Vermont Antique Nordic Ski Race – Photo Essay

3-pinners of all ages came out to participate in the 2.4 km 4th Annual Vermont Antique Nordic Ski Race held yesterday at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. Nostalgia ruled as long-time Nordic aficionados dusted off their wooden skis and bamboo poles and rummaged in their cedar chests to find their old knickers, wool sweaters and leather mittens.

The Race

Vermont Nordic skiing Olympians Larry Damon, Bob Gray (3rd place) and Marc Gilbertson (1st place) peppered the field. Instead of plastic flags marking the course, traditional pine boughs indicated the way. One participant smiled saying that just getting back on her old skis brought back wonderful memories of all the fun times she had on skis.

The Equipment

Snapped tips and ripped soles were par for the course. Rules of the race were simple, “show up with 3-pin bindings and bamboo poles.”  The Vermont Ski Museum provided extra equipment.

The Outfits

The Scandinavian influence was alive and well as evidenced by the traditional knit sweaters and wool knickers worn by the skiers.

This is the type of Troll binding that influenced the art for my ski poster entry.

Here’s the winning poster that I designed for the poster contest. For more views of my poster click here.

http://poppygall.com/blog/2009/12/23/antique-nordic-ski-race-poster-contest/