For winter hunting, the indigenous peoples of the North use sliding skis, which are made of pine or spruce wood. These particular trees emit resin, which prevents moisture from being absorbed and protects the skis from destruction.
Skis, the sliding part of which is furnished with kamus, the skin from the feet of a deer, elk or horse, are called “podvoloky”. Simple wooden skis are called “golitsy”. Both types of skis are made of roughly processed planks up to three centimeters thick. Smaller skis are made for women, and even smaller ones are for children. The Khanty learn to ski from the age of six or seven. Since childhood, boys are taught to make skis.
Podvoloky skis are very light, they slide well, but the direction of the pile does not allow them to move back, so these skis are called “not a step backward”. Such skis are usually very wide, up to thirty-five centimeters wide, but thin. Thanks to that, hunters almost do not fall into the snow when walking.
Skis, the sliding part of which is furnished with kamus, the skin from the feet of a deer, elk or horse, are called “podvoloky”. Simple wooden skis are called “golitsy”. Both types of skis are made of roughly processed planks up to three centimeters thick. Smaller skis are made for women, and even smaller ones are for children. The Khanty learn to ski from the age of six or seven. Since childhood, boys are taught to make skis.
Podvoloky skis are very light, they slide well, but the direction of the pile does not allow them to move back, so these skis are called “not a step backward”. Such skis are usually very wide, up to thirty-five centimeters wide, but thin. Thanks to that, hunters almost do not fall into the snow when walking.
Podvoloky skis allow the skiers to move easily through deep snow even in a thaw because the wet snow does not stick to the kamus. This type of skis also makes climbing up steep slopes easy.
Birch bark is glued to a small raised ski part to prevent the foot from slipping. The glue is made from fish scales, bones, elk horns, and deerskin, cleaned of fur.
A leather loop attached to the ski is made of bird cherry wood. A protective bag made of light fabric is nailed around the fastening to prevent the shoes from getting wet.
Sometimes when skiing, the Khanty use a special staff, which is made of spruce wood. At one end of the staff, they make a ring, and on the other, they attach a small shovel for shoveling snow. As a rule, they hold it in the left hand.
With proper use and careful storage, the skis are very durable. Some of them can be used for twenty years or even more. The Khanty people advise not to walk on ice and snow to prevent kamus from getting “bald” too soon.
Birch bark is glued to a small raised ski part to prevent the foot from slipping. The glue is made from fish scales, bones, elk horns, and deerskin, cleaned of fur.
A leather loop attached to the ski is made of bird cherry wood. A protective bag made of light fabric is nailed around the fastening to prevent the shoes from getting wet.
Sometimes when skiing, the Khanty use a special staff, which is made of spruce wood. At one end of the staff, they make a ring, and on the other, they attach a small shovel for shoveling snow. As a rule, they hold it in the left hand.
With proper use and careful storage, the skis are very durable. Some of them can be used for twenty years or even more. The Khanty people advise not to walk on ice and snow to prevent kamus from getting “bald” too soon.
