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Jenny Gaborski-Nordic Skiing |
 The
composition of cross-country skis has changed drastically over time to create
a faster, more durable model. The oldest skis were carved from a single
piece of wood and had deerskin attached to the bottom. These skis did not
glide very well and were more similar to today’s snowshoes than our
cross-country skis. Then around 200 BC people started to produce longer
left skis. The left ski was made of pine or spruce and became the gliding
ski. The right ski still had animal skin attached to the underside and was
used to push and give speed. After 1850, it was discovered that skis would
be faster if they were both the same size. In the 1950s, an innovation was
that skis would be lighter and more flexible if they were made from several
pieces of wood instead
of just a single piece. And then in the 1970s fibre glass was introduced
and skis became even lighter and more durable. This was incredibly important
to ski manufacturers and consumers because cross country skiing was now
becoming a well-known racing sport.
Another important aspect of skis is the inner core. Fischer has come up
with a new air channel design which they claim is 250 grams lighter than
other modern styles. This technology is made by laminating up to 14 layers
of poplar and ash. Between the layers, there are air channels. This idea
incorporates several essential features of a fast ski such as durability,
less weight, better kick and faster glide. Determining the winner of a cross-country
ski race may come down to seconds, so the technology and materials used
to create the best ski become very important.
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