February 22, 2006

What's the deal with Norwegians and skiing?

"A short history of skiing" -- Nothing too exciting about this long article by Morten Lund, but if you are wondering about the social history of Nordic and Alpine skiing, it does a good analytical job of explaining the emotional relationship between modern Nordic skiing (cross country, biathlon, and ski-jumping), which was largely developed in the Telemark district of Norway in the middle of the 19th Century, and Norwegian nationalism (leading to independence from Sweden in 1905).

It also discusses why Austrians are winning so many Alpine (downhill) skiing medals this year (they invented Alpine ski training). And you may recall Sir Arnold Lunn, the Christian apologist who was a contributor to National Review in the early 1970s. Well, what do you know, he invented the slalom in 1922. (He was knighted for contributions to Anglo-Swiss amity.)


My published articles are archived at iSteve.com -- Steve Sailer

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