Christiania
(krɪstɪˈɑːnɪə)
Also christiania.
[The name of the capital of Norway (changed, in 1925, to Oslo).]
A ‘swing’ in skiing, used to stop short. Also attrib.
| 1905 E. C. Richardson Ski-Running (ed. 2) 44 We have met not a few ski-runners..who make very pretty Telemark and Christiania swings. 1910 ― Ski-Runner 135 The Christiania swing is a most useful method of stopping, especially on steepish hillsides. Ibid. 137 The best ski-runners can make all four turns, viz.: Telemark to right and left, and Christiania to right and left. 1924 Ski Terms in Tourist Winter Sports No. 12/1 Christiania. Open, closed and jerked. Different forms of one of the best swings. 1929 Daily Express 16 Jan. 8/3 Finishing out in the crisp snow with a dead-stop ‘Christiania’. 1935 [see Christie n.]. 1954 E. A. M. Wedderburn Alpine Climbing (ed. 2) v. 94 On such hard snow the best plan is to side slip down in the christiania position with the weight on the lower ski. |