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- KIANDRA -
World's First Ski Club.
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Countries in the Southern Hemisphere such as Australia and New Zealand are over four thousand years behind those in the North, in the use of what we refer to today as snow skis.Skiforeningen is an association set up in Christiana, Norway in 1883 for the promotion of skiing interests world-wide and the organisation of ski races. The Holmenkollen Museum was founded in 1923 and is generally regarded as the foremost authority on the history of snow skiing.
After the opening of the Museum it was accepted and published in numerous editorials that the first ski club in the world was the “Christiana Ski Club of Norway” formed in 1887, by 1925 the city of Christiana was renamed Oslo.
This "first ski club" claim held solid for almost seven decades, as no earlier skiing groups could be identified as being a club, using the strictest definition of a club. (See definition examples below)In the Canadian Ski Year book of 1931, Dr. H. Schlink reported that a club in Australia was nine years older than the Christiana ski club.
From SKI, January 15th, 1950
"A former gold miner claims the first and oldest ski club for the land down under. He is William Patrick (sic), 55 year old postmaster at Kiandra in the Australian Alps, the highest (4,606 ft) and coldest township in Australia.
When the original Kiandra Snow Shoe Club was established is hard to fix, but reliable sources say 1870. Prospectors, who used skis for everyday winter locomotion, were in the area as early as 1858. Some accounts say that Norwegians, who came to Australia from the California goldfields during the rush of 1860, introduced a “snow shoe” competition. The first Australian skis, made from mountain ash or spotted gum, were broader than Norwegian ones, being five inches wide in the toe and tapering to four inches in the heel."In 1955 the Kiandra Ski Club challenged the Norwegian claim.
Being the first ski club in the world was accepted by the “Guinness Book of Records” they then published Kiandra's claim in their annual books from 1962 through to the mid 1970’s. During this period the claim was contested unsuccessfully on two occasions.
Then a third challenge came from the Museum claiming to have discovered the existence of an earlier ski club founded in May of 1861 known as the “Trysil Skytte og Skiloberforning”. On this basis the Kiandra club dropped the claim.
In 2004 the Kiandra club sought more detail on the authenticity of the Trysil club, the findings prompted more action. With the use of historical records, newspaper reports and 1970 letters which had passed between the Museum and the Kiandra club, the Kiandra club was able demonstrate to the Holmenkollen Museum with all the required criteria that Kiandra also had a skiing club in or before 1861.As it was proven beyond any reasonable doubt, the museum forwarded the following letter of confirmation to the Kiandra ski club.
The Kiandra club accepts, but questions whether the Norwegian Rifle and Skiing Association formed in May 1861 should be deemed a ski club ? Understanding that skiing was a secondary and minor activity within an association not specifically formed for the purpose of recreational skiing.
The newspaper report offered by the Museum to support the foundation of the Trysil Ski Club.
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Elverum Military Establishment, May 30th.
The 20th of May, a rifle and skiing association was established at Trysil. 52 participants/members had enrolled. County physician Backer, Clerk Nyhuus, Clerk Ørbech and Farmer Johan Landgraff was elected for management.
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The National library of Norway was contacted to describe Winterthing day. “The Swedes conducted Winterthings in January and February between 1600 and 1700. Trysil, being located on the border to Sweden may have adapted this custom.”
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This unidentified military based Norwegian consortium was a combination rifle and ski touring association, formed in May 1861, with an emphasis on both physical exercise and weapon training. It is not demonstrated that the members named, had a common interest in snow skiing for sport and recreation before 1862, if indeed at any time. To lay claim to being the first or the oldest ski club in the world on this basis is indeed dubious.The Australian club formed in the summer of 1860/1861 remains without doubt the first true social ski club in the world.
Alpine Skiing.
Alpine skiing is generally regarded as mountain skiing at or near the tree line, as opposed to touring or cross country skiing.
It is in this discipline that the Australian contribution to the evolution of recreational alpine skiing has been largely unbelieved and therefore by-passed. It is virtually indisputable that club organised alpine skiing did not commence anywhere in Europe before the early 1880’s.
The only, club organised skiing in Australia at that time was alpine skiing, which commenced twenty years earlier. It is to be noted that the La Porte ski club of America was an alpine club, formed in 1867.
The Norwegian carpenters responsible for the Australian club’s foundation, Elias Gottaas, Søren Gregoriussen Torp, Carl Bjerknes and Martin Amundsen, all manufactured skis in Australia solely for the purpose of alpine skiing in those early years. These men deserve appropiate recognition for their devotion to the alpine sport they pioneered.The following extract is taken from a 1970 letter to the Kiandra club from the Curator of the Holmenkollen Ski Museum.
Originally named the Kiandra Snow Shoe Club / Kiandra Ski Club . In 1928, living members of the old club proved by race results and trophies that the club was formed some years before 1870. The following year (1929), the club was renamed the “Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club (1870)”.
Recent recognition of the club’s status required another change (1861) now replaces (1870).“Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club (1861)”
The world's first club devoted entirely and only to the sport of snow skiing.
The Kiandra club acknowledges there could have been many others over the centuries, and not yet recognised.The first group of skiers who can be identified by name, organised and combining regularly for a common interest, were bought together by Norwegians in Kiandra, Australia between 1859 and 1861.
After successfully withstanding over half a century of the most stringent investigations, any person, organisation or club doubting the validity of the Kiandra claim most probably has a conflict of interest or simply does not want to believe the facts.
Ski clubs can be found in or near almost every resort world wide and account for a huge proportion of skiers. Members of these numerous ski clubs account for a vast proportion of both competing and recreational skiers.
The commercial operation known as “The Kiandra Snowshoe Club Inc.”
with "Snow Shoe" spelt as one word and
Registered in NSW 1992 number Y16053-39, has no affiliation with the original
"Kiandra Snow Shoe Club" / "Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club (1861)".
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Claims that any other ski club originated from the Kiandra Snow Shoe Club / Kiandra Ski Club, are not valid.
No claim is made that the first ski races or competitions were conducted at Kiandra.
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A CLUB.
If a group holds a competition, and the contestants are named and rewarded, it does not necessarily give that group, club status.
A group does not require any form of contest, or to have retained minutes of meetings to receive the recognition of being a club.
For example:- Residents in any given locality, an organisation or even schools may hold events with prizes and name the winners and still not be designated a club.
The definition of “Club” in this context, has many variations, but does contain three common elements for it to take an unchallengeable effect.
1. A group can be any number exceeding a pair.
2. The second element and most important being for example :- periodically, organised regularly, regular basis or continuing basis, generally regarded as being more than twice.
3. The third being :- To meet or organise, being for a mutual, common purpose, to pursue collective goals, share a common interest.
Most recognised dictionaries and encyclopedias follow similar guidelines.
The common elements when combined are, a group, or social unit of people meeting on an organised basis for a common interest.
“A group of persons organised regularly for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose.”
“A group of people who voluntarily meet on a regular basis for a mutual purpose other than educational, religious, charitable, or financial pursuits.”
“Social unit of people, systematically arranged and managed to meet a need or to pursue collective goals on a continuing basis.
“Persons who meet periodically, for sociability or to share a common interest, especially in politics, a profession, or some form of recreation.”
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OTHER PAGES
Club History "Kiandra - Gold Fields to Ski Fields" by Norman W. Clarke
Balmain Cup - Early History
Prominent Members
Club Badges - Club Houses
Norman W Clarke
Club Historian
Life Member
