I love that modern technology has made colorization of black and white films a possibility. The technology still isn’t perfect, but it’s good enough to provide a better glimpse into what life was like in yesteryear.
The film below was captured by German inventor and photographer Oskar Barnack in 1914. It shows skiers in Wetzlar, Germany descending a snowy hill without any of the frills of modern skiing.
No chairlifts, no snowmaking, no helmets, no waterproof clothing, and no cost. Just a town full of people enjoying sliding on snow.
I know a lot of people consider the mid to late decades of the 20th century to be the “glory days” of skiing, but has anybody considered the early-1900s?
Looks like a pretty glorious time to me.