Reports

The Kaçkar Mountains, the Birthplace of Snowboarding!

Selim (72 years old)

Many people claim, rightly or wrongly, to have played a crucial role in the development of snowboarding, while some even claim to have invented it.

By the beginning of the 20th century , the Americans, who are extremely proud of their reputation for 'inventing new board sports', had pretty much monopolised the discipline. After various legal battles and the first patent applications, Jake Burton declared himself the inventor of the snowboard and Sherman Poppen claimed the invention of the 'snurfer', a forerunner of modern boards.

Yet it would appear that men have been standing on planks of wood and sliding down the slopes of the Kaçkar Mountains, in the northeast of Turkey, since well before the start of the 20th century.

We could rewrite the history of snowboarding. But that's not important. Instead this is simply a story about life and shared snowboarding moments in the Kaçkar Mountains.

The action takes place in the small village of Meşeköy in the Ikizdere valley, part of Rize Province.

January 2008. Two world-class snowboarders, Jeremy Jones and Stefan Gimpl, found themselves in Ayder with several other professional riders to shoot a film with Turkey Héliski. As soon as they heard about this little village of snowboarders they wanted to see and perhaps even board with the Turks, who no-one in the snowboarding community had ever mentioned before.

After a few hours of driving, a little after Ikizdere, we left the main road and started up a small snow-covered road. A series of hairpin bends bordered by steep, impressive-looking slopes led to the small village of Meşeköy, which sits at an altitude of over 2000m on a stunning rocky balcony overlooking the valley.

We had seen wide tracks in the snow before we even arrived in the village. And no doubt about it, they had been made by a snowboard or at least something very like a snowboard. We were convinced that in winter the local inhabitants used boards to move around and for fun.

The welcome that awaited us in the village was extraordinary. We were invited into the mosque and took part in a friendly and brotherly cultural exchange. As is traditional, we drank tea with our hosts who were eager to communicate with us.

Excitement levels rose a little more when Selim Kara, at 72 the oldest man in the village, went off to get his 'board'. We couldn't stop asking questions about the 'thing', which was made from a plank with some string and a few bits of wood added on.

A champion of the history of his sport, the American snowboarder Jeremy Jones finally dared to ask the burning question which had been on everyone's lips: “How many years have people been 'boarding' on snow with these contraptions?”

There was hushed silence as Selim told us that his father had taught him to board in 1946 and that his grandfather and great grandfather before him were also boarders.

The boarding here involves using a pole and holding on to a piece of string with the other hand. It is good fun and was also used in ancient times to transport the sick down to the valley and as the quickest way of getting from one mountain range to another.

On hearing these words, we knew that snowboarding was born in these mountains in deepest Turkey a very long time ago.

Selim, Jeremy Jones and Stefan Gimpl

Then came a truly unforgettable moment for everyone. Outside the mosque we joined the village's inhabitants as they took to their snowboards from a bygone age.

Selim went first. Our minds were immediately filled with images of Sherman Poppen and his 'snurf', which now seemed faintly ridiculous.

This was a moment of complete happiness, a perfect communion between men who share the same pleasure and the same passion for the mountains, for snow and for boarding.

The energy arising from this mix of cultures centred around a common interest and was incredibly exhilarating.

Soon all the village's 'riders' had turned out to share the moment with us.

After a few runs, Jeremy and Stefan were getting the hang of the board and were entertaining the locals as they linked their turns.

We celebrated the day's extraordinary events with tea. We left with many happy memories and in the knowledge that we had shared something very special.

It was a very moving departure. Before leaving, we had suggested to Selim and his friends that we give them some snowboard equipment, goggles, hats and gloves. They all refused.

The simple fact of having spent the day with us was enough for them.

We left an isolated population devoid of all superficiality and advantages.

Hats off gentlemen, we have a great deal of respect for you.

The silence in the minibus as we left the mountains spoke volumes about our inner thoughts:

“'HISTORY' and who invented an activity is not always what others would have us believe. In any case, the history of snowboarding didn't begin with legal battles and commercial interests, and so much the better!”

Jeremy Jones, Selim and Stefan Gimpl