Urbach took his B.Sc. degree at the Technological Institute of the Univer~ sity of Vienna, and went over to America under on exchange arrangement to take a year's post-graduate course at Reed College, specializing {in physics and the social sciences. He took over the direction of winter sports activities at Reed College, and, trained its ski team. Under his direction, a dry skiing track was erected at Reed College for teaching. students to ski prior to the siding season. This was the first of its kind, fon the Pacific coast, Dry ski tracks were introduced on the Continent about three years ago.
Urbach captained the Reed College ski team which was entered for the Pacific Coast Inter-collegiate ski championship at Yosemite Park at the beginning of last year, and won the downhill racing event run over a one-mile course. His time was one. minute and. $2 seconds, Urbach joined the Austrian Army the age of 21, enlisting in the Sec-and Tank Regiment, and served in the suppression of the Nazi uprising of July, 1994, "While at Vienna Unlversity," he took ona part time job fas assistant service manager to General Motors,. Vienna, and was entered to represent his firm ina number of motor races. "I only became a racing driver because 1 more 'oF less had to", he explained. "Personally, T don't see any sense in it, and much prefer skting."
'A Sound Technician Urbach left Austria for the United States at the end of 1935, He was compelled to leave the country when hhis students" visa expired. Hie filled In the last two or three months in America as a sound technician for Warner Brothers, working on the film "God's Country and the Woman", (colour picture featuring George Brent and Beverly Roberts, filmed among snow-clad. mountains 100 miles from the nearest human habitation. 'This is expected to be shown in 'Shanghai in' about two months' time, Urbach, somewhat of an adventure ous spirit, came to Shangha to "seek his fortune," arriving here -at the fend of Inst' year, After risking, his eck hurtling down mountain sides, and actually skiing on ice to achieve greater speeds, even Shanghai will seem a little dul to the young champion, He hopes, however, rave the snowy slopes again before very long, and may spend a holiday Ju Japan next year In order to do It Very decided views on skiing a a sport were expressed on March 5 by, Urbach, "tt is the most. wonderful sport In the world", he said, "and simple to learn. The novice can pick it'up in a week or a fortnight, and there ig no more thrilling. sensation than gliding down the mountain side with your skis under perfect contr Ski jumping T have not much use use for. "It is essentially for the expert, and is three times as hazardous as. ordinary skiing. It requires months of practice. "It is a fine thing to watch, but is really beyond the Powers of an amateur who has not the time for intensive training. Speed skiing, 00, is more in the nature. of a "stunt" than anything else, You have very little control of your skis when travelling at 80 miles per hour, and cannot put the real art of skiing Into practice. The ordinary skier has perfect control over his ski."
Urbach has had to put up with a broken nose and several' broken Dones as a result of skiing. But he Stil talks of the, sport with enthuse mi. He is on the staff of the Ford W, C. Motor Ca, (Exports) Me.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.