Re: Origin of skiing/Surfing

"Hand axe" and chunk of wood could be used to split cedar (shakes), I'd
think, probably could split most sapling wood with practice.
First water skies were planks, guy named Samuelson made them, got towed
behind boat or airplane, in Lake City MN.
I made a pair of snowshoes long ago, worked good until they busted.
Used whole poplar stems and rope, for deep snow in forest.

Here's more thoughts on ancient net surfing: In Paleoanthro group
there's a reference to wooden planks & other wooden objects found in
the Sea of Galilee dating to 23ka. Surfboards? I was thinking the
wooden objects were probably associated with net making and using,
which is where the surfboard makes sense for warm freshwater lake
fishing in non-shallow areas, precursor to the fancier later dugouts,
canoes and kayaks.

A stone axe or wood-chunk mallet and hand-axe chisel could split a
cedar log into planks (cedar splits easily ie cedar shakes-shingles).
If the fisherman holds a woven papyrus mat (reinforced with crossed
bamboo) as a sail, or a small plank as a paddle, he could go into very
deep waters for fish. First example of "Net Surfing"?

Also, ability to extend long rakes to collect mollusks, as oystermen
have done in New York harbor and Chesapeake bay for thousands of years.
Maybe including a net-bag/harvest-basket/crab-pot tied to the
surf-board. Just thinking about it. Hard to know when humans first
knotted nets, wove baskets & mats, fished in deep waters, sailed. By
23,000 years ago it seems likely to me that they "surfed the net" in
the Sea of Galilee. DD


johnwl4@xxxxxxx wrote:
" What was most likely done was cut down a sapling split it, then
smooth both sides and curve the tips up while they were still green and
let
them dry. Select the right wood and a practiced person can do a pretty
good
job of this. Deowll"

I wonder if the splitting could be done with stone tools, though.
In any case, one could fasten several poles together in a long, narrow
sort of snowshoe, cover the bottom with hair, as mentioned in the
article, and be able to climb and ski down at a somewhat more
controlled speed. One can steer to some extent by simply tipping
one's legs, though not with the control of the telemark. And,
actually, if the snow is well consolidated, one can use a Christie.
I'm not sure how long that has been around though. Years ago, I know,
skiers would use a jump turn.
Regards
John Gw

.

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