There are still those of us who think that only a fool would put two boards on his feet and careen down a steep hill. And that any one who looks on this type of dangerous and senseless activity as fun must certainly be crazy. But these days this sort of nonsense is at least tolerated and if all of us do not have the urge to partake of this particular sport, at least we allow those of us who are a little bit witless in this regard to go out and enjoy themselves while they break their necks and legs.
Skiers in the Eccentric Club
This was not always so. During the 1920s when life was tough enough, skiers were considered to quite unusual, one might even say eccentric. This notice was placed in the paper regarding the formation of a new club in Grande Prairie during the winter of 1920.
"A new club has come into the limelight in Grand Prairie viz. the Eccentric Club. This club not only offers good clean healthy recreation, but no doubt will supply the members who can loop the loop on skies on Innes' Hill, the boulevard, with a free trip to Ponoka. All prospective members should apply at the above mentioned place, Sunday next as 2:30 sharp. A. Medlock president, E. Crerar secretary, G.E. Casson consulting surgeon."
The Alberta Provincial Mental Hospital was located in the town of Ponoka during the 1920s and in those years the word Ponoka was a commonly used euphemism for people requiring mental health treatment in Alberta. The city of Ponoka now houses a leading centre for psychiatric health care, brain injury research and rehabilitation treatment called the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury.
Ski Bums Proud of Eccentric Tradition
In the early days of ski history, the first ski bums in the Peace River country were proud to call themselves daring and eccentric. That attitude has survived many changes in ski equipment and techniques over the year and can still be found in young skiers and snowboarders today. For many years the Canadian National Ski Team was know as the Crazy Canucks. The daring young Misters Medlock, Crerar, and Casson must not have suspected that their "eccentric" sport would eventually become such an accepted part of life in the Peace Country.
Sources:
Images for this article were provided by the South Peace Regional Archives. Material was provided by the Isabel Campbell Collection which is housed in the Grande Prairie Public Library.
Janice Benthin - Janice Benthin has been a humour columnist for three weekly newspapers, a radio commentator, a playwright and the ...
Join the Conversation