Time to dust of the antique winter sports equipment

As we entered into lockdown it suddenly seemed that temperatures plummeted. Like most people, I reminisce misty eyed over sledging and snowball fights in my youth. Yet when we saw a bit of snow last week and the pavements were slippery, I’ll admit, I quickly reverted to grumbling about it!

It was lovely seeing children getting outdoors for some good playtime, however brief it lasted. The wide range of winter sports gear and toys also make an interesting area of collectables.

We’ve been using skis, sleds and skates for longer than you might think. There are records of ice skating and sledding as far back as 5,000 BC, where both were important methods for traversing frozen wastes in bitter winter conditions.

Perhaps the outdoor winter toy which stirs the most affectionate childhood reminiscences is the sled. This splendid model is four feet long, and priced at £60. We sell at least 20 sledges a year, but I’ll bet hardly any of them are used for their intended purpose. The new trend seems to be to transform the pine slatted ones into trendy coffee tables! Not sure myself!!

Sleighing, sledding or tobogganing is one of the oldest winter sports. Descriptions of the sport can be found in 16th century literature, but as a racing sport it can be traced to the mid-19th century, when British tourists started sliding down snowbound roads in the Alps. British and American holidaymakers built the first toboggan run in Davos in 1882.

You might not fancy doing a ‘black run’ in an original wooden bobsleigh, but specialist vintage winter sports gear shops are tapping into the ‘hipster’ market and enjoying an increasingly brisk trade in ‘one of a kind’ winter gear.

Ranging from a few pounds to hundreds, collectors, historians and cool dudes can pick up equipment including wooden skis dating back to the 1800s, bamboo and hickory poles, lace-up leather boots, vintage snowshoes, wooden ice axes, sleds, vintage clothing and more.

Current hot items for cold days include 1940s ski division goggles at £140 a pair, while vintage snowshoes still do the job. Prices range from £100 for 1950s military metal versions, to over £300 for Native American early 20th century wood and woven versions.

And if you can’t wait for more snow, don’t forget there’s an indoor curling rink at Barton Grange. I’ll be the one with the antique broom and 19th century fur trapper gloves– when lockdown's over!