Historical information

Schuss was advertised as Victoria’s Official Ski Journal It was issued monthly from 1935 to 1961 except during the war when summer issues covered two months. This continued after the war, but it averaged 10 issues annually over its 25 year life.
Schuss was published by the Ski Club of Victoria which had a membership of 38 Ski Clubs and demanded to be recognised as the prime authority on skiing in the state. The other 30 ski clubs with 85% of the members disagreed and the politics of skiing became heated. These clubs formed the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs with their own journal, Ski Horizon. With the establishment of the Victorian Ski Association, Ski-Horizon published its last issue in Nov - Dec. 1955 and the role of the official journal was fully taken over by “Schuss”.

Significance

This item is significant because it contains stories, images and information documenting the development of the ski industry in Victoria.

Physical description

The journal features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. The cover features a photograph of Christine Davy and Peter Brockhoff at Timberline Lodge, Oregon USA. Christine Davy was the first woman to represent Australia at the Olympic Winter Games when she participated in the Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom events at Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956. Four years later she competed in the same events at the Squaw Valley 1960 Olympic Winter Games, where she also became the first Australian to break into the top 30 in an international skiing event, coming in 27th place in the Downhill race.

Peter Brackhoff took part in his first Olympic Winter Games at Squaw Valley 1960, Australia's third appearance in Alpine skiing. Peter competed in the Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom events, placing 57th in the Downhill and 30th in the Slalom. He was disqualified and did not finish the Giant Slalom. In 1964 Peter went on to participate in his second Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. After his teammate Ross Milne lost his life in a tragic training accident on the Olympic Downhill course, he declined to participate in the event. However he still started in the Giant Slalom, finishing in 62nd place.