America’s Oldest Ski Race Started In 1860’s and Uses 15ft Skis

Francis Xavier

6 years ago

The nation’s oldest ski race started in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains during the gold rush era in the 1860’s when miners would use 15 foot vertical-grained Douglas fir skis to get around and would race them in their down time.

ABC10 reports the tradition is carried on by the Longboard Revival Series held in Plumas County, California. Racers dress up in historically accurate clothes and wax their skis with a substance called “Dope” that can only be made of natural element. The rules are simple: No spitting, No cheating, First one to the bottom wins.