Traditional Crafts Of Norway - Episode 2 - Wooden Ski Making
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- Опубліковано 14 січ 2018
- This video shows the process of making traditional wooden skis for cross country skiing in Telemark style - with unfixed/free heel. Aasmund Kleiv is a ski maker from Morgedal in Telemark region, Norway. It is the same region where Sondre Nordheim lived who is known as the father of Telemark skiing and pioneer of modern skiing. The making of skis begins with going in the woods and choosing a proper tree, then comes the shaping of the wood and the most important and difficult part - steam bending the tips of the skis. The movie was made in 1975 and is based on a script by sports historian Jakob Vaage.
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Very cool! Finland still has a few traditional craftsmen of wooden skis. I own a few pairs of old wooden skis, and I find them much better and more convenient than modern skis. One huge advantage is that they can be used with my normal leather boots and hiking boots. Modern ski boots are impossible and uncomfortable to walk with, so it's great to be able to just remove your skis and continue on foot whenever needed. Modern skis may be better for sports and competitions, but traditional ones are perfect for the woods and camping.
Impressive craftsman ship! Not a single nail, screw nor rope used on those skis! Not even for the bindings! Skiing on a wooden ski with warm hiking boots meandering in the forest on fresh powder snow must be like even. Thank you for sharing! A pure pleasure to watch. The axe and knife that he uses cut through pine wood as if it was butter that has been out of the fridge for a while. 😁😁😁 I guess those skis were primarily used for ski jumping which was the thing to do on skis in the early Days.
This is the way man is supposed to live. Thanks for the post.
As a tele skier, architect, and sculptor from the shores of lake superior, I am delighted to see such a great documentary. Could you imagine jumping 34m in those? Kudos to that! Thx for posting. Keep the traditions alive!! Love your channel.
Hello from the shore of ontario
Crazy Happy Men!!! the romans shitted themselves for just thinking about them, and the Greeks called them bastions of civilization!!!! the Goths, Celts, Slavs, and many others, descendents of the Aryans (Indo-Europeans) bare the highest standards of civility, morality, workmanship, technology, religion/science at least since the end of the ice age, 12.000 years ago. Some Nepalis, from South Nepal, come from the clan of Shakya, from which the 1rst Buddha (teacher) belonged, Siddhartha Gautam, their mummies have the same fabrics worn by the old Scots and Picts (Celts), you find the same simbolism from Portugal to Nepal, from Neo-Zealand to Ecuador. But yes, flying 34m with these little planks is nuts!!! sorry got excited 😉
I do not speak Norwegian but really enjoy watching a master at work. The old ways are being lost, so it is great to have video recordings that will be with us to teach and learn from. Thank you for the post.
I understand Norwegian & would like clarifying eventual misinterpretations.
The dead tree used is "Furu" = Pinus Sylvestris = Scots Pine.
The bindings collected is "Bjørk" = Birch.
It's not that important which sort of wood is used or the quality.
Traditionally Ash or Birch has been used as well. Take what you have, like people have done during centuries.
Happy skiing 🎿🍻
I have never felt happier in my life! this video is very educational and soothing !
Thank you for uploading this video.
It's something very therapeutic and soothing, hearing that old norwegian accent while watching a craftman doing his work.
This specific dialect is still spoken today in that area. The closest remants to how the vikings spoke.
" This specific dialect is still spoken today in that area. The closest remants to how the vikings spoke. " I'm Norwegian and this claim is bullshit. Icelandic and Faroese is closest to how the vikings spoke
That is true, but I´m talking specifically in Norway.
If you want to find the dialect in Norway that is closest to norrønt (Old Norse in English) , you have to find the one that is the closest to gamalnorsk (Old Norwegian in English). This dialect is the dialect of Valle in Setesdalen. I can agree the dialect in this video, that i belive is from Telemark, is closer to norrønt and gamalnorsk than other dialects in Norway, but it is still not the closest.
Det har du rett i!
This is such a splendid idea, this series on traditional crafts!
Keep posting! We always look forward to your videos!
The axe was king for many craftsmen over the years and still is for some. It’s not a crude or rough tool
It's really interesting. I always thought an axe was just for felling trees or splitting wood. Seems it can be used in a very precise way if you have the skills
my great grand father was too old to show me how some of his old tools work, glad I was able to see them being used.
These are fantastic videos, I love the way traditional craftsmen relied on the minimum of functional tools. The axe and the belt knife were not only fundamental to theirs lives but their crafts too. I'm a carpenter and have a truck load of tools but still tend to pull out my pocket knife foe so many little jobs in preference to going to my tool bag or the other side of the workshop.
Nie wiem o czym mówią , ale widzę prawdziwego mistrza przy pracy . Szacunek dla jego pracy . Dzięki za wideo .
What a wonderful video, thank you for uploading it. Nothing but respect for this man and his art
An awesome video of a true traditional craftsman using their local traditional hand tools.
It`s very relaxing to watch such videoes. Old craftmen who manages to make amazing product with a minimum of tools, but a lot of craftmanship.
Takk for du/dere tar tid til å laste opp disse videoene.
Simple tools, natural materials and skill. That's amazing.
You gotta love youtube for recommending these type of videos !
WOW! Simply fantastic! Thank you so much for making taping editing uploading and sharing.
This is awesome, thank you for sharing this knowledge that may not survive if not for people like you.
thanks for uploading this video. I really enjoyed watching it.
Amazing talent! Great video and thanks for sharing
Amazing, thank you for sharing all this gems
Sla lom. Superb video, cheers, Northmens.
Excellent Video. It's truly amazing at what can be achieved with an axe, BIG THUMBS UP!
Just found out that he is still alive, he is born in 1923
underrated comment, thank you for sharing that.
@bert smith it is fine, and he is still making skis
one of the best skimakers ive seen can see if i can order
Two years later, and he is still with us!
Best series of comments on UA-cam
great stuff
Superb, thanks for posting this
liked this very much and thanks for sharing
i like this kind of video , real stuff without unnecessary music
Thats just beautiful😌
Such sharp tools!!
Great Craftsman!!!
Time to start using the hatchet in the wood shop, will save me a lot of time planing!
Hi!!! Its very good presentation! Its very old and troutgh! THANK YOU VERY MATCH!!! ZAJEBISTEEE!!!
Fascinating!
Excellent........................
Pure craftsmanship ! Thanks northmen to keep it up !
Beautiful.
He flattened a board with a hand axe…. To anyone out there.. try that…. That looks like nothing but is a lifetime of experience to master… hand and eye and the feel of the tool must be in perfect balance and the craftsman must trust his tool…. Absolutely captivating to watch if you know what you are looking at
And you can tell how close he got it when you saw him plane it.. so difficult to do
Fantastic, Belo trabalho...
Cool video
Amazing
👏👏👏🤩 nicely done!
Thanks! Very interesting.
just awesome.....the Finnster.....Whistler
very interesting
awesome !
love it
Precis vad jag har letat efter. Tack
beautiful
thats so nice
my heritage!!!
Strila Kongen Yeah, it's okay to be white.
i meant it because i am norwegian but yeah its cool to be any skin colour
Du bon travail.
pumped for the olympics!!!!
What? No tablesaw, bandsaw, planer, drill press, or CNC? And yet he managed to craft something elegant and superbly functional? What kind of archaeological voodoo is this? Madness, I tell you! This man was living low carbon footprint, and working off-grid before there was a grid.
I love your comm. spes. ur two last sentences. Can`t stop smiling.. ;)
Dear Bob R
Not even a handsaw is used!
Best regards.
@@Chr.U.Cas2216 not all operations are shown. How do you think he made wedges?
@@elrond12eleven
With a needle of course!?
I'm sure he's not worried with the carbon footprint, after all it's fertilizer 😉
My Norwegian uncle also made skis the same way. No electric planers or bandsaws, just an ax and a knife and a wooden hand plane. The biggest "secret" is to have SHARP tools. We learned to use rubber bands as heel bindings that were made out of old inner tubes to help improve manoeuvrability. We had no ski poles. The Vikings built all their ships with nothing but axes....
That was so interesting. My dad (Swede-Finn) use to tell me how his dad made skis and violins. I wish I knew who had these things now! My grandfather was a logger. His father a farmer.
ωραίο βίντεο!
Greetings from Indonesia
Inspirational as i think how we are meticulous on flex and radius index...
what species of pine is it? I hope this tradition continues, it would be sad to loose this craft.
Pinus sylvestris is the native norwegian pine.
Me: Makes feather sticks with a tomahawk to start a fire.
Asmund: That's cute.
A tiny comment! The species Aasmund used for the bindings are - according to the narrator - birch. Though the video was a bit blurry, my opinion is also that he collected saplings of birch, and then possibly Betula pubescens. However, the narrator also said "vidje bindingar", which refer to twined cord of wood and the most common and traditional species are in the Salix genus/vier- or seljeslekta in the Willow family/vierfamilien (Salicaceae). In other words "willow". Common vs scientific naming is a very difficult subject (ethnobotanical nomenclature), but in this case I think Aasmund was confident his cords would be sufficient and hold, whether they were birch or willow. Good luck with the rest of the videos.
Yes. Vidje is a twisted sapling. The type of tree used is personal preference or whatever people had at hand that were of sufficent strength =) Good job catching that!
It is birch, much stronger than willow for "vidjes", called "vitsas" in finnish. Willow is/was used for baskets etc and for lesser binding needs or if birch wasn't available.
In Finland bindings were usually made from leather strap and skis itself always from birch (though prehistoric skis could be made from special type of pine). Finnish skis were more sophisticated, much longer (up to three meters) and meant for flatlands more than cross country like these norwegian skis.
I don't know if you can call it sophistication. They were each made for their use in the terrain they were made for ;P
Well I guess you haven't seen a pair of old fine finnish skis. The are not flat and they are not rectangular by cross section. Masters who made them used dozens of different special planes, each of which had its own purpose. Correct wood selection, drying and grain orientation were essential. Resulting ski was light weight, strong and flexible. Profile of the ski was very much like it is in a modern ski, it made gliding and kick properties good. These kind of skis reached their top in late 1800's and early 1900's, they were used in long skiing hunts for elks and bears (even tens of kms) and also in skiing competitions.
I haven't. And you haven't seen the varieties of Norwegian skiing history clearly, or we wouldn't even be having this discussion. The man in the video is from Telemark, the birthplace of "modern" skiing and in particular down hill skiing. Whereas Norwegian skiing history includes more than simply downhill or mountain skis. As I said, skis were made for their specific use and terrain. The very word Ski is old norwegian from skíð, meaning tree plank or stick. We still use it in other words like "skigard" which is a fence. (plank enclosure). Although most norwegians probably don't know the etymology of the word.
I'm sure Finns are and were just as crafty skimakers as us, so I don't know why you would throw in the word sophisticated. It really just sows discord.
Can someone please suggest a good video or channel which includes Nordic hunting and traditional videos like this?
As a dane i find that the norwegian spoken in this video is much easier to understand than most nowadays Norwegian, great to finally understand something again haha
Strange, because this is further from Danish than what ppl typically connects with Norwegian, aka "Bokmål". This is a dialect found in western Telemark, which is "Nynorsk" erea. "Nynorsk" being a written language, is put together by old dialects such as this, which had no Danish influence, unlike "Bokmål" - which is partly norwegianization of Danish (atleast written Danish). Regardless, the dialects spoken in and around Oslo, is more simular to Danish than this is, which is Norwegian without Danish influence.
@@daginn896 that’s some cool history, thanks. I personally find old dialects interesting, so I like to listen to also old danish dialects, as well as Norwegian. This might have made it easier for me to understand it. It might be hard for me to read though as it is with Nynorsk, but the spoken in the video I find somewhat easy to understand.
In addition there is obviously some that I don’t get as well, now that I’m rewatching it
@@asgerkjaersgaard4245 Dialects are very interesting, and there is such a huge variety in Scandinavia. Thats why some even consider Danish, Swedish and Norwegian in general dialects of a common language. But very interesting to hear about you listening to old Danish dialects, im more than curious if you have som examples on hand. If not, ill try to find some my self. Btw, where in Denmark are you from? :)
@@daginn896 I might be able to find some samples for you if you want some..
And yes I have heard that danish Swedish and Norwegian is a dialect of a common language which I think is somewhat true, it was once closer to each other but sadly the languages have grown apart.
I’m from Copenhagen but my parents are not and both speak differently
Are you from Norway yourself?
@@asgerkjaersgaard4245 Yea, if you have the time and can dig some up, do it :) Ahh, så du er fra København? Vakker (smukk - dansk) by. Kanskje (måske - danish) Nordens vakreste hovedstad, i hvert fall ( i det mindste - dansk) etter (efter-dansk) min mening. Im writing Bokmål, which is my own "writing language" being from outside of Oslo, so you can see how influenced it is by Danish. My mother however is from the erea which the dialect spoken in this video are from.
This has inspired me to make my own skis for next winter. Any idea why pine was chosen over birch for the skis? weight vs strength?
I made my skis, they work well in powder too. Bindings by LL Bean though.
@@kyrg thats amazing dude!
I've seen that video long time ago
I got a pair just last week from him.
His wife is gonna be mad when she comes home from bingo and finds that mess all over her kitchen floor.
I don't think he's married! ;p
That bloke was in his shop. The original man-cave!
Vandal Savage Why, because he makes skis? Nonsense.
I see what you did there
His blonde wife would be happy coming at all.
Somalian, Afghan & Pakistani cultural habits has entered this peaceful society too..
I've got skis like that
For all thats interested, here is Aasmund Kleiv, the skimaker, today: www.visitnorway.no/listings/aasmund-kleiv-skimakar-og-tusenkunstnar/206555/
I get the feeling he never ran short of kindling for the fire.
Do these skis rely on wax and a bend across the length as with classic skis or do you propel yourself with by pushing off the edge of the ski as with modern skate skis? Or is it some other method of propulsion entirely such as pushing with a pole?
I believe it relies on the telemark skiing technique, a pole is indeed useful though.
@@Alex-oi7hv Telemark skiing in modern parlance is a method of alpine skiing. I am speaking of cross country skiing
These skis don't rely on wax or a bend. The wood will give you enough grip and glide for most conditions when using it as classic style. You can use some wax under the middle part if it is very slippery. You can also store the skis against each other with a block between the middle part and tie the top and bottom to create the bend in the middle if you want that.
Can anyone tell me if there is anyone still handcrafting skis like this?
23:02 antone know what kind of shoe that is?
It's time for a little viking magic yeeeaaà,let's talk about something fun,let's talk about berserkers,shall we🤗
I think he is making the bindings from birch, not willow. The small bushes don't look like willow and when he starts to work with them the commentator says something about "bjork" = birch. I also know that in Finland where I live, birch has been used in a similar way.
Yup. The translators used "willow" to describe the "Vidje" which simply means a sapling that's been twisted to strengthen it as "rope". Good catch Keksimies.
are you sure about that? the bush didn't look like any willow I know ( N America) but it didn't look like birch either. Any ideas would be appreciated. I'd really like to make at least one traditional set. Also at the end of the video when he put on the skis his boots seem to be specialized to hold the heel binding.
Translation is wrong. He actually use the word "Bjørk" = Birch, which is traditional used.
Young Birch is what he's collecting.
@@OmmerSyssel Thanks for the clarification. I watched a video which showed an instructor twisting birch to make a binding/ cordage material. I hope to build a pair of these skis to use. I live in a deep snow region of northern ny and these type skis seem like the best choice more winter hiking. I don't know if I would use the traditional bindings but i would like to learn to make them.
@@timothylongmore7325 You're welcome.
My recommendation is learning by doing.. Just make what seems wisely & don't put too much fine wood or long hours into these.
Notice he used a dead "Furu" = Pinus Sylvestris (maybe called pine by you ?)
Birch or Ash is fine as well.
Fresh wood is easier dealing with for a start.
Ski's has been build in all length, width & shape during several 1000 years. You decide as well..
If it doesn't work, use it as firewood & try another pair 💪
Don't experiment too far away from home, if something fails 😉
Skål 🍻 and happy skiing 🎿 ⛄❄❄⛄🎿
It’s birch he’s using, not willow
What I would give to learn this craft fulltime. Are there still men who work like this?
Fjellstorm Bushcraft not many
There is a old timer who still does handmade rock chimneys in my town and a old timer who makes bows and even traditional duck and hunting arrows all with hand knapped arrowheads
Not many are around still.
Look for people involved in reenactment and living-history, they either do something or know people who do the traditional crafts and trades. It's a good starting point.
Fjellstorm,,, in Tønsberg the Oseberg Foundation is currently (or just finished) building a replica of the 4th viking ship excavated here in Norway. Only with hand tools as they did 1000 yrs ago. Even the +3000 iron nails are hand forged and the wool sail hand sown at site. Handy craft is still strong here, but yes, the bytes and pad generation will most probably destroy it ....
Go to my page. I have a complete technology for manufacturing skis.
Naturlivsskolen.dk
I spy a Scandi grind knife in it's natural environment.
Stodoys has a lot of plans to choose from.
Twisting the willow is similar in basket weaving
ok Ken, I can see you making a pair of skis
Rick Green 😊
Not willow, this is birch saplings...
I wish all Norwegians spoke like this, lol
@Philomath _even though I am a swede, I have little knowledge about my neighbour's language. But to me, today's (the way they always sounded to me) Norwegian sounds a little bit silly, to happy, chirpy, etc. But this guy speaks in a very manly way, according to me that is. I don't why that is but if anyone knows please tell me.
@@wyldeyouth This is nynorsk, well it is complicated. This is in the area where nynorsk is written (nynorsk being norwegian without danish influence). The dialect is still spoken in Western Telamark, and similar in other parts of Norway.
Is this really pine? They must have a totally different sub-species than here in the us.
Yes, there is really only two types of fur trees in norway, the spruce and the pine. The latin name for the pine in the video is Pinus sylvestris. The specific one that he chopped down looked different because it was dead, dry and the bark had fallen off.
good question, that tree looked like some sort of spruce
@@LKjustahandle Definitively a dead Furu = Pinus Sylvestris =Scots Pine.
Traditionally no other variation of Pine in that isolated part of Scandinavia..
Pinus Mugo have settled lately, but is seen as unwanted.
Ok, but I'm still awaiting the episode that shows how to make a drinking vessel from the skull of a slain enemy.
En español porfavor...😢
Norge🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴
No camber?
Sorry to say as a Norwegian i wasnt born with ski's on my legs, but a volvo steering wheel
no need to apologize. Strapping your self to two sticks to slide down a hill is not my idea of a good time. Toboggan, a sled...OK. Don't even like those knives people use for controlled sliding on ice. Winter sports suck. It's cold out there. I used to try these things because living in a Norwegian community in Minnesota pretty much required participation. I went for the Hot chocolate.
Guess my affinity leans more towards steel and iron then wood to put it that way
Demitrix, it's very common nowadays for parents to choose to tie off the skis with little bands to cut the circulation to them, as it's no longer practical to get around in modern society with our ski-feet. It's the same practice they use for extra toes or fingers. After a while, the ski or extra finger just falls off.
This is why we now use prosthetic ski's. Fun fact. ;)
There are many similar projects in Woodprix's plans.
I reported Tomas pate to king Harold and Queen Sonya,they said they never heard of ya
What's the narrator's dialect?
Telemark?
Yepp, but kinda "old" dialekt though.. I speak another dialect,and there are many word and more I don`t understand.
Kviteseid dialect, the dialect that has kept the most similarities of old norse
@@tiedemann8225 Jeg hjælper dig gerne med oversættelse... 😉
Som dansker har vi jo engang lært jer at tale forståeligt og læse og skrive 😎
Skål 🍻
Norway is not Norway anymore!
Sadly the modern days, and the good economy, have made people forget things such as this. Its not relevant anymore, and not thought from that generation to the next. It will be all gone, very very soon.
No dub
Stolen video.......
According to liberals, Haitians are just as advanced as the Norwegians.
You're an idiot and probably a bigot. The Haitians are a kidnapped and displaced people who were used as slaves by advanced white people like you. Conservatives never improve the world, but they sure can pump out the hate. You are the proud owner of an empathically compromised and brainwashed psyche. Say three hail Rushes and go read a book.
Jibwaddle Hosafat And what do hatians contribute to the world?
Did you just assume his gender, skin color, political views and ethnicity? How insensitive of you. You sure are a hateful person.
Jibwaddle Hosafat
'Conservatives never improve the world,'
'You are the proud owner of an empathically compromised and brainwashed psyche.'
'Say three hail Rushes and go read a book.'
Quite the contrary. In fact; you're not just wrong, you're stupid. You yourself are an idiot and should Google the definition of "bigot" before trying to use it to make yourself look even remotely intelligent. You're the only one here who possesses 'an empathically compromised and brainwashed psych'. Follow your own advice and do just that; read a book and learn the facts before trying to speak. As for "hail Rushes", that's up to you. Don't beg people to donate to you shit-heads if 'Conservatives never improve the world'.
Moron.
Haha we were making the stongest steel on the planet while you were still banging rocks together