U.S. National Ski Jumping Championships

U.S. National Championship
Tournament information
SportSki jumping
LocationUnited States
Established1905
AdministratorNational Ski Association of America, United States Ski Association, U.S. Ski & Snowboard

U.S. National Ski Jumping Championships in the winter sport of ski jumping are decided annually in the United States since 1905, except for the years 1919, 1943–1945 and 2020.

Nansen ski hill, NH

Origins

Ski jumping national championships organized by the National Ski Association of America (NSA)[1][2] were held annually from 1905 - 1962.[3] Ski jumping, a winter sport competed on specially constructed ski hills, had been introduced by Norwegian immigrants to the U.S. in the 1880s, with ski clubs and annual tournaments beginning shortly afterwards.[4] The National Ski Association, formed by five Midwestern clubs, established categories of participation, scoring rules, and scheduled sanctioned meets, including the National Championship Tournament.

NSA National Championship Tournament

The National Championships were a stand-alone annual competition held during a two day tournament (typically in February, not the end of the ski season). The tournaments were hosted at a member club jumping hill scheduled in advance. Points were awarded by three judges based on distance covered and proper form, combined over two jumps.[5] Champion is the jumper who gets the most points per class, with a separate award for greatest standing distance. As an open competition through 1950, the entrants and tournament champion need not be a U.S. citizen. The National Ski Tournament featured Professional/Expert and Amateur/Novice class divisions, and may also include exhibition, Senior/veteran (over 31 years), and Junior (under 18 years) participation.[6] Starting in 1948, the Class A (Expert) National Champion was awarded the Torger Tokle Memorial Trophy.[7] No championships were held in 1919 and 1943–45, and in the years 1938, 1946 and 1952 separate open and closed competition national championships were awarded.[8] Class B national championships were held 1908–1957. The 1904 Ishpeming annual tournament won by Conrad Thompson[9] is cited by some sources as the first national championship, but this event was prior to official NSA tournaments.[10]

NSA U.S. National Ski Jumping Champions
Year Site class A Champion Sponsor class B Champion Sponsor Notes
1905 Ishpeming, MI Ole Westgaard Coleraine, MN n/a [11]
1906 Ishpeming, MI Ole Feiring Duluth, MN n/a [12]
1907 Ashland, WI Olaf Jonnum Coleraine, MN n/a [13]
1908 Duluth, MN John Evenson Duluth, MN H. Trannum Duluth, MN [14][15][16]
1909 Eau Claire, WI John Evenson Duluth, MN Ingolf Sand Minneapolis, MN [17]
1910 Coleraine, MN Anders Haugen Chippewa Falls, WI Barney Riley Coleraine, MN [18]
1911 Chippewa Falls, WI Francis Kempe Red Wing, MN Barney Riley Coleraine, MN [19]
1912 Fox River Grove, IL Lars Haugen Chippewa Falls, WI Carl Solberg St. Paul, MN [20][21]
1913 Ironwood, MI Ragnar Omtvedt Chicago, IL John Jobe Ironwood, MI [22]
1914 Virginia, MN Ragnar Omtvedt Chicago, IL Sigurd Bergerson Virginia, MN [23]
1915 Duluth, MN Lars Haugen Chippewa Falls, WI Sigurd Bergerson Duluth, MN [24]
1916 Glenwood, MN Henry Hall Steamboat Springs, CO Andrew Olson Iola, WI [25]
1917 St. Paul, MN Ragnar Omtvedt Chicago, IL Ludvig Hoiby Northfield, MN [26]
1918 Fox River Grove, IL Lars Haugen Chippewa Falls, WI Sverre Hendricksen Virginia, MN [27]
1919 cancelled n/a n/a [28]
1920 Chippewa Falls, WI Anders Haugen Steamboat Springs, CO Sverre Hendricksen Superior, WI [29]
1921 Genesee, CO Carl Howelson Steamboat Springs, CO Einar Jensen Chicago, IL [30]
1922 Fox River Grove, IL Lars Haugen Chippewa Falls, WI Ragnar Omtvedt Chicago, IL [31]
1923 Glenwood, MN Anders Haugen Orchard Lake, MN Werner Forsberg Ironwood, MI [32]
1924 Brattleboro, VT Lars Haugen Canton, SD Tarald Hoidalen Chicago, IL [33]
1925 Canton, SD Alfred Ohrn Chicago, IL Halvor Bjorngaard Red Wing, MN [34]
1926 Duluth, MN Anders Haugen Grand Beach, MI Hans Troye Madison WI [35]
1927 Genesee, CO Lars Haugen Minneapolis, MN Hans Thorsdalen Minneapolis, MN [36]
1928 Red Wing, MN Lars Haugen Minneapolis, MN Steffan Trogstad Superior, WI [37]
1929 Brattleboro, VT Strand Mikkelsen Greenfield, MA Guttorm Paulsen Chicago, IL [38]
1930 Canton, SD Casper Oimoen Minot, ND John Steele Denver, CO [39]
1931 Fox River Grove, IL Casper Oimoen Minot, ND George Gunderson Racine, WI
1932 Lake Tahoe, CA Anton Lekang New York, NY Hjalmar Hvam Portland, OR [40]
1933 Salisbury, CT Roy Mikkelsen Chicago, IL Olav Aasen New York, NY [41]
1934 Fox River Grove, IL Casper Oimoen Minot, ND James Hendricksen Wisconsin Rapids, WI [42]
1935 Canton, SD Roy Mikkelsen Auburn, CA Barney McLean Hot Sulphur Springs, CO
1936 Red Wing, MN George Kotlarek Duluth, MN Eugene Wilson Coleraine, MN [43][44]
1937 Salt Lake City, UT Sigmund Ruud Norway Walter Johnson Minneapolis, MN [45][46]
1938 Brattleboro, VT Birger Ruud (open) Norway Ray Lambert Lebanon, NH [47]
Sig Ulland (closed) Leavenworth, WA
1939 St. Paul, MN Reidar Andersen Norway Len Soler St. Paul, MN [48]
1940 Berlin, NH Alf Engen Sun Valley, ID Ellsworth Mitchell Ishpeming, MI [49]
1941 Snoqualmie Pass, WA Torger Tokle Brooklyn, NY Robert Riley Coleraine, MN [50]
1942 Duluth, MN Ola Aanjesen Norway Max Rentsch Minneapolis, MN [51]
1943 cancelled n/a n/a
1944 cancelled n/a n/a
1945 cancelled n/a n/a
1946 Steamboat Springs, CO Alf Engen (open) Sun Valley, ID W. Fahlstrom Lake Placid, NY [52]
Arthur Devlin (closed) Lake Placid, NY
1947 Ishpeming, MI Arnholdt Kongsgård Norway Kenneth Oja Ishpeming, MI
1948 Snoqualmie Pass, WA Arne Ulland Norway Neil Bergstrom Iron Mountain, MI
1949 Salt Lake City, UT Petter Hugsted Norway Willis S. Olson Eau Claire, WI [53]
1950 Duluth, MN Olavi Kuronen Finland Dave Freeman Iron Mountain, MI
1951 Brattleboro, VT Arthur E. Tokle Chicago, IL Keith Zuehlke Eau Claire, WI
1952 Salisbury, CT Merrill Barber (open) Brattleboro, VT Earl Hill Detroit, MI
Clarence Hill (closed) Ishpeming, MI
1953 Steamboat Springs, CO Arthur E. Tokle Chicago, IL Richard Rahoi Iron Mountain, MI [54]
1954 Ishpeming, MI Roy Sherwood Salisbury, CT Raymond Gauthier Ishpeming, MI
1955 Leavenworth, WA Rudy Maki Ishpeming, MI Jack Hooper Iron Mountain, MI [55]
1956 Westby, WI Keith Zuehlke Eau Claire, WI Jerry Lewis Duluth, MN
1957 Berlin, NH Ansten Samuelstuen Steamboat Springs, CO William P. Erickson Iron Mountain, MI [56]
1958 Iron Mountain, MI Willis S. Olson Eau Claire, WI n/a
1959 Leavenworth, WA William P. Erickson Iron Mountain, MI n/a
1960 Iron Mountain, MI James Brennan Leavenworth, WA n/a
1961 Brattleboro, VT Ansten Samuelstuen Steamboat Springs, CO n/a [57]
1962 Fox River Grove, IL Ansten Samuelstuen Steamboat Springs, CO n/a [58][59]

The National Ski Association was succeeded by the United States Ski Association (USSA) as the U.S. national governing body for skiing.

USSA National Ski Jumping Champions

Utah Olympic Park jumps

Starting in 1981, ski jumping championships were competed on both Normal and Large Hills, with hill size measured in meters. In 1997 USSA was renamed the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). Women's national championship was added starting in 1997. Since 2010 the championships have been awarded by season (as does the FIS), which means that the championships held in October 2013 count as 2014 champions.

USSA National Ski Jumping Champions
Year Site Hill Champion Notes
1963 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Gene Kotlarek [60]
1964 Ishpeming, MI Suicide Hill (K90) John Balfanz
1965 Berlin, NH Big Nansen Ski Jump (K82) David Hicks
1966 Iron Mountain, MI Pine Mountain Jump Gene Kotlarek
1967 Leavenworth, WA Bakke Hill (K100) Gene Kotlarek
1968 Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K100) Jay Martin
1969 Brattleboro, VT Harris Hill (K88) Adrian Watt
1970 Eau Claire, WI Silver Mine Hill (K85) Bill Bakke
1971 Durango, CO (K70) Jerry Martin
1972 Berlin, NH Big Nansen Ski Jump (K82) Greg Swor
1973 Ishpeming, MI Suicide Hill (K90) Jerry Martin
1974 Leavenworth, WA Bakke Hill (K100) Ron Steele
1975 Brattleboro, VT Harris Hill (K88) Jerry Martin
1976 Olympic Valley, CA Papoose Peak Jumps (K80) Jim Denney
1977 Gilford, NH Torger Tokle Memorial Ski Jump (K87) Jim Denney
1978 Leavenworth, WA Bakke Hill (K100) Mike Devecka
1979 Ishpeming, MI Suicide Hill (K90) Jeff Davis
1980 Eau Claire, WI Silver Mine Hill (K85) Walter Malmquist
1981 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90, K114) Horst Bulau
1982 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90) Reed Zuehlke
MacKenzie Intervale (K120) Jeff Hastings
1983 Eau Claire, WI Silver Mine Hill (K85) Mark Konopacke
Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106) Jeff Hastings
1984 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90, K114) Jeff Hastings
1985 Gilford, NH Torger Tokle Memorial Ski Jump (K87) Chris Hastings
1986 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Rick Mewborn
Howelsen Hill (K114) Mike Holland
1987 Ishpeming, MI Suicide Hill (K90) Chris Hastings
Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K114) Mike Holland
1988 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Mark Konopacke
Howelsen Hill (K114) Mike Holland
1989 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90, K114) Mike Holland
1990 Eau Claire, WI Silver Mine Hill (K85) Jim Holland
Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106) Jim Holland
1991 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Jim Holland, Mark Konopacke
Howelsen Hill (K114) Ryan Heckman
1992 Brattleboro, VT Harris Hill (K88) Jim Holland
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K120) Jim Holland
1993 Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106) Jim Holland
1994 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Randy Weber
Howelsen Hill (K114) Todd Lodwick
1995 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (K90) Randy Weber
1996 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90, K120) Randy Weber
1997 Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106) Men Casey Colby
Snowflake Ski Jump (K106) Women Karla Keck
1998 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Men Randy Weber
Howelsen Hill (K114) Todd Lodwick
Howelsen Hill (K90) Women Lindsey Van
1999 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90) Men Todd Lodwick
MacKenzie Intervale (K120) Men Alan Alborn
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women Lindsey Van
2000 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Men Brendan Doran
Howelsen Hill (K114) Men Clint Jones
Howelsen Hill (K70, K114) Women Lindsey Van
2001 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (K90) Men Alan Alborn
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (K120) Men Bill Demong
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (K90, K120) Women Lindsey Van
2002 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90, K114) Men Alan Alborn
Howelsen Hill (K70, K114) Women Jessica Jerome
2003 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Men Alan Alborn
Howelsen Hill (HS127) Men Johnny Spillane
Howelsen Hill (K70) Women Jessica Jerome
2004 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100, HS127) Men Todd Lodwick
Howelsen Hill (HS100, HS127) Women Lindsey Van
2005 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100, HS127) Men Todd Lodwick
Howelsen Hill (HS127) Women Lindsey Van
Howelsen Hill (HS100) Women Jessica Jerome
2006 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100) Men Todd Lodwick
Howelsen Hill (HS127) Men Clint Jones
Howelsen Hill (HS100, HS127) Women Lindsey Van
2007 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100, HS127) Men Bill Demong
Howelsen Hill (HS100, HS127) Women Lindsey Van
2008 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men Johnny Spillane
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men Anders Johnson
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100, HS134) Women Jessica Jerome
2009 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men Anders Johnson
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men Nicholas Alexander
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women Lindsey Van
2010 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men Nicholas Alexander
2011 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100, HS134) Men Peter Frenette
Fox River Grove, IL Cary Hill (K70) Women Sarah Hendrickson
2012 Fox River Grove, IL Cary Hill (K70) Men Anders Johnson
Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men Peter Frenette
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women Jessica Jerome
2013 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men Nicholas Fairall
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women Sarah Hendrickson
2014 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men Nicholas Alexander
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women Lindsey Van
2015 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men William Rhoads
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women Nina Lussi
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men Michael Glasder [61]
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women Nita Englund
2016 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men William Rhoads
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women Jessica Jerome
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men William Rhoads
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women Tara Geraghty-Moats
2017 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men William Rhoads
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women Nita Englund
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men Michael Glasder
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women Nina Lussi

In 2017 USSA announced it was rebranding itself as U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard National Ski Jumping Champions

The 2020 National Championships were cancelled due to the global pandemic.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard National Ski Jumping Champions
Year Site Hill Champion Note
2018 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134, HS100) Men Kevin Bickner
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134, HS100) Women Nita Englund
2019 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men Kevin Bickner
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Women Nina Lussi
2020 cancelled n/a
2021 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134, HS100) Men Casey Larson [62]
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134, HS100) Women Annika Belshaw [63]
2022 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS128, HS100) Men Casey Larson [64]
MacKenzie Intervale (HS128, HS100) Women Annika Belshaw [65]

See also

References

  1. ^ Roger Langley, “The National Ski Association of America,” in Skiing the International Sport (1937) Derrydale Press page 51
  2. ^ Grinden, Harold A. (1932) History of the National Ski Association of America and the ski sport in the United States of America, 1840 to 1931 Duluth, MN: National Ski Association of America
  3. ^ Anson, Harold (2010) Jumping through time: a history of ski jumping in the United States and southwest Canada Florence, Oregon: Port Hole Publications ISBN 9780976810773
  4. ^ Pontti, John and Luostari, Kenneth (2000) Midwest Skiing: A Glance Back Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738501246 pp 43-46
  5. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1926 pg 646
  6. ^ Bradley, D. (1964) Ski Jumping Hanover, NH: R. Burt OCLC 5955509
  7. ^ Scharff, Robert; ed. (1974) Ski Magazine's Encyclopedia of Skiing Harper & Row ISBN 9780060139193 pg 299
  8. ^ Scharff, Robert; ed. (1974) Ski Magazine's Encyclopedia of Skiing Harper & Row ISBN 9780060139193 pg 284-5
  9. ^ "Ishpeming Man Winner" Minneapolis Journal (Feb 23, 1904) page 14
  10. ^ Engen, Alan K. (1998) For the Love of Skiing: A Visual History of Skiing Gibbs Smith Publishers ISBN 978-0879058678 page 14
  11. ^ “Peninsula News” The L'Anse Sentinel (MI), February 25, 1905, page 8
  12. ^ National Ski Tournament at Ishpeming Minneapolis Journal February 25, 1906 Part IV page 1
  13. ^ "Ski" The World Almanac & Book of Facts Newspaper Enterprise Association 1907 page 451
  14. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1909 pg 314
  15. ^ Chadwick, Gloria (1970) USSA History "National Men's Jumping Class B Champion" page 92
  16. ^ Matteson, Sumner (1908) National Ski Tournament Hearst's Magazine-World Today Vol 14 #4:397-403
  17. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1910 pg 318
  18. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1911 pg 251
  19. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1912 pg 345-346
  20. ^ “Champion Ski Jumper Winning Title” Springfield Herald, Springfield CO March 08, 1912 pg 7
  21. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1913 pg 308
  22. ^ "Ski Jumping" Troy Record Almanac and Year-Book of 1914 page 388
  23. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1915 pg 326
  24. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1916 pg 462-463
  25. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1917 pg 391
  26. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1918 pg 354
  27. ^ "Ski Jumping" Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1919 pg 274
  28. ^ “Championship Record” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1920 pg 460
  29. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1921 pg 450-451
  30. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1922 pg 509
  31. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1923 pg 594-595
  32. ^ “National Championships” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1924 pg 463
  33. ^ "Eastern Ski Mark is Broken by Hall" DC Evening Star February 16, 1924 pg 13
  34. ^ “Ski Jumping” Chicago Daily News Almanac for 1926 pg 645
  35. ^ Perry, Lawrence (March 3, 1926) February Brings Forth New Records and New Champions D.C. Evening Star p29
  36. ^ “Lars Haugen, St Paul Winner of National Ski Jumping Honors” N.D. Bismarck Tribune February 7, 1927 pg 3
  37. ^ "25,000 Throng Red Wing Hill at National Ski Tournament" MN Askov American February 9, 1928 pg 6
  38. ^ National Title At Stake For Skimen Bismarck Tribune, February 1, 1930 p10
  39. ^ "ND Ski Riders Win National Titles" Bismarck Tribune February 3, 1930 pg 1
  40. ^ "Lekang Amateur Ski Champion" CA Imperial Valley Press February 29, 1932 pg 3
  41. ^ "The Jump of a Champion" O'Neill City, Nebraska: The Frontier March 2, 1933 pg 6
  42. ^ Oimen Recaptures U.S. Ski Crown Waterbury Evening Democrat January 22, 1934 p12
  43. ^ "Minnesotans Take Bulk of Ski Titles" Bismarck Tribune February 3, 1936 pg 6
  44. ^ “Wins U.S Ski Title” Bismarck Tribune February 7, 1936 pg 10
  45. ^ Program cover for the National Ski Tournament Championship at Utah.edu
  46. ^ "Engen Set U.S. Record to Win National Ski Tourney" Bismarck Tribune February 23, 1937 pg 6
  47. ^ Elkins & Harper (1949) World Ski Book NY: Longmans, Green & Co OCLC 1472729 pg 119
  48. ^ Blegen, Julius P. (1939) "National" American Ski Annual for 1939 Brattleboro, VT: Stephen Daye Press OCLC 14127115 pg 119
  49. ^ Al Engen Wins National Jump Tacoma Times, February 27, 1940, page 11
  50. ^ Tokle Breaks Own American Ski Jumping Mark Tacoma Times 4 Mar 1941 page 10
  51. ^ "Skidaddling" Tacoma Times February 10, 1942 page 11
  52. ^ Ski Jumping Champions N.C. Skyland Post March 07, 1946 pg 12
  53. ^ U.S. Ski Title is Won by Norway's Hugsted D.C. Evening Star February 23, 1949 pg A-19
  54. ^ Arthur Tokle Gains Title At National Ski Jump D.C. Evening Star February 17, 1953, page A-17
  55. ^ Maki Wins National Ski Jump D.C. Evening Star February 07, 1955, page A-17
  56. ^ USA Class B Ski Jumping National Champions from archived skijumpeast.com
  57. ^ USA Ski Jumping National Champions from archived skijumpeast.com
  58. ^ Samuelstuen Leaps to U.S. Ski-Jump Title D.C. Evening Star January 22, 1962, page A-16
  59. ^ Telenews (1962) at Chicago Film Archives
  60. ^ Kotlarek photo D.C. Evening Star February 18, 1963 pages A-13,16
  61. ^ “Glasder Takes National Title” USANS
  62. ^ Large hill results at USANS
  63. ^ Normal hill results at USANS
  64. ^ Normal hill results at USANS
  65. ^ Large hill results at USANS