I always hate to do it, but sometimes it's just sooo good.. a poach from the TelemarkTips talk forum.. (Marcus, if this sort of poaching is not cool, please advise. dg)
Whole thread here:
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Chagerman
Joined: 17 Mar 2011
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 3:00 am Post subject: Skiing in the 18th Century Reply with quote
Thought some of the TTipers might be interested in this article on early Ski Troops posted in one of the H-Net list-servs by Frode Lindgjerdet, NTNU, Norway.
The most vivid tale of the training of Norwegian ski troops comes from such an unlikely source as a Dutch merchant sailor. In 1795, as the wars of the French Revolution made the English Channel unsafe, a Dutch convoy sailed north by Shetland en route back from South Africa. But bad weather, disease and the poor condition of their ships they had to seek port. On October 5 they arrived in Trondheim where commander Cornelius de Jong of the frigate Scipio spent the winter along with his crew. In February he travelled south
into the Gauldal valley and came to a district called Vinsnes in the Parrish Singås to review a military exercise of the Haltdalske Ski Company in March.
"By dawn we were awoken by trumpets. We got up despite the time was only five o'clock and fairly dark, because none of us wanted to be blamed for not making use of the opportunity to witness such an extraordinary exercise.
Skitroops are light soldiers with short barreled rifles and sabers. The
companies are recruited from young peasants whom in the summer are called jaegers, in winter ski troops from the skis they use. The skis are made from thin flexible wood, almost as broad as the width of a man's hand and about eight feet in length. Both ends are pointed and slightly curved upwards. The underside is covered with reindeer or seal skin. The hair of the skin is facing backwards, and because it is smooth, it increases speed downhill and prevents slipping when going uphill.
Ordinary soldiers use a pair of skis of similar length, but with the ski
troops, the left is a ¼ shorter so that the skier are able to turn faster.
With these skis they glide across the snow where others would have fallen through. They go up hill where no others can follow in the deep snow and they throw themselves downwards at a speed that can only be compared with the flight of birds.
Their uniform is made up of a red coat padded with sheep skin, with a cuff of black skin with yellow buttons and ribbons. They wear a light blue west and trousers, grey gaiters and a red cap with a yellow rim. Non-commissioned officers also wear a green over coat. They are issued a new coat every twelve years. Other garments, that is trousers, gaiters, shoes and shirt are issued every sixth year. The skis they manufacture themselves. The measly pay they receive during the exercise is 13 shillings a day.
After the soldiers had dressed up, in all 63 men or half a company, Captain Matheson was so kind as to ask if we were done, and our yes was a signal to form up. Every man fixed the skis to their feet by use of thin reins, took the rifle on their shoulder and the pole in their hand. The poles are very thick, on top they have a knob and at the opposite end a circular iron disk so it would not penetrated too deep into the snow, and from the disk a long pike so to give better support during the march.
The soldiers formed up behind a house on a big flat field between steep
hills. Each man six paces from the other to give room for maneuvering the long skis. And indeed, the sight of a company of soldiers with their captain on eight foot long skis is so extraordinary that it cannot be compared with anything else!
At the first command word, the soldiers put the pole diagonally into the
snow in front of them at an arm's length. At the second command they took hold of their guns and the drill could begin. At "present arms", the right foot went back and by placing the short ski across the long one, a sharp noise is produced when done simultaneously. During march, the gun is flung over the shoulder and the pole which is held with both hands then serves the dual purpose of stabilizing the body and to increase speed.
One advance with a slight forward bent posture and slightly bent knees, without lifting the feet from the ground. Left and right turns are made while in motion, but when making a full turn, the second rank has to make a halt until the first has completed their turn and moves on. Then the second rank can complete their turn. One makes a full turn first with the right foot and the short ski which is turned fully first and then the left ski can follow without much effort (this motion is called "lappekast", aut. remark)
After the marching, shots were fired and an attack made against a small house. It was assumed that one was facing a superior advisory and a quick withdrawal was made while the retreat continued. The retreat was made in such a manner that the forward rank marched back through the second, and the withdrawal was made in good order.
At a command, a new attack was made and the soldiers advanced at great speed and some shots were fired. Again a retreat was preformed, when the order "right turn" was sounded. Now they suddenly sped up and in a blink of an eye they were out of range, past us, down a hill, across a small valley and uphill on the other side. They went down again and in front of us they gave fire against their pursuers. Everything happened in an instant. To put it in a perspective I will add that the site where I was standing was about 160 paces from the summit of the first hill and the skiers another 20 paces
further away. On the command "march! march!" I did a full turn and ran at full speed to the top of the hill, but before I had reached 1/3 of the distance, me and my companions who did not wear skis were all alone in the field. No skiers were anywhere to see and the entire company had vanished.
When I reached the summit, I saw them far below, they were ahead by at least 400 paces, and firing. Is not that a remarkable speed?
The incredible speed was the reason why I could not witness their descent. I therefore ask the captain if they could repeat the maneuver, which he was delighted to do. I remained at the summit and in that way I was able to admire the speed that I must admit astonished me. In an attack, a small unit of these men must be able to wreck much havoc. The Swedes have more than once learned this lesson, and as far as I know they have started to copy the Norwegian example and formed companies of their own of these troops.
(...)
After the exercise was over, the soldiers formed up and preformed some other drills that showed they knew all the skills of an ordinary infantry man. Finally they presented arms and saluted us. I thanked them heartedly because I was very pleased with everything I had witnessed.
(...)
We asked the good captain Matheson and his officers to dine with us. When we went for a promenade in the afternoon, the skiers, encouraged by their officers, showed us some other drills. At the back of the house there was a steep hill, measuring fifty yards. The soldiers climbed to the top and skied downhill at great speed in a distance of 50 paces, then up another hill and over a small pile made of planks and covered with snow, into a barn laden with hay and straw to slow down the impact. Then they placed a another pile of planks and snow which they jumped over when they reached the bottom of the hill. Everything was accompanied with loud shouts and the skis hit the ground with a boom that was heard far and wide. I could not notice that the
jump slowed down the skiers.
One of the skiers preformed another daring deed. He ran down from the roof of a barn in the steepest part of the hill, jumped down to the ground, changed direction and continued over the pile already mentioned and stopped by the barn with the hay. The jump from the barn I estimate to be twelve yards high with the fall down the hill. Only six of the men in the company could copy the deed, they had not excelled that far. But all the peasants were so agile and fast that they deserve all recommendations. Even the captain, who was of some age, did everything while me and the others only fell off our feet when the skis where fixed to our feet."
(From Cornelius de Jongs, "Reisen naar de Kaap de goede hoop, Ireland en Noorwegen, in de jaren 1791 tot 1797")
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(Winky smiley face added so no one is offended).