In Siberia, sliding skis were widely used in the winter season. People learned to ski at a young age — when they were about 6 or 7 years old. The base of the skis was made from pine, cedar or spruce wood. Skis made from wood only were called “golitsy”. If the rear part was covered with fur from the lower leg of a deer or elk, the skis were called “podvoloki”.

In the old days, the podvoloki skis were trimmed with otter fur. Artisans also used the animal’s nose on the tip of the ski. During hunting, men and women used podvoloki skis. Women’s skis were smaller than men’s. The ski staff was made of spruce wood and held in the left hand while skiing. The winter staff had a ring at one end, and a snow shovel at the other.

Skis varied in size greatly. The sliding skis were of the greatest importance. They consisted of a rather long wooden board with a pointed and bent front tip. On the upper surface, approximately in the middle, there was a piece of wood or birch bark, which was used as binding.

Belt loops were used to secure the legs. A person inserted the toes into one loop and the heel into the other. The straps had to be soft enough so as not to rub the feet. There were special cuts in front. They were needed so that the skis could be dragged through the snow if necessary.

In addition to sliding skis, people also made walking skis. They had an oval, semi-oval or round frame. It was either intertwined with straps in the form of a grid, or simply tied with them in the transverse direction. The leg was placed on the net and secured with belt loops.

Due to their unusual design, walking skis were used in a very peculiar way. People walked on them like they usually did in normal life. Such skis were popular with many peoples of the world. On the territory of Siberia, only the mesh type of such skis was known. In ordinary life, they were often called “lapki” (“paws”) — this term has also entered scholarly publications.