My hometown, now with over 70,000 inhabitants, was once a very small hamlet on the old Mountain street. We owe the entire development of the town to the Miner family. They settled here in the 1880's and they are responsible for pretty much everything the town has become. Back then, the Miner Rubber company was the center of all activity around here. They were the most influential family around. Even today, all the major landmarks in town are named after the family: The Miner Bridge, the Miner Park, the Miner Golf, the Miner Footbridge, The Miner Forest, The Miner Farm etc.
The Miner Conservation Forest is a very special protected area. Very special ecologically and very special for me. This used to be my playground when I was a kid. I know these woods like the palm of my hands. Either by the golf course or the cemetery, it gives access to over 1400 acres of wild XC skiing paradise... Rolling hills, open fields, glades, cliffs, evergreens and hardwood, it really has it all for the freakiest of the freak XC ski enthusiasts. And perfect for family fun, as you can see...
Last month, I had the unique chance to get my hands on the only known pair of skis belonging to the Miner Family. The original Miner property was a 500 acre forest, a farm where the whole family settled more than a century ago. So I am sure they must have been avid XC skiers. But it also seems that the last generation of Miners were also downhill skiers, probably skiing the Shefford Valley on the East side of town where I first learned to ski, some 42 years ago...
Coincidentally, I have been looking *everywhere* for a ski like this... For so many years, without success. And here they are, finally, fallen from the sky. Nice standard laminated wooden skis, BUT with full metal edges. Dude, those woodies with metal edges are so freaking hard to find now. My guess is that they must be from the sixties according to the style and design. I have absolutely no information or clues about the manufacturer. Anyone can identify them? According to Skimeister Greg at Wooden Skis, they would more probably be from the 40's. But he was not able to identify them either. Could they really be 70-80 years old?!? Please help!
Funniest thing is, they have a painted wooden base (?!?!?) How the hell were you supposed to wax and sharpen over a painted base? That was the way they were back then according to Skimeister Greg. They are in pretty bad shape, but potentially still skiable. They just need a little love, something we have in stock here... Ok ok, they need a hell lot of love actually. They are delaminating everywhere. According to Skimeister Christophe, glues and quick epoxies just won't be enough. They need the full fiberglass royal treatment in order to make them strong enough for downhill action. No, they are not destined to be hung on the wall. They have a much brighter future: To get back on the Eastern Townships slopes as soon as possible!
Restoration of the Miner Family Skis in progress... To be continued... If I can find the time to work on it... But first I need to make up my mind that I will probably have to get my hands sticky and dirty, figuring out how to play with fiberglass cloth and resins... More-than-probably with a little help from my friends... In fact, more-than-probably exclusively with a little help from my friends...
