Has anyone used wooden ski's before?

[ski_resort_observer]

My first leather boots were Henke, circa 1961, don't remember the ski manufacture. The boots were usually warm and dry as we always rubbed in SnoSeal right before the winter. We also wore 2 pairs of wool socks. Before Gore opened we mostly skied at North Creek Ski Bowl and Hickory Hill.

 

[JimG.]

My first leather boots were Henke, circa 1961, don't remember the ski manufacture. The boots were usually warm and dry as we always rubbed in SnoSeal right before the winter. We also wore 2 pairs of wool socks. Before Gore opened we mostly skied at North Creek Ski Bowl and Hickory Hill.

My parents' first buckle boots were Henke...they bought new skis that year too, Hart Camaros with Tyrolia step in bindings, some of the first step ins I believe.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Pretty much everybody here is skiing on wooden skis right now.Most cores of all skis are made from wood laminates.Now solid wood is another animal.

 

[SkiFanE]

Pretty much everybody here is skiing on wooden skis right now.Most cores of all skis are made from wood laminates.Now solid wood is another animal.

LMAO, so true. My midfats are bamboo. Oh they are solid bamboo, lol, I haven't progressed mcuh.

 

[gymnast46]

For Christmas 1956 I got a pair of Erbacher wooden skis with Marker Bear Trap bindings (at least they had a swiveling triangle toe release). We were living in Germany and skiing at Berchesgaden and Garmisch. I saved up the equivalent of $7.00 in German Marks and bought a new pair of lace up leather boots. With my bamboo poles I was ready for anything. I used those skis until 1962 when I quit skiing and took up competitive sky diving. Retiring from that sport after 2000+ jumps I returned to skiing (and took up snowboarding) in 1996 just as shaped skis were making an appearance. Quite a contrast with my old wooden planks. I don't miss 'em!

 

[Nick]

For Christmas 1956 I got a pair of Erbacher wooden skis with Marker Bear Trap bindings (at least they had a swiveling triangle toe release). We were living in Germany and skiing at Berchesgaden and Garmisch. I saved up the equivalent of $7.00 in German Marks and bought a new pair of lace up leather boots. With my bamboo poles I was ready for anything. I used those skis until 1962 when I quit skiing and took up competitive sky diving. Retiring from that sport after 2000+ jumps I returned to skiing (and took up snowboarding) in 1996 just as shaped skis were making an appearance. Quite a contrast with my old wooden planks. I don't miss 'em!

That's a very cool story

Are you German?

 

[legalskier]

For Christmas I was given a pair of wooden skis with bear trap bindings with the lever, and lace up boots. They had metal edges that were screwed in. I can't remember the brand name but they looked similar to these-



They were BIG, higher than my reach, and heavy. Very difficult- no, extremely difficult- to learn on. They didn't grip ice well...and there used to be a lot of ice ("grooming" in the 'Cats was far from what it is now). Yes, the boots were cold, but we didn't care- we were having too much fun. The hot coca from our scotch plaid thermos jug by the fireplace would taste that much better. I wish I still had them. I saw a similar pair nailed to the wall of Whiteface's lodge- made me feel old, lol.

 

[Wavewheeler]

My first skis were wood. I think they were purple Rossignols. I remember when my father bought them for me at a ski shop in the mall. I was 8 years old so we are talking early '70s here. Our family went to Grey Rocks, in Canada. That's where I learned to ski. It was like being in Ski Boot Camp and I loved it!

I recalled that the skis seemed really heavy and it was easy to get them crossed and harder to turn with them. The bindings had springs on them and looked rather medieval. :grin:

The boots weren't leather but a very heavy plastic and they weren't warm. I remember wearing 2 sets of heavy, wool socks and my feet were still cold! I can still remember how my feet felt like two blocks of ice by the time the lift got to the top of the mountain. Usually my feet never felt warm. I tell my daughter all the time how lucky she is to have "modern" skis and boots, compared to what I grew up with.

I outgrew those first skis pretty fast and did the rental thing until college (mid '80s), when I got some fiberglass Rossis and plastic Nordica boots. The skis were still straight and were 170s. The boots were still cold but my feet stayed dry.

In 1999 I pulled out my plastic boots and they cracked into two pieces and fell apart! The ski shop told me they wouldn't even think of putting new bindings on my outdated skis. Parabolic skis were all the rage but I was on a limited budget so I bought letover "straight skis"..175 Rossis and rear entry boots.

They served me well until a few years ago I got a set of shorter, wider, shaped Hagan skis but I kept and loved those Rossi rear entry boots. I didn't replace them until last year! Now that I have new Rossi boots I wish I'd bought them sooner. I wear a thin set of Smartwool socks and my feet are warm, dry and I ski a lot better too! Finally! Ah well, live and learn.

My parents skied on wood skis. They were very long and very straight. Probably 210s..Maybe longer.

I was at my local ski shop last year and saw a pair of wood skis hanging on the wall for decoration and remember thinking "My dad's skis looked like that". Sure wish I had them now to hang on my wall. They sure looked cool but I prefer my own shorter, shaped skis, comfy warm boots, etc. etc.

 

[Cheese]

I've got no less than 3 pairs of Fischer skis on the wall of my parents basement from my childhood. Sadly they'll never make a museum because either one or both tips of all the pairs are broken. Still attached, but snapped right at the transition. Wooden skis just couldn't take the landings I was making as a young punk. The jumps I was hitting back then were so much smaller than what's found in the parks today. The skis are made of more durable materials now, but I'm still on the same set of knees.

 

[gymnast46]

That's a very cool story

Are you German?

Nope. Dad was in the Air Force stationed at Wiesbaden AFB.