U.S. National Ski Jumping Championships Explained

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.

U.S. National Championship
Sport:Ski jumping
Administrator:National Ski Association of America, United States Ski Association, U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Location:United States
Established:1905

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
YearSiteclass A ChampionSponsorclass B ChampionSponsorNotes
1905Ishpeming, MIOle WestgaardColeraine, MNn/a [11]
1906Ishpeming, MIOle FeiringDuluth, MNn/a [12]
1907Ashland, WI Olaf JonnumColeraine, MNn/a [13]
1908Duluth, MNJohn EvensonDuluth, MNH. Trannum Duluth, MN [14] [15] [16]
1909Eau Claire, WIJohn EvensonDuluth, MNIngolf SandMinneapolis, MN [17]
1910Coleraine, MNAnders HaugenChippewa Falls, WIBarney RileyColeraine, MN [18]
1911Chippewa Falls, WI Francis KempeRed Wing, MNBarney RileyColeraine, MN [19]
1912Fox River Grove, ILChippewa Falls, WICarl SolbergSt. Paul, MN [20] [21]
1913Ironwood, MIRagnar OmtvedtChicago, ILJohn Jobe[22]
1914Virginia, MNRagnar OmtvedtChicago, ILSigurd BergersonVirginia, MN [23]
1915Duluth, MNChippewa Falls, WISigurd BergersonDuluth, MN [24]
1916Glenwood, MNSteamboat Springs, COAndrew Olson Iola, WI [25]
1917St. Paul, MNRagnar OmtvedtChicago, ILLudvig HoibyNorthfield, MN [26]
1918Fox River Grove, ILChippewa Falls, WISverre HendricksenVirginia, MN [27]
1919cancelledn/a n/a [28]
1920Chippewa Falls, WIAnders HaugenSteamboat Springs, COSverre HendricksenSuperior, WI [29]
1921Genesee, COCarl HowelsonSteamboat Springs, COEinar JensenChicago, IL [30]
1922Fox River Grove, ILChippewa Falls, WIRagnar OmtvedtChicago, IL [31]
1923Glenwood, MNAnders HaugenOrchard Lake, MNWerner ForsbergIronwood, MI [32]
1924Brattleboro, VTCanton, SDTarald HoidalenChicago, IL [33]
1925Canton, SDAlfred OhrnChicago, ILHalvor BjorngaardRed Wing, MN [34]
1926Duluth, MNAnders HaugenGrand Beach, MI Hans Troye Madison WI [35]
1927Genesee, COLars HaugenMinneapolis, MNHans ThorsdalenMinneapolis, MN [36]
1928Red Wing, MNMinneapolis, MNSteffan TrogstadSuperior, WI [37]
1929Brattleboro, VTStrand MikkelsenGreenfield, MAGuttorm PaulsenChicago, IL [38]
1930Canton, SDMinot, NDJohn SteeleDenver, CO [39]
1931Fox River Grove, ILCasper OimoenMinot, ND George Gunderson Racine, WI
1932Lake Tahoe, CAAnton LekangNew York, NY Portland, OR [40]
1933Salisbury, CTChicago, IL Olav Aasen New York, NY[41]
1934Fox River Grove, ILCasper OimoenMinot, ND Wisconsin Rapids, WI [42]
1935Canton, SDAuburn, CA Barney McLean Hot Sulphur Springs, CO
1936Red Wing, MNGeorge KotlarekDuluth, MNEugene WilsonColeraine, MN [43] [44]
1937Salt Lake City, UTSigmund RuudWalter Johnson Minneapolis, MN[45] [46]
1938Brattleboro, VTBirger Ruud (open) Ray Lambert Lebanon, NH[47]
Sig Ulland (closed) Leavenworth, WA
1939St. Paul, MNReidar AndersenNorwayLen SolerSt. Paul, MN [48]
1940Berlin, NHSun Valley, ID Ellsworth Mitchell Ishpeming, MI [49]
1941Snoqualmie Pass, WATorger TokleBrooklyn, NY Robert Riley Coleraine, MN [50]
1942Duluth, MNMax Rentsch Minneapolis, MN [51]
1943cancelled n/a n/a
1944cancelled n/a n/a
1945cancelled n/a n/a
1946Steamboat Springs, COAlf Engen (open)Sun Valley, ID W. Fahlstrom Lake Placid, NY [52]
Arthur Devlin (closed)Lake Placid, NY
1947Ishpeming, MIKenneth Oja Ishpeming, MI
1948Snoqualmie Pass, WAArne Ulland Neil Bergstrom Iron Mountain, MI
1949Salt Lake City, UTPetter HugstedEau Claire, WI [53]
1950Duluth, MNOlavi KuronenDave Freeman Iron Mountain, MI
1951Brattleboro, VTChicago, IL Keith Zuehlke Eau Claire, WI
1952 Salisbury, CT Merrill Barber (open) Brattleboro, VTEarl Hill Detroit, MI
Clarence Hill (closed)Ishpeming, MI
1953Steamboat Springs, COArthur E. TokleChicago, IL Richard Rahoi Iron Mountain, MI [54]
1954Ishpeming, MISalisbury, CT Raymond Gauthier Ishpeming, MI
1955Leavenworth, WARudy MakiIshpeming, MI Jack Hooper Iron Mountain, MI [55]
1956Westby, WIKeith Zuehlke Eau Claire, WI Jerry Lewis Duluth, MN
1957Berlin, NHAnsten SamuelstuenSteamboat Springs, COWilliam P. EricksonIron Mountain, MI [56]
1958Iron Mountain, MIEau Claire, WI n/a
1959Leavenworth, WAWilliam P. Erickson Iron Mountain, MI n/a
1960Iron Mountain, MILeavenworth, WA n/a
1961Brattleboro, VTSteamboat Springs, CO n/a [57]
1962Fox River Grove, ILSteamboat 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

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) [60]
1964 Ishpeming, MI Suicide Hill (K90) John Balfanz
1965 Berlin, NH Big Nansen Ski Jump (K82) David Hicks
1966 Iron Mountain, MI 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)
1974 Leavenworth, WA Bakke Hill (K100) Ron Steele
1975 Brattleboro, VT Harris Hill (K88)
1976 Olympic Valley, CA Papoose Peak Jumps (K80) Jim Denney
1977 Gilford, NH Torger Tokle Memorial Ski Jump (K87)
1978 Leavenworth, WA Bakke Hill (K100)
1979 Ishpeming, MI Suicide Hill (K90)
1980 Eau Claire, WI Silver Mine Hill (K85)
1981 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90,K114)
1982 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90)
MacKenzie Intervale (K120)
1983 Eau Claire, WI Silver Mine Hill (K85)
Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106)
1984 Steamboat Springs, COHowelsen Hill (K90,K114)
1985 Gilford, NH Torger Tokle Memorial Ski Jump (K87)
1986 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Rick Mewborn
Howelsen Hill (K114)
1987 Ishpeming, MI Suicide Hill (K90)
Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K114)
1988 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90)
Howelsen Hill (K114)
1989 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90,K114)
1990 Eau Claire, WI Silver Mine Hill (K85)
Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106)
1991 Steamboat Springs, COHowelsen Hill (K90)
Howelsen Hill (K114)
1992 Brattleboro, VT Harris Hill (K88)
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K120)
1993 Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106)
1994 Steamboat Springs, COHowelsen Hill (K90)
Howelsen Hill (K114)
1995 Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (K90)
1996 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90,K120)
1997 Westby, WI Snowflake Ski Jump (K106) Men
Snowflake Ski Jump (K106) Women Karla Keck
1998 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Men
Howelsen Hill (K114)
Howelsen Hill (K90) Women
1999 Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (K90) Men
MacKenzie Intervale (K120) Men
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women
2000 Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Men
Howelsen Hill (K114) Men
Howelsen Hill (K70,K114) Women
2001 Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (K90) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (K120) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (K90,K120) Women
2002Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90,K114) Men
Howelsen Hill (K70,K114) Women
2003Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (K90) Men
Howelsen Hill (HS127) Men
Howelsen Hill (K70) Women
2004Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100,HS127) Men
Howelsen Hill (HS100,HS127) Women
2005Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100,HS127) Men
Howelsen Hill (HS127) Women
Howelsen Hill (HS100) Women
2006Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100) Men
Howelsen Hill (HS127) Men
Howelsen Hill (HS100,HS127) Women
2007Steamboat Springs, CO Howelsen Hill (HS100,HS127) Men
Howelsen Hill (HS100,HS127) Women
2008Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men Anders Johnson
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100,HS134) Women
2009Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women
2010Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men
2011Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100,HS134) Men
Fox River Grove, IL Cary Hill (K70) Women
2012Fox River Grove, IL Cary Hill (K70) Men
Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women
2013Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women
2014Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women
2015Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women
Lake Placid, NYMacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men[61]
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women
2016Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women
2017Park City, UT Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134) Women
Lake Placid, NY MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Men
MacKenzie Intervale (HS100) Women

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
2018Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134,HS100) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134,HS100) Women
2019Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Men
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS100) Women
2020cancelled n/a
2021Park City, UTUtah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134,HS100) Men [62]
Utah Olympic Park Jumps (HS134,HS100) Women [63]
2022Lake Placid, NYMacKenzie Intervale (HS128,HS100) Men[64]
MacKenzie Intervale (HS128,HS100) WomenAnnika Belshaw[65]

See also

External links

Notes and 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. https://books.google.com/books?id=iw3ZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA646 “Ski Jumping”
  6. Bradley, D. (1964) Ski Jumping Hanover, NH: R. Burt
  7. Scharff, Robert; ed. (1974) Ski Magazine's Encyclopedia of Skiing Harper & Row pg 299
  8. Scharff, Robert; ed. (1974) Ski Magazine's Encyclopedia of Skiing Harper & Row pg 284-5
  9. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045366/1904-02-23/ed-1/seq-14/ "Ishpeming Man Winner"
  10. Engen, Alan K. (1998) For the Love of Skiing: A Visual History of Skiing Gibbs Smith Publishers page 14
  11. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn96077142/1905-02-25/ed-1/seq-8/ “Peninsula News”
  12. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045366/1906-02-25/ed-1/seq-41/ National Ski Tournament at Ishpeming
  13. https://books.google.com/books?id=Cl43AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA451 "Ski"
  14. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1909chic/page/314/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  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. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1910chic/page/318/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  18. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1911chic/page/251/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  19. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1912chic/page/346/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  20. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89052133/1912-03-08/ed-1/seq-7/ “Champion Ski Jumper Winning Title”
  21. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1913chic/page/308/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  22. https://books.google.com/books?id=tx8fAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA388 "Ski Jumping"
  23. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1915chic/page/326/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  24. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1916chic/page/462/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  25. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1917chic/page/391/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  26. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1918chic/page/354/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  27. https://books.google.com/books?id=gQ4fAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA274 "Ski Jumping"
  28. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1920chic/page/460/mode/1up “Championship Record”
  29. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1921chic/page/450/mode/2up “Ski Jumping”
  30. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1922chic/page/509/mode/1up “Ski Jumping”
  31. https://archive.org/details/chicagodailynews1923chic/page/594/mode/2up “Ski Jumping”
  32. https://books.google.com/books?id=pivZAAAAMAAJ&dq=championships&pg=PA463 “National Championships”
  33. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1924-02-16/ed-1/seq-13/ "Eastern Ski Mark is Broken by Hall"
  34. https://books.google.com/books?id=iw3ZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA645 “Ski Jumping”
  35. Perry, Lawrence (March 3, 1926) February Brings Forth New Records and New Champions D.C. Evening Star p29
  36. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1927-02-07/ed-1/seq-3/ “Lars Haugen, St Paul Winner of National Ski Jumping Honors”
  37. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89064914/1928-02-09/ed-1/seq-6/ "25,000 Throng Red Wing Hill at National Ski Tournament"
  38. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1930-02-01/ed-1/seq-10/ National Title At Stake For Skimen
  39. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1930-02-03/ed-1/seq-1/ "ND Ski Riders Win National Titles"
  40. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92070146/1932-02-29/ed-1/seq-3/ "Lekang Amateur Ski Champion"
  41. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2010270509/1933-03-02/ed-1/seq-6/ "The Jump of a Champion"
  42. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014085/1934-01-22/ed-1/seq-12/ Oimen Recaptures U.S. Ski Crown
  43. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1936-02-03/ed-1/seq-6/ "Minnesotans Take Bulk of Ski Titles"
  44. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1936-02-07/ed-1/seq-10/ “Wins U.S Ski Title”
  45. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=947835 Program cover for the National Ski Tournament Championship
  46. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1937-02-23/ed-1/seq-6/ "Engen Set U.S. Record to Win National Ski Tourney"
  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 pg 119
  49. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085187/1940-02-27/ed-1/seq-11/ Al Engen Wins National Jump
  50. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085187/1941-03-04/ed-1/seq-10/ Tokle Breaks Own American Ski Jumping Mark
  51. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085187/1942-02-10/ed-1/seq-11/ "Skidaddling"
  52. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92073203/1946-03-07/ed-1/seq-12/ Ski Jumping Champions
  53. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1949-02-23/ed-1/seq-19/ U.S. Ski Title is Won by Norway's Hugsted
  54. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1953-02-17/ed-1/seq-17/ Arthur Tokle Gains Title At National Ski Jump
  55. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1955-02-07/ed-1/seq-17/ Maki Wins National Ski Jump
  56. https://web.archive.org/web/20101127014026/http://www.skijumpeast.com/classb.htm USA Class B Ski Jumping National Champions
  57. https://web.archive.org/web/20150418021130/http://www.skijumpeast.com/uschpold.htm USA Ski Jumping National Champions
  58. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1962-01-22/ed-1/seq-16/ Samuelstuen Leaps to U.S. Ski-Jump Title
  59. https://www.chicagofilmarchives.org/collections/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/11920 Telenews (1962)
  60. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1963-02-18/ed-1/seq-13/ Kotlarek photo
  61. https://usanordic.org/glasder-takes-national-title/ “Glasder Takes National Title”
  62. https://usanordic.org/results/2022-usans-national-championships-large-hill-ski-jumping-results/ Large hill results
  63. https://usanordic.org/results/2022-usa-national-championships-ski-jumping-normal-hill-results/ Normal hill results
  64. https://usanordic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MSJ-Nat-Champ-HS100.pdf Normal hill results
  65. https://usanordic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MSJ-WSJ-HS128.pdf Large hill results