Ski equipment from the ’30s
The skis of 1930 measured around 2.30 meters and were made by Abel Rossignol, Franz Kneissl, Joseph Fischer and Franz Völkl. An estimated 50,000 pairs of skis were sold in the 1930s.
Skis are made from ash, pine, birch or oak. They are shaped from a block and curved using steam. The pre-cut shape of the skis, the elaborated profile, and the groove on the sole suggest that ski design has already undergone significant evolution at the beginning of this century. With the arrival of alpine skiing competitions, the German Lentner had the idea of screwing metal edges onto skis, and the traditional “pigskin” was abandoned in favour of more sophisticated preparations. The shoes are made of leather and have laces; they notably lack support. Some seek to provide more stability to the ankles by wrapping them in a long strip of leather. Instead of bindings, leather straps are replaced by a hoop at the front, combined with a spring that attaches to the back of the heel, keeping it always free. The long “Alpenstock” is finally dismissed in favour of ski poles.
The champions of the day, such as Rudolf Rominger and Emile Allais, certainly had a lot of merit…
