During years when there was adequate snow, Jacob’s ladder, South of the Porter Brook, was a very attractive skiing slope and probably the best in Sheffield. I became a member of The Hallamshire Ski Club, which was formed in 1969, and enjoyed several years in the mid’ 1980s before lack of snow became the norm.
There was a surge in development of equipment which was a great boost for the sport; lace up leather boots, wooden skis and cable bindings were superseded with modern plastics and clip bindings.
Portable tows such as the Bimbo or Britton, that fitted into a car boot, provided a practical advantage, compared to modifying a car or tractor engine that involved considerable work and expense.
To set up the tow, a pulley was anchored to a tree at the bottom of the slope, the rope went round the pulley and back up to the engine. It was possible to hold on with gloved hands, but someone made a clever alloy hook that saved destroying your gloves. It was essential to disengage before the cut-off point. Several runs were needed to create a reasonable piste and remove stones.
I remember one year when there were three tows – the Hallamshire Club, Sheffield University and a club from Doncaster, plus the tobogganers, often out of control. With good snow and glorious sunshine for several weeks, the Norfolk Arms Ringinglow became quite Continental with Glühwein flowing. Eventually the snow became thin, and in the end, it was more frozen grass, but we adapted!
The Hallamshire built a hut at the top, on the East side, to permanently house the tow, but lack of snow and probably onerous health & safety requirements, resulted in it being dismantled in 2008. However, the club is still active, finding snow elsewhere.
Chris Massey – 3rd February 2024