The sport of downhill skiing, as we know it today, didn’t really get into full swing in Scotland until the 1960’s when the first mechanical uplift arrived in Glencoe and Cairngorm. Prior to that skis and boots doubled for both cross country and downhill. There would often be the added element in Scotland where a hike across bog and heather was required to find snow in the first place! Skiing on the continent was a decade or more ahead of the UK, and interestingly much of the technology there was imported from Scandinavia, particularly Norway. The continental boot manufacturers were well ahead of the game and most British/Scottish skiers used imported equipment such as the Austrian ‘Luggi Spezial” boots that we have here in the collection. They could date as far back as the 1930’s, but more likely the 1950’s. The Arlberg label originates in Austria though we don’t know much about the company (info welcome) The Luggi Spezial would seem to be a specific type of boot in their range; this pair being a very fine example.