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

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TI-iE DIAL I9 Ski Jumping Technique fContinued from page 91 It is hardly a question of nerve, it is more one of love for the sport that makes a skier jump harder. A jumper begins at a very early age and, consequently, builds up his nerve into love, so he no longer thinks of whether or not he has the nerve to jump far. I'm sure I would never have the nerve to go over such a thing! How do you dare to go over anything so large? The larger the jump, the safer the hill. That is, of course, up to a certain point. When a hill is built large, it is made wider and steeper, conditions which eliminate the danger of rolling off the course and of landing ter- ribly hard as one would do if the landing were Hatter. The reason you wouldn't dare to jump is the fact that you didn't start to jump when you were very young. ALITTLE later on, I heard one fellow say to another who was watching a jumper who had just come over, That was a terrible jump! He didn't go far at all. Oh, if the onlookers only knew that distance isn't all there is to jumping! A jumper is given twenty points for form and twenty points for distance. The form points, however, are by far more important than the distance points, for it is hard-in fact, almost impossible-to be able to beat another man by more than four or five dis- tance points, but there is no limit to the number of form points by which a man may be beaten. Points are figured differently. With the longest standing jump in competition as a standard, the judges take off so much from the total of twenty, for each foot or meter that the jumper is short on his jump. The form points, however, are taken off by the judges according to facts on a sheet of paper which lists all the possible mistakes a person can make throughout his entire jump. As the competitor starts down, he must be absolutely steady, and he must prove to the judges that he is really so, as they will take off from one to three points for this fault. For not riding low enough on the approach, the jumper loses one or two points. If he is over anxious, and jumps before he gets to the end of the takeoff, or if he is late in leaving the takeoff, that is, if he jumps after he is past the end of the takeoff, he loses one to three points. The Norwegian judges, who are considered the best in this sport, do not take off for too much bend at the hips or for the participants being too straight while in the air, but they insist in marking off very heavily for the jumper's straightening absolutely, after leaving the takeoff. Again, unsteadiness comes in, for, if one wavers or acts as if he weren't under control, the judges take off more points. One point each is taken off for bent knees, wrong ankle bend, crossed skis in front or in back, or if the skis are too far up in the jumper's face. THE next thing is the landing. Every jumper lands in a telemark position, that is, one ski is advanced in front of the other. If he breaks into this position before he is approximately three feet from the ground, points, again to the tune of one to three, are taken off. He must be steady, and his back must be erect when he lands. If this is not so, one or two points are taken off. After he is down, he must straighten up, then he may ride the rest of the way as he pleases. The only situation in which points can be taken off from now on, is that in which he is more or less steady. If a jumper falls, he is automatically disqualified, because he has lost so many points that it would be impossible, even if he made a perfect jump his second try, to outpoint any other man who stood up on both jumps. There are two completely different styles of jumping. One isicalled the American style, and the other, the Nor- wegian style. The American style consists of jumping straight up into the air when leaving the takeoff. After do- ing this, the jumper must acquire his lean, The Norwegian style consists of diving off the takeoff and, consequently, the jumper already has his lean. Using the American technique, the jumper lands much harder, and, con- sequently, must have a very strong pair of legs. The Norwegians are all small men, and so they have derived their own method of going just as far without getting the tremendous jolt which comes with a long jump done in the American style. All jumpers use variations of these two styles plus their own ideas of landing and flight through the air. Every jumper must know the rules governing his sport in order to keep his style as nearly correct as is possible. Due to the changing rules, he must keep up his knowledge of the subject from year to year. . 2i ' 0 41 Cut by Cora Terferi '39

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ia -My A W Tl-IE DIAL s A A lg lk If lx 1X lx A fx ff A A A A A A as as 43 ranking, both in public and private schools, will be in- vited to attend the Eastern Interscholastic Championship Meet sponsored by the Hanover High School Outing Club. The Meet is expected to assemble over one hundred schoolboy skiers from New England and New York. Among interesting projects of the Club is the conver- sion of a small cottage into a ski lodge with fireplace, ski posters, literature, and the odor of pine tar prevailing. Nearby is the ski held where daily instruction periods have been inaugurated. In direction of Winter Sports is Coach Fulton, a Dart- mouth graduate, and former coach of the Tilton School Ski Team. Hockey, captained by Willard Wilson and managed by Robert Elston, has commenced at an early date. The team will play mid-week games in the Inter-Community League at Hanover, besides following its regular schedule of games with Lebanon, Woodsville, Bellows Falls, New Hampton, and Hartford. -'Hdllf1l'6l' High School Outing Club H.'vmz'er, N eu' Hampshire Lebanon High School HIE junior Outing Club, the largest and most active -I-club in our school, is looking forward to a very busy season. A large skating rink has been prepared on our playground. This is intended largely for recreational skat- ing and will mean a great deal to the students from the rural sections who bring their noon lunches. The ski trails have been brushed and cleared of all stumps and rocks. They are now covered with eight inches of snow and are being used. The ski jump trestle is being rebuilt and will be in use within a week. Beginners' classes in skiing are being conducted daily on the golf links. The ski classes for the younger boys and girls will be conducted by the more able high school stu- dents. The high school girls' and boys' ski teams are coached by Miss Marguerite Fifield and Erling Heistad, respectively. The girls' teams are planning meets with Newport, N. H., and Hanover, N. H. The boys are look- ing forward to the annual Dartmouth B team vs. Leb- anon Outing Club meets which take place the second and third week in January. They will also compete for the third time for the Franconia Cup. This Cup is a challenge trophy to go permanently to the first school to win it three times. Lebanon has two legs on it. February 19 and 20 is the time for the Eastern Inter- scholastic championships at Hanover, N. H. Lebanon will enter a junior and a Senior team. There are plans being made for a dual meet between Williams College Freshmen and the Lebanon High School team. Cut by Cora Terreri '39 But-emphasis will be put on recreational skiing rather than the competitive, and safety precautions will be re- quired of all members of the teams. -Erling Heirlad Vermont Academy I H1s winter, Vermont Academy is planning to have a good ski team or winter sports team. We have sched- uled ski meets with Andover, Deerfield, Cushing, Mt. Hermon, and Tilton Schools. There are thirty boys out for skiing this year which is more than we have had for the past two years. Besides two of last year's letter men who are back, there are several new boys who should do well in competition. One skied for Lowell Thomas in Tucker- man's Ravine. There are several new developments going on here this year. We are going to have the ski jump in the same place, but we are going to build a wooden take-off and trestle. jumps of seventy-five or eighty feet should be made on it. There is also another hill on which we hope to build a large jump, but it has the disadvantage of being too far from the school. We are going to use the same three-mile cross-country course that we had last year. This is a good course and includes several obstacles such as fences and a brook. Devil's Dip, which we consider a good downhill trail, is going to be a little different from last year. Instead of having several steep, sharp turns at the top, it comes straight down for the hrst few hundred yards. This makes it much faster, and it now has all the aspects of an expert trail. There is also another trail, which can be used for racing, on another hill called jones Mt. Several other scattered trails make good practice runs. A long, steep, open slope over near Devil's Dip offers a fine slalom hill. The only hindrance is that there are quite a few bushes growing there. Our club has first, second, and third class tests which determine the skier's skill. These tests are not the same as the British Ski Association tests, but are simpler. Our first class test corresponds to the British Ski Association's third class test. They will be given by our ski coach, Homer Gregory, and we expect that almost everybody will pass the third class test. We have noted a vast improvement here at school, and everywhere else, also, in the past few years. -Irving Townrlserzd Now, the Exchange Editor wishes to take this opportu- nity to extend her sincere thanks to the faculty members and students who have contributed to this Department. Ski Heil!

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1 20 I THEiilDIAL Brattleboro Ski Jump fCon!inuedfr0f1z page 41 shows that Dartmouth has a running space of 210 feet, while the running of the jump here is from 290 to 300 feet. The Brattleboro hill is natural, while at Dartmouth it was necessary to build a steel trestle, the jump there cost- ing about 34500. The Dartmouth jump is 375 feet long, whereas the Brattleboro jump is 750 feet. Dartmouth's jump drops about 200 feet, and there is a drop of 268 feet on the local jump. Brattleboro has been favored with the scene of the National Ski-jumping Championships of the 1937-1938 season. The National Ski Association in Chicago acceded to Brattleboro's request for next winter's tourney for the third time. The date has not been set but will be early in 1938. So Brattleboro, with its natural beauty, has attained popularity for its winter activities, especially for skiing. Against a background of snow-capped Vermont hills, the artistic environment, with the spectators like candy of every color on a huge frosted cake, invites many on-lookers and participants to our town. Our hearts thump with pride at the snow-laden beauty of winterset in Brattle- borol Why Not a High School Ski Team? fC0ntinuea' fron: page 142 Winter picnics are a lot of fun. With a roaring fire built in some sunny place out of the wind, you will be surprised how warm you can be especially when the days grow longer toward the end of the season. There are many interesting places and camps within a few miles which can serve as objective points. When city dwellers are willing to spend 8 hours in a day on a train in order to enjoy 4 or 5 hours of skiing, how much more should we who live in the ski belt be alert to our opportunities! How to start toward having a High School Ski Team? Simply call a meeting of those interested. I venture the prophecy that the idea will meet with instant enthusiasm. Invite the President of the local Outing Club who has had experience in the work of organization. Elect a Captain and Manager, also a Chairman of a Committee on ski trips. It should not be difficult to arrange a dual meet with a nearby, ski-minded school. Yes! I would like to see organized a ski club and a ski team. We have all the advantages. There is every chance of success. May the time not come-and soon-when we will be as proud of a winning winter sports team as we were this fall of our winning football team? Schtem Along l -Ski Heil l ICon1inued from page I6j After you have read and absorbed the interesting text of these five books y0u'll feel just like sitting in front of a huge fireplace with skiers from every country. You'll be talking of the good and bad turns, the types of wax, broken bindings, conditions of snow. The names of great ski instructors will spring up now and then. Didn't you read about all this? Aren't you glad that you did? I'm sure that you will be! But, if you aren't yet read up on the subject of skiing, there are still more excellent books concerning this great sport. So put on your woolens, dig out your red plaid ear mulfs fto match your wooliesj, and delve into the snow covered pages of: Ski Gang-George Herring-Stephen Daye Press. fThis is a book for childrenj Douwlsill Skiing-Otto Lang-Henry Holt 8: Co. Novels which have to do with skiing Snow Against the Sky-Mary Dunstan. Family Name-Arnold Lunn. IV ell, Otto, I hear that lhefe are lwo fee! of ,mow on Hellfr Highway. I'm going up this week-emi: will you be up there-but remember, .rclntem like Hell on Ibe Rock Garden-Ski H eil! Brattleboro-Winter Playland fCon!inued from page 71 any crisp, clear night you can hear the shouts of happy groups as they speed down shining slopes on toboggans For those who still love just plain sliding, the town has set aside Green Street, Maple Street, and South Main Street. After a fall of snow, it is fun to watch young and old gaily sliding down, only to trudge to the top to start again. Is it any wonder that Brattleboro is called a Winter playland? It is a paradise for sportsmen, and, besides pro- viding advantages for every Winter Sport, it has a health- ful and invigorating climate. ut by Genrie Edron '39