Mathias Zdarsky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by MB (talk | contribs) at 23:51, 31 March 2022 (cleanup, typo(s) fixed: in 25 February 1856 → on 25 February 1856). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mathias Zdsrsky
Zdarsky in 1908
Born25 February 1856 (1856-02-25)
Kožichovice, Třebíč District of Moravia
Died20 June 1940 (1940-06-21) (aged 84)
St. Pölten, Austria
Occupation(s)Ski instructor, artist
Known for"Father of alpine skiing"
Inventor of steel ski binding
Zdarsky demonstrating his ski technique. This photo was the basis of a 1990 commemorative Austrian 5 schilling stamp.[1]

Mathias Zdarsky (Czech: Matyáš Žďárský 25 February 1856 – 20 June 1940) was an early ski pioneer and is considered one of the founders of modern Alpine skiing technique: Arnold Lunn described him as the "father of alpine skiing".[2] He was probably Austria's first ski instructor.[3] He was also a teacher, painter and sculptor.

Zdarsky was born on 25 February 1856 in Kožichovice, Třebíč District of Moravia, then Austria-Hungary, present Czech Republic.

Inspired by Norway's Fridtjof Nansen's 1888 crossing of Greenland, he adapted skis for use on alpine terrain. In 1890, he developed a steel binding (the "Lilienfelder Stahlsohlenbindung"), which made steep mountain slopes and gate runs possible. Zdarsky felt the earlier bindings did not hold the foot firmly enough, and so he designed binding with a strong, sprung, steel sole, which is the basis of modern ski bindings. As in the earlier Norwegian skiing, he used only one ski pole. Unlike today, the skier steered by using their elbows.

In January 1905, Zdarsky demonstrated a steep downhill descent, and was among the first to publicize this development in Central Europe. To show the superiority of his ski technology, he skied the "Breite Ries" at Schneeberg, Austria. On 19 March 1905 he organized the first alpine ski race (on the Muckenkogel via Lilienfeld, Austria)(though Crans-Montana in Switzerland had already run the first Kandahar descent race, in January, 1901). This had 24 participants. Zdarsky won, making him the first winner of an official ski race. However the event attained little attention beyond ski enthusiasts, so in 1922 the Englishman Arnold Lunn invented the shorter, but more difficult slalom race, which had greater appeal.

During his lifetime, nobody suspected Zdarsky had created the basis for a popular sport, and he was considered something of an eccentric inventor. During World War I, he taught mountain troops skiing and advanced avalanche training. He described his skiing techniques in his book Die Lilienfelder Skilauf-Technik (The Lilienfelder Ski Method). First published in 1897, seventeen editions were published up to 1925. He died in St. Pölten, Austria on 20 June 1940.

Zdarsky is also thought to be the inventor of the bivouac sack. Mount Zdarsky in Antarctica is named for him. A double black diamond trail at Taos Ski Valley is named for Matthias Zdarsky.

References

  1. ^ 50. Todestag von Mathias Zdarsky at aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at
  2. ^ Norden, Gilbert (Spring 2001). "Austrian Sport Museums" (PDF). Journal of Sport History. 28 (1): 87–107. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Britannica.com article on Matthias Zdarsky". Retrieved 2006-10-09.

General references

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mathias_Zdarsky&oldid=1080386437"