Skiing in the South-Eastern Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic in the Light of the periodical Sport (1922–1927). An Outline of the Issues

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present skiing in the South-Eastern Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic as reflected in the journal Sport (1922–1927). The journal Sport served as the press organ of the Carpathian Ski Society (Karpackie Towarzystwo Narciarzy). In 1922–1927, the main centre shaping the development of skiing in the South-Eastern Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic was Lviv. Three dynamic skiing sections operated there: the Carpathian Ski Society, the First Lviv Sports Club (I Lwowski Klub Sportowy, LKS) Czarni, and LKS Pogoń Lwów - each affiliated with the Polish Ski Association. Beyond Lviv, in the South-Eastern Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic, skiing was less developed. One piece published in Sport provides information on the activities of the Skiing and Tourism Section (Sekcja Narciarsko-Turystyczna, SNT) of Rewery Stanisławów. The skiing sections organised skiing courses in Lviv as well as in ski resorts where mountain shelters were located, including Sławsko, Tuchla, and Worochta. With regard to sports infrastructure, the opening of the ski jump on Zniesienie (Lviv) in December 1926 was of particular importance. Clubs and societies, as well as school authorities, organised sporting competitions at the local, regional, nationwide, and international levels. In this respect, it is worth noting the growing number of skiers, the increasing number of competition participants, and the improvement of sporting results. Lviv skiers took part annually in the Polish championships, achieving good results. These results placed the Lviv centre second in Poland (after the Zakopane centre). Janina Loteczkowa achieved very good results at both national and international levels in cross-country skiing.