1. Ať to frčí !
MAKE IT SWISH!
Nové Město na Moravě is located 600 meters above sea level and the altitude of the neighbouring hills reaches up to 800 meters. In winter, the exquisite conditions for skiing are created by a hilly landscape, forested hills, and wide plains. The first person to try skiing was a district forest officer, Rudolf Gabessam, who in 1890 skied to a meeting of foresters in a public house in Studnické Paseky. Following his attempts at making skis on his own, the publican Kosek turned to a renowned joiner and wheelwright from Fryšava, master Adolf Slonek, to make him a copy of skis. By the end of the week, the copy was done. Slonek then inspired others, namely a joiner from Nové Město, Čejka. Nevertheless, obtaining a high-quality dry ash or beech wood proved to be problem. In the early 20th century, due to its increased popularity, skiing overshadowed the up until then more preferred ice-skating. In 1910 the local Ice-skating club turned into a Ski Sports club, being one of the first in all of the Monarchy. Among its founders were the local big names, for example the first director of the local Realschule – author Leander Čech or an architect and mayor, Josef Sadílek.
On 2nd February 1910 the first public ski race was organized by the members of the Sports club. 19 competitors attended the race, among them one woman, Marie Gregorová. A women’s race was held the following year (winner Marie Gregorová), in 1912 the children category was added and in 1914 a relay race. Aside from classic skiing the races also included disciplines like figure skiing or skiing without poles. In the first few years the competition was open to anyone who wanted to compete. For example, Mr Mokrý attended every race, even though he always finished several hours later than the last finishing racer. First races for children were held in 1912 in the square across the museum. With the exception of years of war and years with no snow, the races in Nové Město were held annually.
Aside from the regularly held public races in Nové Město, the Sports club also organized some other races, for example the 50 km long Hanč’s memorial in 1926. In 1930 the first relay races were organized, with ten competing teams.
Instructors like Bohumil Hanč, at the time the best Czech skier, or a Norwegian, Ingwald Smith Kielland, future Norwegian attaché and a keyholder of the Norwegian king, were invited to Nové Město by the Ski club. The very first skiing lesson attracted 70 ski enthusiasts. Hanč himself put together the following rhyme: “The lesson’s progressing nicely, skis drifting through the snow, every skier’s motto is: let’s go!!!”
Ski jumping hills were built, first made of snow then also made of wood (behind today’s spa in the Obora forest, at “v Trni”, at “Na Šibenici” at Harus hill). Since 1922 the skiers (and not only them) could relax in an exquisite chalet at Harus hill.
In 1934 a new Nordic Combined race called the Golden Ski of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands was organized. Up until 1970 every contestant had to take part in both a cross-country race and a ski jumping competition. The start of the cross-country race was at the town square and the ski jumping competition took place at the ski jumping hill “Na Šibenici”. The Golden Ski Challenge trophy, won three times consecutively by Bohumil Kosour (who was therefore allowed to keep it after his last win in 1949), is on display in the ski section at the Museum of Horácko.
Following the annexation of the Czech borderline areas and mountain areas to Germany in 1939, the region of Novoměstsko became the biggest ski centre in the Bohemian-Moravian Protectorate.
In 1949 a new ski jumping hill was built near Jelínek’s mill and in 1963 it was replaced by a hill made of steel after a windstorm destroyed it. It even hosted some of the Olympic athletes, such as Jiří Raška.
In the 1972-1973 season the Golden Ski race was added to the FIS international races calendar. With the construction of the Ski hotel in the Ochoza forest finished, new ski tracks were added, and the construction of a new stadium (currently called Vysočina Arena) started.
In 1981 the stadium hosted its first World Cup. A famous Russian skier, Raisa Smetanina, won the race. In the 1980s the number of spectators at the Golden Ski race was record-breaking. For example, in 1989 there were 20 000 spectators cheering on the competitors along the course. The Swedish skier Gunde Swan’s victory came as a present for his 27th birthday.
The Vysočina Arena underwent major changes in 2005 and 2011, as biathlon gained on popularity. The biggest event yet hosted in the Arena was the World Championship in 2013. Thousands of biathlon fans cheered on the bronze relay team of the Czech Republic, formed by Ondřej Moravec, Gabriela Soukalová, Jaroslav Soukup and Veronika Vítková.
During winter, the skiers can enjoy the ski tracks in the Novoměstsko region, while the world-class Vysočina Arena provides ideal conditions for hosting World Cup races in cross-country skiing, biathlon and mountain biking.
Author: AH, LS