The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection
754.2009.1
Ski boots
22/01/2009
Hermione Cooper
22/01/2009
Pair of Norwegian leather ski boots with metal eyehooks and brown leather laces. Leather strap with metal buckle. Skeesol Vibram rubber sole.
leather, metal, rubber,
29(l) cms
1 pair
"40" and "7278" inside boot. On sole an ellipse with "ITSHIDE MADE IN ENGLAND 38-39 SKEESOL 5-6"
brown
England
In the 1990's Scottish Ski Club member, Myrtle Simpson, was planning a Ski Museum at the Cairngorm ski resort near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. Myrtle had written a book on the history of Scottish skiing called, 'Skisters' and was keen to see that history preserved. She put out an 'all stations' call for fellow club members to clear their lofts and garages for relics of days gone by. The response was good - large amounts of skis, boots, poles and associated memorabilia arrived and was stored in a barn near Aviemore in anticipation of the museum. Unfortunately, the museum never happened and the wherewithal for it languished in the barn for over a decade until it was finally handed over to the Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection in 2008.
This lovely pair of Norwegian boots were part of that initial collection and were donated by M Greaves of Torbreck, Kincraig, having been bought in Norway in the 1950's. Local cobbler, Archie MacFarlane, had put the new Skeesol,Vibram sole on sometime later as the original sole was smooth leather. They are a fabulous pair of boots that seem to have done a lot of mileage.
It might be worth noting that boots from this era served as both cross country and downhill footwear as the sport of downhill skiing as we know it today had yet to come of age.
passed on from Scottish Ski Club
01/12/2008
28/04/2009
Bohuntin
Glenmore Lodge
Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007
28/04/2009