Konstantin Avilov talks about the making of skis

"The underside is made of seal skin, so you don’t slip backwards when going uphill. It's glued on with fish glue. The fur must be carefully treated beforehand so that it glides well. Then the skis don’t stick to the snow in wet conditions. They glide well but don’t slide backwards, even when climbing uphill. And they are wide enough so you don’t sink into the snow. I soak the wooden boards in hot water and use a frame to bend the tip. Finally, everything needs to be well adjusted."

Recorded by Erich Kasten. Palana, 2001.