1937

The Christiania Pur is a parallel turn without the use of poles – as demonstrated and explained by Émile Allais and Paul Gignoux, in their Ski Français, 1937:

‘Starting from a traverse, we put the weight on the lower ski, inside edge. The upper ski will be advanced 4 to 6 inches. Bend forward slightly at the waist, bend slightly the knees and ankles…Start with a half rotation in which the arms will follow. This movement will be in the direction opposite from the direction we wish to turn…The downhill shoulder will be slightly lower than the uphill shoulder, the weight now equally on the two skis…And now, make a complete rotation, in the direction of the turn. The body forms but a solid block…the weight of the body entirely on the inside edge of the outside ski. At the same moment, accentuate the forward lean of the body…which is accompanied by a lightening of the ski tails without any lifting or rebound or lowering of the upper body…’ 20

1937 - Photo of the start of the Cristiania Pur parallel turn w/o use poles

1937 – Photo of the start of the Cristiania Pur parallel turn w/o use poles. Émile Allais and Paul Gignoux, Ski Français, Grenoble, France: B. Arthaud, 1937, 72