Mathias Zdarsky's "Wenden" 2nd Step Vintage Ski PhotoDecorate your home or office with our archival photo reproductions of Mathias Zdarsky demonstrating the final step of the method of step turning the called the "Wenden". One of many modern Alpine skiing techniques Zdarsky developed in 1905. His extraordinary achievements were largely responsible for the sport we know today. 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.In January 1905, Zdarsky demonstrated the first steep downhill descent. 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). 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. Zdarsky is also thought to be the inventor of the bivouac sack. Mount Zdarsky in Antarctica is named for him. Each piece is printed on our state-of-the-art Epson printers, and shipped within 24 hours in a 3 inch tube to avoid compression.
