In order to bring back to life once again the feeling of genuine love for the skiing of the past, characterised by deep efforts and engagements, but also by great performances and feats which have passed into legend, the Marcialonga promotes the creation of a register of vintage cross-country skis, with the purpose of gathering news, data and pictures of skis constructed in different periods, but still functional, so that everyone can see and appreciate their peculiarities, their history and their unique beauty.
Kauko Esko Järvinen (15 December 1907 – 7 March 1976) was a Finnish competitor in the Nordic combined and military patrol (precursor to biathlon). He won an individual bronze medal in the Nordic combined at the 1929 World Championships. At the 1928 Winter Olympics he finished fifth in the Nordic combined and 22nd in the ski jumping event. He also placed second in the team military patrol, which was a demonstration sport at those Olympics, and served as the flag bearer for Finland at the opening ceremony.
After retiring from competitions Järvinen opened a ski manufacturing factory in Lahti, which ran until 1974 and went bankrupt in 1991, yet his son continued small-scale production of wooden skis. His brother Erkki was an Olympic triple jumper.
The bindings on this pair of skis were manufactured in Sweden by the Rottefella Ski Binding Company.
Rottefella is a Norwegian ski binding manufacturer. The name refers to the three-pin binding invented by Bror With in 1927, more formally known as the 75mm Nordic Norm. The binding was the standard for cross-country skiing for decades. Rottefella also produces one of the two systems that have largely replaced the 75mm, the New Nordic Norm.
