game where muscle power is avoided rendering it unnecessary. An ideal Skier while on skis should posses flexible body and mind with sharp perception and correct and flawless utilization of body movement as envisaged in Ski Instruction course can take one to desired direction and goal. Only rhythmic body can activate the ski to work one wants to achieve. Ski is a game of speed. In between the snow clad mountain range only ski can exhibit a graceful ballet like movement attaining a speed of 150 MPH.
It can be claimed that modern ski apart from being an artistic and adventurous sport it has some sociological utilitarian implication and importance as in the past. Ski is unique of its kind as an adventurous sport. All other sports might have manifestation of skill, beauty, power, competitiveness, above all pleasure both of the viewer and the performer, but the ski as a sport has some extra dimensions in its effectiveness to be used at times of need. India has a long mountainous border perpetually covered by snow throughout her northern boundary. Considering the effectiveness of movement on ski on snow bound areas ski training has been introduced to the Defence and B.S.F personnel for guarding the border.
Ski-Lift:
For the transportation of the skiers from base to top of the slope lifts are very essential. At present we have 6 ski lifts at Gulmarg, one Chair-lift, one T-Bar, three Poma-lifts (French) and one portable lift (excluding the army lifts). A scheme is progressive installing a Cable Car from Gulmarg to Apharwat. This lift will turn Gulmarg into International Ski resort.
Equipment:
Skis are made of fiberglass, metal and wood. These are light, lasting more efficient on snow. Suitable length of the ski for beginners may be the height of the skier plus one foot. Forward portion of the ski is projected upward forming boot like shape to facilitate buoyancy and affording passage over snow. The fittings are set such a manner so that the ski boot is set in the middle of the ski. Outer edges of the ski are bound by metallic angles. Front portion of the ski is called toe and back portion as heel. There is a grooved mark in the bottom of the3 ski which is known as direction mark. Special type of boot (high back and plastic made) is required for getting fixed on the fittings of the ski which are called safety bindings. The front portion of the binding is called toe plate and back portion as heel plate. Skier holds two ski poles (sticks) in his hands with discs attached to the lower ends. Special type of ski goggles are used and helmet is very essential during competitions. Skiers always wear colored and fancy dresses because it relieves monotony.
Kinds of Skis:
There are three types of snow skiing, given as under:
1. Alpine (Downhill) Ski: It is appropriate for Downhill and Slalom competitions. It is not5 possible to climb uphill by these skis. It is very common throughout the world.
2. Nordic Ski: This is the oldest sport. It is appropriate for recreational Cross-Country. Only tips of the boot are to be fixed with its special kind of binding. The heel remains movable and helps in climbing up hill. The mechanical devices to bring skiers uphill brought about the decline of this sport which is now coming back in the Alps.
3. Mountain Ski: A combination of Nordic and Alpine skiing. It is appropriate for sportive ski-touring and ski-climbing expeditions. Its bindings are multipurpose which can be used for uphill as well as for downhill. Sealskin or ski crampons (Nails) are fixed with skis for climbing steep slopes. It is now getting popular amongst the ski-mountaineers. Ascending and descending mountains by skis is the revival of an old sport of the Alps, the reintroduction of those conditions which prevailed at the dawn of skiing when ski-lifts did not exist.
Training:
In order to promote skiing in India the Tourism Department, Government of India established a National Ski School at Gulmarg under the name Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering., The Institute first trained about 19 Instructors, 11 of them were later employed in the same Institute. Since then the Institute has trained thousands of boys and girls of the country. At present ski training is imparted at Solungnallah and Kufri near Manali in Himachal Pradesh. The Skiing and Mountaineering Wing in Jammu and Kashmir Youth Services and Sports Department does not lag in promoting this unique sport among the school and College students of the state. It has inculcated the spirit of this sport among thousands of young ski enthusiasts.
The training to ski is imparted in three levels viz. Basic, Intermediate and Advance course. Those who qualify basic are recommended for intermediate and then advance course. At the end of the course tests are taken and various grades like “A” (above average) “B” (average), “C” (qualified) and “D” (disqualified) are awarded to the trainees according to the standard they have achieved in the course.
Technique:
Skiing is totally a new experience. Like all other sports it requires a certain technique for graceful skiing. A beginner has first to learn how to fix his boot on the ski and then start walking and sliding. Every aspect of movement of ski have been termed from its basic beginning to final, to name a few Tip turning, Step turning, Kick turn, Side stepping, Harraing bone, Snow plow, Snow plow turns, Downhill (Schus), Side slip, Uphill swing, Basic swing, Stem turn, Parallel turns, Wedlen, Traverse, Uphill christania and Stem christania etc.
Having endowed with all these basic aspects of skiing, a skier can even face and escape a running avalanche. The skier can also take off high and long jumps over a snow bump. Ski as an adventurous sport is synonymous with mountaineering. There are few ski climbers in India who could successfully ski down from Mt. Trisul, Mt. Nun and Mt. Kedarnath Dome and set records in the annals of ski-mountaineering.
Competitions:
Needless to mention that snow skiing is a Winter Olympic sport. Like other countries national state level competitions are organized every year at Gulmarg and Manali. It is a matter of great pleasure that one of the female students, Miss Natasha Mir of Chemistry Department of the University of Kashmir obtained 2nds Position in the National Championship in 1981. Last year one more student of Geography Department, Mr. Firdous Ahmad Khan obtained 1st position in state level competition, which was organized by the Ski Club of India at Gulmarg.
Events of Competitions:
Competitions are held in various events, given as under:
1. Downhill: One has to ski down from top to bottom of a particular slope in minimum time.
2. Slalom: The competitor has to pass through so many gates, fixed on the slope from top to bottom. Those who miss any gate are disqualified from the competition. One should finish the race in minimum time without missing any gate.
3. Giant Slalom: It is the combination of downhill and slalom. Gates are fixed very far away on the slope. It is very tricky race as one has to cross the gates in very high speed.
In all events the races are taken in two runs for combination. In Europe competitions are also held in Ski-Jumping, Cross-Country and Biathlon but these are not started in India yet.
University Ski Course:
In order to promote the adventurous sports in the University a first-ever skiing course was conducted at Gulmarg from 27th January to 17th January, 1982. Thirteen students of various Post-Graduate department participated in the course. There were 4 students in basic, 4 in Intermediate and 5 in advance course. All the students successfully completed the course. One female student, Miss Nirmal Hak of Political Science Department also attended Basic course. About Rs.11, 430 were spent for this course by the University out of that Rs.2, 250.00 were contributed by the participating students. It was a grand success. It would be nice if the tradition of conducting such courses for male and female students of the University would continue. The University can organize Inter-College competitions in this sport as well.
Positions obtained by the students in various courses as as under:
1. Altaf Hussain Mir, Law Department : 1st position in Basic Course
2. Shakeel-ur-Rehmand, Law Deptt. : All Round Best in Intermediate Course
3. Bashir Ahmad Mr, Commerce Deptt : Consolation prize in Intermediate course
4. Firdous Ahmad Khan, Geography Deptt : All Round Best in Advance Course
It is matter of great pleasure that the test of our students was taken by Prof. Prier Blonck of French National Ski School) (ENSA) who was at Gulmarg those days. Mr. Blonck also distributed the prizes and certificates among the participants. The University Ski Coach was awarded a special memento by the said professor.
The article was published in the magazine “Gulala” published by the Dean Students Welfare Office, Kashmir University September 1982
