This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. In 1981 he graduated in sport psychology and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This item is significant because it includes a wide range of products used to protect skis and improve performance from the 1920s until the present.A variety of brands of ski wax for maintenance of ski surfaces. The brands included are:- "TOKO", a Swiss company founded in 1916. The Swix colour wax system which was first marketed on November 28th 1946 in Sweden. Bratlie Wax established in the 1920s. In the early 1970s the company was purchased by Astra, the parent company of Swix. Wax by Østbye of Norway patented c1920 by Peter Østbye. His company manufactured tar-based waxes until the 1990s. Australalp Ski Wax made by Danbril Laboratories, Elsternwick, Victoria Each item bears its original logo and brandinggeorge shirling, red onion, ski waxes

non-fictionThe purpose of this booklet is to provide racers, advanced skiers, and other interested skiers with the latest on advanced waxing for cross country skiing Many different theories about waxing had been proposed since the introduction of fibreglass skis in the 1970s. This booklet aimed to improve knowledge of the best techniques for different situations. It included an introduction by Thomas Wassberg, Olympic and World Champion.swix waxing products, ski waxes, waxing techniques

The complete title of this publication is "Skiers' Handbook of concise, modern ski technique and classification of Australian snow. It contains 54 pages and the contents include:-Development of Ski Technique in Australia: Concise Modern Ski Technique, with commentary: Classification of Australian Snow; Ski Waxing. The cover is blue with black and white text and features an image of Eric McIllree demonstrating the Advanced Stem Christiania technique.non-fictionThis publication is one of the earliest Skiers' manuals which had a focus on skiing and snowfields in Australia. G.R.T. (Bob) Ward, was an accountant by profession and served for many years as the secretary of Kosciusko Alpine Club (KAC). Although not an architect, he had an interest in design and designed Kunama Huette at Kosciusko in 1952. It was destroyed by an avalanche in 1956. Bob Ward was the co-author of "Frozen lessons : a handbook of ski technique", as well as several other publications including "The Diamond Jubilee of the Kosciusko Alpine Club" published in 1969.australian skiing, skiing handbook, bob ward kosciusko alpine club

A small booklet featuring a skier waxing her ski on the front cover. The back cover features an image of the authors accompanied by a brief biography of each of them. It includes sketches and diagrams. This book was first published as Skismöring under auspices of Foreningen til Ski-Idrettens Fremme, Oslo in 1970.non-fictionThis booklet aimed to teach skiers the best techniques to wax their skis for cross-country skiing. M. Michael Brady was certified as a cross-country ski-racing coach by the Norwegian Ski Federation and also taught cross-country coach and instructor courses in Alaska and Australia. He was also the Nordic editor for SKI Magazine. Lorns O. Skjemstad was an experienced cross-country ski racer with gold, silver and bronze medals from the Holmenkollen Games, the Finnish Lahti Games, and the Norwegian Championships. He also wrote many articles on cross-country technique and waxing, including several in SKI Magazine.waxing techniques, cross country skiing

Ski skins and webbing were introduced into the Victorian Alps by European skiers. Enthusiasts travelled to enjoy the snow and to explore the Victorian Alps including the Bogong High Plains. This equipment enabled them to travel over snow without slipping when going up hills. They took the skins off when they wanted to slide down hills. In later years waxes were used for cross country skiing and then 'fish tail' markings on the back of skis to enable skiers to travel distances up and down mountains. Later developments also included motor transport (replacing horses to get to the snow line) and roads to take skiers to the ski fields and mechanised tows to take skiers up mountains so they could ski down (downhill skiing).Skiers visited the Bogong High Plains especially during the years of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria's construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme from the 1930's onwards. Tourists to the area increased during this time and influenced the development of Falls Creek.Long cream strips with soft short 'fur' on one side and a type of strong hessian on the back with the length of the middle and sides stitched. At one end an adjustable strap is attached to a steel, hinged clasp and at the other end is a loop that fits over the ski. A quarter of the way from each end is a steel attachment for fastening over the ski - the 'toe' end with a rubber embossed flap and the other with a short and long strap each with a steel ring at the end.On the rubber attachment: 'vinersa/pat uno'ski skins; bogong high plains; falls creek

Seal skin straps and webbing were introduced into the Victorian Alps by European skiers. Enthusiasts travelled to enjoy the snow and to explore the Victorian Alps including the Bogong High Plains. This equipment enabled them to travel over snow without slipping when going up hills. They took the skins off when they wanted to slide down hills. In later years, waxes were used for cross country skiing and then 'fish tail' markings on the back of skis to enable skiers to travel distances up and down mountains. Later developments also included motor transport (replacing horses to get to the snow line) and roads to take skiers to the ski fields and mechanised tows to take skiers up mountains so they could ski down (downhill skiing). Skate skiing has also developed as another form of skiing.Skiers visited the Bogong High Plains during summer and winter to explore and enjoy the High Plains. The equipment used was a forerunner to the variety used today and the different types of skiing done today. Falls Creek was developed during the construction of the Kiewa Electric Hydro Scheme and was influenced by the number of Europeans working on the scheme and their desire to make use of the snow during winter.Each Seal skin has: Seal skin sewn onto one side of a strap of webbing. There is a webbing loop on the front that slips over a small point at the front of the ski. There is a webbing strap attached to the back of the seal skin sole coming over the back of the ski that clips metal fasteners onto a loop of webbing behind the boot.skiing. snow. high plains. seal skins. cross country skiing. alpine sports.

The post World War II migration of European "snow skiiers" into Australia combined with the construction of Hydo Electricity Schemes in both the N.S.W.and Victorian Alps regions, opened up these winter snow areas to a greater influx of tourists and holiday adventurers interested in "winter" sports. The ability to project, on a global scale, skiing facilities of international standards to those in the northern hemisphere during their summer has opened up the Australia ski resorts and their facilities to a much greater winter sport orientated population. These cross country skis were purchased by a member of the Bogong Ski Club and were part of a bulk ski stock consignment from Finland in 1966/67. They were introduced into the Victorian Alps to encourage skiers to take up cross country skiing both at Falls Creek and Mount Buller. This initiative spurred on the now annual 42 kilometre cross country "Kangaroo Hoppet" race at Falls Creek. This race is currently the biggest cross country snow skiing race in Australia. These snow skis were made in Finland. They are wooden (hickory) skis and made from four strips (glued and shaped) pieces of wood that are not laminated. There is a painted blue flash on the top of the skis that extends the full length of the skis. The face of the underside of the skis is flat and is coated in black Stockholm tar. Glider or grip wax was applied onto this base. The top body of the skis is tapered from shoe position to both front and back tips.Tapered curvatures from foot radiating to all sides provides the required aerodynamics. Metal boot bindings consisting of a toe plate with adjustable toe clip and a heel plate, both of which are screwed onto the skis. "KILPA, KARHU URHEILUTARPEITA SPORTART1KLAR, Karhu-Valtz Finland. Hickorypohjin"snow skiing, cross country skiing, falls creek winter tourism

"TOKO" is a Swiss company founded in 1916, which has produced waxes, tools and other products to maintain the surface of skis and improve their performance.These items are from the world's highest selling range of ski maintenance products, regularly sold and used at Falls Creek.A yellow soft plastic pouch and four scrapers used to apply wax to maintain skis for peak performance.TOKOtoko wax, ski maintenance

"TOKO" is a Swiss company founded in 1916, which has produced waxes, tools and other products to maintain the surface of skis and improve their performance. This brochure provides detailed instructions for use of its "System Elite" range printed in four languages, indicating their wide international market.This brochure provides information for a widely used ski maintenance productA coloured brochure providing detailed instructions for the use of TOKO System Elite ski maintenance products.toko wax, ski maintenance