billski
Active member
In 1950, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery penned a letter to the Times of London. He was one of the most admired Military leaders of WW2. I have excerpted his major points.
"...I first began to ski in 1925 and in my opinion the general standard of ski-ing was far higher in those days than it is to-day. By "ski-ing" I mean of course real ski-ing and not rattling down prepared pistes.
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In 1925 a man was regarded as a good skier if he could find his way about the mountains, and if he could run fast and steadily in all kinds of snow - soft snow, breakable crust and unbreakable crust. To-day, the one standard of excellence appears to be speed down a prepared course from which every vestige of natural snow has been removed; the result is that most modern skiers are for the most part incompetent in soft snow and therefore inferior to their predecessors.
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The Inferno Race (Murren) starts from the summit of the Schilthorn and finishes at Lauterbrunnen, 7,000 feet below. The course from start to finish is on natural snow as shaped by the sun, and wind, and frost. As a soldier this type of race appeals to me immensely; it calls for quick decisions; these have to be taken almost instinctively, ...
...
I appeal to the leaders of the Alpine schools to do something to arrest the decadence of a noble sport."
Sir Monty, I couldn't agree with you more!
"...I first began to ski in 1925 and in my opinion the general standard of ski-ing was far higher in those days than it is to-day. By "ski-ing" I mean of course real ski-ing and not rattling down prepared pistes.
..
In 1925 a man was regarded as a good skier if he could find his way about the mountains, and if he could run fast and steadily in all kinds of snow - soft snow, breakable crust and unbreakable crust. To-day, the one standard of excellence appears to be speed down a prepared course from which every vestige of natural snow has been removed; the result is that most modern skiers are for the most part incompetent in soft snow and therefore inferior to their predecessors.
...
The Inferno Race (Murren) starts from the summit of the Schilthorn and finishes at Lauterbrunnen, 7,000 feet below. The course from start to finish is on natural snow as shaped by the sun, and wind, and frost. As a soldier this type of race appeals to me immensely; it calls for quick decisions; these have to be taken almost instinctively, ...
...
I appeal to the leaders of the Alpine schools to do something to arrest the decadence of a noble sport."
Sir Monty, I couldn't agree with you more!
