Brattleboro Union High School - Colonel Yearbook (Brattleboro, VT)

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SKI JUMPING TECHNIQUE judges' stand for their num- bers, the loud speaker boomed out. Threading my way nerv- ously through the crowd, I looked around for some of the outstanding jumpers, who I knew would be there. I saw several of the well- known class A men and had a good talk concerning the hill and the coming event with some of them. There are no jumpers of real repu- tation in class B, because as soon as they earn publicity, they go into class A , consequently, class B compe- tition is always won by a dark horse. After receiving my number, I shouldered my skis and started the climb to the top of the jump. As I walked up, I looked around to see if I could discern, among the class B jumpers, anyone who looked like a real ski jumper. I picked out one fellow whom I had never seen before, and upon inquiry, I found that he had just come over from Norway and hadn't as yet got a rating. As soon as I heard this, I knew that there was a good man on whom to keep tabs, for all Norwegians seem to be born with ski jumping technique in them. Please tell me what number 26's jump is, will you, announcer? I asked. When his name was called, he stepped over to the track and felt his bindings for the last time to make sure that they were well fastened. Then he started. He rode well under control, and when I saw the jump that he made and heard that he had done one hundred and seventy-eight feet, I knew that he would be the one to watch. Several other jumpers were called, and then my name was shouted out. I had a queer hollow feeling in my stomach, which, I think, every other jumper has from nervousness. With many good lucks from the Brattle- boro jumpers, I pushed off. Riding in a low crouch, so as to cut down wind resistance, I lost all sense of hearing and of everything else, except that of hitting the takeoff. That was the most important thing! S I neared the takeoff, the blood began to roar A through my head as a result of my terrific speed. My legs grew tense and taut. I rose from the crouch a little, so that my legs would be exactly jacked under me. The end of that takeoff rushed towards me at express train speed. I waited one last split second, then leaped. I felt my skis rising too much, so I pushed farther forward LL jumpers report to the to get them down. I took one last look at them, before going over the knoll, to be sure that they weren't out of line or crossed. . My eyes were studying that landing hill for the spot where I should land, and immediately they focused on the point. A jumper can always tell the exact spot where he is going to land, a situation due to long practice and to many years of jumping. From up in the air, the landing hill looks like a white glistening ribbon between two black masses. You can see nothing and hear nothing while in the air. I suppose this is due to the fact that your mind is so taken up with what you are doing that you have no time to think of anything else. With my eyes glued to that spot, I felt myself falling, and I knew what was in store for me. Knowing that I was going to land hard, for I had been in the air so long, I prepared to take a very deep knee. That means sliding one foot ahead of the other farther than is usual. IWAITED and waited, and the ground came rushing up at me as if it meant to knock me over. I broke into my landing position-and hit! I dicIn't hear it, but a heavy jar went through my body, telling me that I had hit very hard. I rode the rest of the way in a low crouch, so that the transition wouldn't spill me. When I felt my skis level out on the flat, I relaxed for the first time, and my ears once more opened up to sound. The crowd was clapping and shouting, and I felt a thrill go through me at that sound. When I stopped out at the end, I listened for distance. The loud speaker boomed out, One hundred eighty-two feet, the longest standing jump that has been made today. I felt so happy that I could have rushed up and have kissed that announcer, but that would have been hardly the right thing to do! u All the way back to the foot of the hill, I heard and answered such questions as these: How do you ever get up nerve enough to jump so far? fContinued on page 192 Cut by Florine Defi 59 2 s wir.. IMQMQU II 'NI' I 3 4-ii'

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PCETRY Good-bye ELEANOR WEAVER '57 Sometime- Perhaps a million years from today, Will you remember--how A musical wind, singing of sun and moon and stars, Changed to a grey whisper, telling of chilling night and hovering quiet? A copper spider of a moon swung with the sky And sadly and quickly built a web of stars? Will you remember-how The dawn came, and found my laughing eyes Betraying themselves in tears, And you laughed and told me to forget? How could I forget The snow gilded with a pale yellow, from a dying moon, The grey limbs of a grey sycamore, caressing a grey wall, And you walking down a deserted, shivering street? Persecution BEVERLEY BIGELOW '38 ICOWLING at the flirting stars, The harsh moon Reigned sublimely in the Electrified sky. From his gallery tower, He beckoned to his servant, Wind, And commanded him to chastise His slaves--as-the black-ribbed trees. Pinioned against the sky, These serfs quaked with fear, As the whipping wind Lashed their feeble limbs. From the gashes oozed Beads of blood-sap, while The tyrannical moon Smiled at his despotism. Sky Pudding ELEANOR WEAVER '37 ACOPPER kettle of gold, Hung on a smoke stained crane, Puffs and bubbles and boils, And belches a skyful of stars. Winter Fontosy LORRAINE DOUGLASS '38 I-IKE dewdrops on a cobweb, Crystal-like stars Caught in cotton clouds Glitter on crusted snow- Billions of sparkling mirrors below. Fir trees fluffed with snow- Ragged urchins Shivering 'neath shabby shawls, As the moon-man sifts Flurrying snow-powder drifts. Snow Fall SHIRLEY NEEDHAM '40 'l'lNY star-shaped snow flakes, Fluttering from the sky, Seem like dainty bits of lace As they go floating by, Or tiny wisps of paper Cut by a childish handg Then, thrown from Heaven's window, They softly fall to land. It seems as if the children Who live up in the sky Are cutting paper dolls and things To play with by and by. They've hung up hnished cloud shapesH The cause of all their mirth-- And dropped the bits of waste upon The nursery floor of earth. Fog HELENA LEVESQUE '39 I T sifts through skies of sodden gray Like smoke in a damp autumn day, It leaves a rain drop here and there Like diamonds glistening, sparkling, rare. At night, when lamps are all aglow, Its silvered crest just gleams, for lo, The gems come earthward, fall upon A cold damp earth, dew pearled at dawnea The fog.

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K 5 S L, , ll ' f, , I, 1 ,, , .. 'fx EDITORIALS Winter Sports lssue THE editors of THE DIAL have been prompted to utilize outdoor winter activities for the theme of this issue for several reasons. First, the widespread interest of recent years in winter sports, and more especially skiing, has made Brattleboro one of the foremost winter sports centers in the East. The Brattleboro Outing Club Ski-jump on Cedar Street has become a regular feature in the life of sports-loving Brattleborians. Many hundreds of per- sons come every season from far away towns and cities to see the important meets. The surrounding country is well suited for Snowshoeing, tobogganing, slalom, and downhill skiing, for it can boast of every kind of slope and trail possible. Ample facilities for skating parties are afforded by the numerous bodies of water around Brattle- boro. Thus, nature has endowed this community with gifts well adapted for a great winter sports center. Second, we believe that there are many important bene- fits derived from outdoor activity which should be en- joyed by all. A great many people are sometimes likely to hesitate about braving the rigors of winter to take part in outdoor activities and thus, by staying close to the fires at home, they deprive themselves of necessary fresh air and exercise. We are trying to encourage participation in outdoor sports in the winter by everyone, and not by just a few. Outdoor exercise is just as essential in winter as in summer. Because such exercise leads to health, we are making this fact the second reason for issuing a winter sports number of our DIAL. Third, we want to extend an invitation to all those interested in winter sports to come to Brattleboro this season. We want them to come to our town and to enjoy a day spent in the out-of-doors. They will be received with much hospitality and consideration. We people of Brattleboro feel that our natural benefits and good for- tunes should be shared and appreciated by others as well as by ourselves. Furthermore, realizing that outside con- tact is good for any community, we welcome any oppor- tunity of enjoying such contact, and of developing atti- tudes and ideals already beneficial to those who live beyond the horizon of our hills. So, you lovers of outdoor winter sports, come to Brat- tleboro, where you will be greeted with the heartiest of sincere welcomes, and where Mother Nature will give you thrills and happiness in great measure. -Leslie Warren '37 Wanted-More Girl Skiers TTENTION, girls! Are you anxious to preserve that A slim, graceful, schoolgirl figure? Then here's how! join the ranks of skiing-the sport full of thrills, spills, and few bills! Skiing is a combination of all types of exercises, and requires the use of every muscle. fYou'll discover some that you didn't know existed!j It also helps you to acquire rhythm and grace in your movements. fWhat girl does not wish to add these qualities to her personality?j Another advantage is the fact that this exercising is practised out-of-doors in the fresh, wintry air, and amidst nature's handiwork. Still another enticement-since skiing is THE thing to do, you will be right in fashion. Besides your equipment, which may be very expensive or extremely low-priced, this sport is free of charge. Girls in Brattleboro are very fortunate to have such a fine opportunity to ski, and one so close at hand. The Retreat Park offers an exceptional and limitless group of slopes and trails for both the be- ginner and the more experienced skier. When you have gained honors and have graduated from one slope, there is always one more to conquer. The field of skiing is without end. You will find that there is always something more to be added to your accomplishments. So-fall in line, and become an active ski enthusiast! You may try skiing in order to maintain that attractive figure, or you may try it because your friends are trying it. But before you are fully aware of the fact, you will find yourself skiing for the joy of skiing, and that alone! What could be more exciting than a long, smooth run down a sparkling slope, with the wind whipping by and the feel of winged skis on your feet? What could be more thrilling than dashing down a white trail, and swishing around a corner, leaving a huge spray of snow crystals to float to the ground? What could be more in- vigorating than a slow, steady climb up a winding path, suddenly to find yourself looking down into a valley of dazzling white, then, with a graceful push with your poles, to begin the long tireless ride back to civilization? And so, girls, come one, come all! Strap on the old waxed boards, flourish those ski poles, and follow the trail to Health, to Happiness-and to a perfect thirty-six! -Dorothy Dunklee '38 Cnr by Rim Filinn '37