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The
Skis of Bloke
Mode
of transport during winter, established over 350 years ago in
Slovenia
The first report of skis used by
the common people for traversing snowbound hilly country-side
was made by historian, sociologist and scientist, J.V. Valvasor
in his book The Glory of Duchy of Krain, published in the 17th
century.
First he mentions home-made snowshoes,
which prevent a person from sinking in the soft snow. He also
refers to a variant with six sharp iron spikes used for crossing
frozen or rocky surfaces. He is even more impressed with an invention
which he has "not seen or heard of in any other country",
for sliding in winter from high mountain into the valley at high
speed.
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Smucci - The oldest
skis of Bloke
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This is how he describes
the skis and the activity for which they are used:
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Krplje - "Snow
Shoes" |
They
(the mountain men) take two wooden boards, one quarter of
a 'thumb' thick, half a foot wide and about five feet long.
In front the boards are turned upwards. In the middle there
is a leather strap for keeping feet in place. The person steps
onto the 'smucci', and takes a strong staff into his hands.
This he puts under his arm and leans back into it, using it
as support and as rudder, and so he slides or better flies
down the steepest slopes. While standing on the boards, he
leans firmly on the staff, and runs down hill so fast that
he certainly goes faster than the over the ice in Holland.
Every moment he is able to avoid anything that stands in his
way, a tree, a rock or anything else. No hill is too steep
for him, none so thickly wooded, that he would not be able
to slide through in this manner. He is able to avoid anything
by making his way around it like a snake. However, when the
way is free and clear of any obstacle, he rushes along in
a straight line, always standing straight and leaning on his
staff. |
There is another report of skiing written in Novice (1845)
the chaplain, Jozze Bevk, who describes the same activity
in this area, but also mentions that women also use the skis,
and often use them to attend church services.
Sasha Ceferin, ( Melbourne 1998)
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