Ski

Uilta (Oroks)

first half of the 20th century

Wood, seal fur

length 174.0; width 14.0

РЭМ 8762-18619/2

Museum of the Peoples of the USSR

During fur hunting, they used skis lined with fur or seal skin. They are comfortable for walking in loose snow, on slopes, and they don't make noise. The skis were covered with reindeer hide combined with seal skin. One material was used to cover the middle of the sliding surface, and another was used for the rest. In such cases, the skis didn't spread out to the sides. For the same purpose, a special seam was sometimes made in the middle of the sliding surface, serving the function of a keel on boats, or thin wooden strips were attached to both sides of the skis. A birch bark plate was glued under the foot, and the straps were made of rawhide straps, as the strongest material.