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The exact origins of skiing are a bit murky, but one thing is clear. Skiing was originally designed to create movement. In ancient times, skiing was about getting from A to B on snow efficiently. Walking in the deep snow was exhausting, snowshoes were OK, but skis were king. The Sami people of Northern Scandinavia knew that skis were a superior form of snow transportation because their ancestors invented them and the Sami used them on a daily basis. The Sami are widely credited with being the inventors of the ski.
The exact origin of the Sami culture is also unknown. Historians have traced their lineage and language back to the Ural mountains, Europe, and deeper into Asia. The Sami are even argued to be partially the “Eskimos” that went left to Scandinavia, instead of right to Alaska and Canada. Regardless of their origin, the Sami bloodline is distinct from Scandinavian and European bloodlines.
The illustration is from a book by Olaus Magnus “Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus” (History of the Nordic Peoples), published in Rome 1555.
“The genetic lineage of the Sami is unique, and may reflect an early history of geographic isolation, genetic drift, and genetic bottle-necking.” – wikipedia
These ‘Aboriginal Europeans’ followed the retreat of the last Ice Ages glaciers and spent a lot of time on ice and snow. Perhaps more time than anyone in history. It was their massive amount of time on snow that lead them to the invention of the ski for hunting and transportation.
SKIING HISTORY 101:
- 6300 BC: The world’s oldest skis were discovered in Russia, near Lake Sindor.
- 4000 BC: Rock carvings of a skier from this period were discovered in Norway.
- 3300 BC: Skis from this time period were discovered in Finland. They were 180 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide. These skis had five grooves.
- 2700 BC: Two skis and a pole were dug out of a bog in Sweden.
- 2500 BC: Archaeologists discovered rock drawings that depict a man on skis holding a stick. The drawings were discovered on a Norwegian island.
- 200 BC to 200 AD: First documented reference to skiing in China.
- The word “ski” comes from the Old Norse word “skíð,” which means split piece of firewood.
“The oldest information about skiing is based on archaeological evidence. A wooden ski dating from about 6300-5000 BC was found about 1,200 km northeast of Moscow at Lake Sindor. The Kalvträskskidan ski, found in Sweden dates to 3200 BC, and the Vefsn Nordland ski, found in Norway is dated to 5100 BC. Rock drawings in Norway dated at 4000 BC[6] depict a man on skis holding a stick. A ski excavated in Greenland is dated to 1010.” – Wikipedia
We still can’t be overly confident of our radio-dating techniques as there are still plenty of inaccuracies. If the ski mentioned above is anywhere near 8,000 years old, we’re impressed. This means that people were possibly charging around on skis in about 6300 B.C. If this is true, then skiing is by far one of the oldest sports in existence, if not the oldest. The Sami very well may have been out skiing around in the North before the Great Pyramids of Egypt were created (pyramids thought to be created around 3200 BC).
From the invention of skiing in ancient times to modern skiing, there is a myriad of interactions that take place. Skis go from the Sami to the Scandinavians, to the Alps, to the British, to ski racing being started in California and Norway. The amount of information is daunting. For now, we should feel satisfied that we know where skiing first took sprout and grew. In our next installment, we’ll explore how skiing morphed from being utilitarian to becoming purely recreational.
This recent discovery isn’t the world’s oldest ski by a long shot — it’s only from the Viking era. It’s not even the oldest PAIR of skis. Right now the record is a single ski carbon-dated at about 9250 years old, found in Vis, Russia by the archaeoligist Grigori Birov in 1985. The oidest pair of skis I know about is from Kalvstrassk, Sweden, carbon-dated about 5200 years old. There are also sled runners dating back 10,000 years, and anyone who can carve a sled runner can certainly carve a ski. These finds are all in the Baltic region from an era when the glaciers were still retreating. More detail here: https://www.skiinghistory.org/online-magazine/european-origin-skiing This is condensed from a book in French, “Skiing Tribes: 10,000 years of history,” by Maurice Woehrle, about the European origin of skiing.
There was recently older skis found that date back 1,300 years. Found in Norway. Link to article:
ttps://adventuregrind.com/worlds-oldest-skis
Whoops that’s https://adventuregrind.com/worlds-oldest-skis
I forgot the h. Anyway it looks like the skis were found 7 years apart. In 2014 and in 2021.
Great Post Miles, Cheers.
I have just uploaded my own finding on Snow Gaper here: https://snowgaper.com/where-did-skiing-originate/ and it would be amazing if you can give me some feedback please Miles.
Anyhow keep up the great work on Snow Braines.
Thanks,
Frank V.
Notice the Full rocker!
My belief is that skiing is far older than that. Chinese cave paintings depicting skiers go back an estimated 12,000 years. I did an article on this myself and conservatively estimate humans, during the ice age, had the technology to make skis going back at least 20,000 years. It all began by bundling sticks together in order to walk easier on snow (i.e, the snowshoe). Stretch the snowshoe and make it narrower (with no loss of surface area) and snowshoes evolved into skis. Skis were critical for hunting with one added benefit – they’re a lot of fun.
My ancestors are glad they are finally getting some recognition for the best sport/way of life ever. ❤️
I am sure I’m wrong, but i thought the Altai people in central Asia were the oldest skiing culture…but then again these peoples may be related 6500 years ago…or putting branches under your feet to get around in snow is just common sense.
I have skied for 13 years and I’m only 14 I love it I ski fresestyle for the school and love that to
skiing is so great. i race and free ski- both awesome. i’m getting better at it!
i lov skiing and snowboarding m8
I wonder who the first to hoopty behind a horse or riegn deer was, way before skidoo and polaris! Shredding as a way of life. Haha
Saami might be related to the altay. A lot of technology started between there and Black Sea, after Black Sea deluge. Europeans were indo- European first, then populated Europe once the ice started to retreat. Looks like horse and plant domestication, invention of metallurgy, and the chariot all came from these early indo Europeans. Problem with dating the invention by means of physical evidence is that wood rots away, and you don’t need them in a desert.i figure the saami are descendants of the altay people.and that they started herding reign deer in arctic Europe as soon as the ice left over 8000 years ago.
I am almost agree with Radner. studying ski research in Norway, I am from almost Chinese Altay side. We have quite old ski tradition too. Moreover, we have some way similarities with Sami in culture and belief, even language.
RIP Ayiken. You will be missed.
https://www.skiinghistory.org/news/origin-story-where-did-skiing-begin
https://www.skiinghistory.org/news/skiing%E2%80%99s-central-asian-origins
Olin Mark IV Comps – 1972
My first pair of skis, which ‘I thought’ were the first twin-tips designed by human kind.
Come to find out, The Sami had that shit dialed well before Christ.
J
Thanks for the article. Come by the Laurentian Ski Museum in Saint Sauveur and see artifacts like some of those mentioned here,
I’d love to come check out some artifacts. Next time I’m in Eruope, I’ll have to get over there. thanks.
that dude in the red has brought down a little slough, man, and he came in from high on the slope, not using the lower traverse. cool, man. and he’s cool, check the relaxed vibe…kinda’ Craig Kelly. cool, yeah.
So was it 1010 that it started
Love this! Thanks Miles.
going faster now, next invention, hat straps!
wonder if the Sami would have seen Polar Bears sliding down a hill just for the hell-ov-it.
Sami is such an interesting culture. Studied them in college. Thanks for this.