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Watching racers whizz through the Tofana schuss at top speed could be the signature image of the skiing world championships.

Until the advent of the chairlift in the 1930s, skiers had to trek up the mountain before they could schuss down.

Then I click into my bindings, add a few layers to my body and schuss down.

Ski poles over wand, beep-beep-beep-beep-beeeeep, two pushes, two strides, and schuss.

How could this well-behaved mix of Anglo and French Canadians pull up to the parking lot, throw on their skis and schuss without pause down to the icy St. Lawrence River below?