 Poster: A snowHead
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and what does it mean ?
Apologies if this has been done before, but having watched much more ski racing than ever this season - it has cropped up on a number of occasions.
Thanks for your help
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Timberwolf: do a search on 'Lord Roberts of Kandahar' and all will be revealed!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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David Goldsmith, didn't help me at all! Revealed little about skiing and more than I wanted to know about Afghanistan.
So...
In 1911 when he founded the worlds first ever "downhill" ski race, Sir Arnold Lunn (as in Lunn-Poly, honest) named it after Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar.
Later, in 1924 when he and some chums founded a ski club in Mürren to develop ski racing they called it the Kandahar Ski Club.
The Arlberg-Kandahar Combined DH and Slalom, was founded in 1928 By Sir Arnold and Hannes Schneider, investor of the Arlberg method. It is still on the World Cup circuit alternating between Chamonix (two weekends ago although cancelled cos of weather) and (I think) St Anton. In its day, this was one of the most prestigious circuits with events in Muerren, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Sestriere, Italy. Hence presumably the references this week in Sestriere.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| David Murdoch wrote: |
David Goldsmith, didn't help me at all! Revealed little about skiing and more than I wanted to know about Afghanistan.
So...
In 1911 when he founded the worlds first ever "downhill" ski race, Sir Arnold Lunn (as in Lunn-Poly, honest) named it after Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar.
Later, in 1924 when he and some chums founded a ski club in Mürren to develop ski racing they called it the Kandahar Ski Club.
The Arlberg-Kandahar Combined DH and Slalom, was founded in 1928 By Sir Arnold and Hannes Schneider, investor of the Arlberg method. It is still on the World Cup circuit alternating between Chamonix (two weekends ago although cancelled cos of weather) and (I think) St Anton. In its day, this was one of the most prestigious circuits with events in Muerren, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Sestriere, Italy. Hence presumably the references this week in Sestriere. |
Very interesting, I didn't know that. Any particular reason why Lunn would want to honour Kandahar?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| rob@rar.org.uk wrote: |
| Any particular reason why Lunn would want to honour Kandahar? |
It was in recognition of a military victory in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.
See here - an interesting history of this event - kandahar
There is a museum in St Anton devoted to the Hannes Schneider and his methods and history of skiing. It is just outside the centre of the town and worth a visit but check opening times.
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hibernia, excellent link, thanks.
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Fantastic responses, Thanks
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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rob@rar.org.uk, It was the 'Relief of Kandahar' (City) during the Afghan War and Roberts winning the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny, which led in part to the honour of naming the race after him, the 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar.
Lunn was actually born in India when Roberts was Commander of All Forces India. Perhaps he was a boyhood hero of Lunn? In any event Roberts was one of the earliest ski race 'Sponsors' - it was he who actually donated the first Kandahar Cup to Lunn. Thus, I presume the cup was named in his honour.
A potted description of 'The' Kandahar There is also a Quebec Kandahar (Check out the winning times between 1931 and 1936!- Are there others Timberwolf?
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| Quote: |
Are there others Timberwolf?
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So, as far as I can remember this season....
Garmisch ?
Chamonix
Sestriere
I'll do some more research tomorrow !
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Maybe 'Kandahar' is becoming the generic name for a type of ski race? Some of the racing experts may be able to shed some light here....
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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BernardC, it's historical rather then "becoming" I think...
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The "Kandahar" Club still organizes the Inferno race in Murren in Jan. Well worth entering 
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You know it makes sense.
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The Arlberg Kandahar has been held out of Europe once
1971
Anyone know where?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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bmiles, Welcome to Snowheads. in 1971, the Arlberg Kandahar was apparently held in MUrren, which was in europe last time I looked...
although a Combined was also held in sugarloaf. Do I win a prize?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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No, Sorry
The Burgermeister from St Anton actually came to Sugarloaf and presented the trophy for the Arlberg Kandahar.
There was not much snow in Europe that year.
I have the pic and press clipping in a scrapbook.
Can you confirm the Murren race?
Maybe there were two that year?
Eccentric?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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NBT
Well, did you do your homework to back up your claim that the the 71 Arlberg Kandahar was "apparently' in Murren
which was in the Jungfrau region "last time I looked'
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Chris Nothing there refutes my claim that it was held at Sugarloaf in 1971
Brief history
Lunn added the Kandahar in honor of Lord Roberts of Kandahar, the hero of the British raj who distinguished himself in a battle during the relief of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan in 1879. In 1911, Roberts donated a magnificent trophy for the race organized by Lunn, on 19 January that year, from the Glacier de la Plaine Morte to the hotels and chalets of Crans-Montana. And it was called the Roberts of Kandahar challenge.
Thus was born, in the Arlberg, one of the most majestic skiing terrains, the Arlberg-Kandahar race.
Inaugurated in St. Anton, the Arlberg-Kandahar was to be alternately run there in Mürren, where Lunn had made one of his homes. In 1938 it was once again St. Anton’s turn to host the race. But, a few days before the events, Nazi Germany Annexed Austria and the Gestapo arrested
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Also
Sestriere has strong tradition to ski racing. Its demanding slopes soon drew competitive skiers and in the 1950's the Arlberg-Kandahar Committee included the modern resort in their racing tour along with St Anton, Murren, Chamonix and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In 1967 the first World Cup circuit staged a two downhills for women and men on the difficult Banchetta slope. More competitions were held in Sestriere until 1971 when it pulled out of the International circuit, cutting its ties with the traditional Alberg-Kandahar serie.
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bmiles, sorry, been away for a while. Can't remember where I found the list offhand - I just spent ten minutes or so on Google.
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Heh.. first time I heard "Kandahar" from my German friend as I was asking "where's the next race". For a while I though "are they really going to ski in Afganistan.." 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandahar
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FAQ
s, and congratulations on what must be in the running for most eccentric first post 