ALPINE SKIING is fun. It's also an athletic activity that's encompassed by outstanding natural beauty. Snowboarding is fun too, but skiing has a distinct advantage over it in that skiers can stop and stand anywhere on the mountain to enjoy the natural beauty, and for as long as they desire. Boarders, by virtue of their gear, must either sit on the snow or unstrap a boot to gain the same advantage (typically they slide without pausing, only enjoying the scenery while riding the lifts). Skiing, by virtue of its unique gear, allows for much greater stationary balance. Of the two pursuits I prefer skiing for that very reason. I love being able to stop and take in my surroundings at a moment's notice.
But it's not only the scenery and stability that's outstanding when skiing, it can sometimes be the skiers your are sharing the slopes with.
Here's some cover art that illustrates my point...
The February, 1941, issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. The cover art, a pastel on board, was produced by Bradshaw Crandell.
The School Friend Annual was published by Amalgamated Press Ltd., (London) in 1956. The cover artist is unknown.
This issue of Popular Mechanics Magazine was published in December, 1949. The cover artist is unknown.
The anticipation of skiing brings a smile to everyone.
The Girls' Crystal Annual 1960 was published by Amalgamated Press Ltd., (London) in 1959. The cover artist is unknown.
The Swiss School by Mabel Esther Allan was published by Hutchinson (London), circa early 1950s. The cover artist is unknown.
Falling always brings a laugh!
The Chalet School in the Oberland by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer was published by Chalmers (London) in 1954. The cover art was produced by Nina K. Brisley.
Getting back up is easy-- just push down on one pole.
Haddon Sundblom produced this oil painting in 1937 for a Coca Cola magazine advertisement.
A Wild Bird by Maud Diver was published by Ryerson (Toronto) in 1929. The artist is unknown.
Olga of Norway by Elizabeth F. McCready was published by Platt & Munk in 1936. The cover art and interior illustrations were produced by Ninon MacKnight.
As we get older and more confident in our abilities we also get more daring.
This panel by Al McWilliams is from his syndicated newspaper comic strip, Dateline: Danger!, which ran from 1968 to 1974.
Catching "Air!" became an obsession with my brother Gary and I after we learned to ski.
These two oil paintings by Ellen Barbara Segner were produced to be magazine covers: the top was used on Star Weekly (Toronto, Canada, ca. 1943), and the bottom possibly for a magazine supplement inside the Baltimore Sun newspaper (ca. 1938).
Ski Town by Don Stanford was published by Funk & Wagnalls in 1958. The cover art was produced by Stan Campbell.
"Big Air" can sometimes lead to a "Big Yard Sale!"
Night Life Tales, an adult fiction magazine, was published between 1939 and 1940. The cover art was produced by Faustin.
An oil painting by Dominice Cammerota, circa 1940s, probably for cover use on a magazine or newspaper supplement.
Mittens are the way to go. They're always warmer than gloves.
McClelland Barclay produced this oil on canvas portrait for the January 7, 1940, cover of This Week Magazine, a supplement of the New York Herald Tribune.
T. (Ted) J. Kuck painted this too sexy portrait for a Brown & Bigelow calendar, circa 1950s.
A 32 page illustrated stapled magazine from Norway: K.F.U.K. Speiderbladet's Fulenummer 1950, published by K.F.U.K Speidere, Oslo, 1950. The cover art was produced by K. Dahl.
The February, 1938, issue of Cosmopolitan magaznine. The cover art was produced by Bradshaw Crandell.
Looking for a romantic getaway? Try skiing!
The March, 1943 issue of Romance magazine, and the February, 1945 issue of All-Story Love magazine, both with cover art produced by Gloria Stoll.
"Get a room you two!"
A preliminary sketch by Warren Kremer for First Love, a romance comic book published by Harvey in 1954.
Outstanding natural beauty. For sure.
Travel poster for the New Hampshire Ski Industry, circa 1940s, painted by Dwight Clark Shepler.
Skiers at Mount Hood, Oregon, circa 1950, as rendered by watercolor specialist Millard Sheets.
Coolin' off on a sunny Spring afternoon.
The February, 1935, cover of Film Fun magazine, and its original oil painting by Enoch Bolles.
An oil painting by Robert C. Kauffmann, originally created for an unknown 1930s magazine cover, then in the 1950s it was used on an advertisement poster for U.S. Royal Tires.
The January 26, 1935, issue of Liberty magazine. The cover art was produced by Leslie Thrasher.
The January 18, 1947, issue of Collier's magazine, with cover art by Jon Whitcomb.
Après Ski!
An oil on masonite painting by Douglass Crockwell, created as a beer advertisement for the U.S. Brewers Foundation. The beer ad premiered in the January 24, and February 7, 1955 issues of Life Magazine.
"SEE YOU ON THE SLOPES!"
[January 2021, © Jeffersen]
