1941: Skiing

The sport of skiing has progressed a long way since it was introduced in North America by the Norwegians about 100 years ago. When enthusiasm for the sport became general, hundreds of ski clubs were established in cities and towns in the states along the Canadian border and in Canada, from the East to the West coast. One of the largest clubs is the Toronto Ski Club now having a membership of 5,000 men and women. Excellent ski runs near large cities and in national parks are set in superb scenic beauty, from Quebec to New England and New York State, west to Jasper and Banff National Parks, Sun Valley, to the long steep slopes of Oregon and Washington.

The Norwegians still retain their native skill for skiing, and a few of them hold all of the United States jumping records and titles. Torger Tokle, who dazzled many thousands of spectators on Olympian Hill, near Seattle, when he soared to a new national record at 288 feet, also broke distance ski marks at Lake Placid, Brattleboro, Bear Mountain, Duluth and Laconia-Gilford. He also took the National and Central titles and the Eastern crown for three successive years, another feat never before accomplished. Alf Engen, another young son of Norway, who was dethroned by Tokle, leaped 267 feet off the huge Pine Mountain slide, in Michigan, and won the national classic combined.

Toni Matt, a Norwegian professional, won the national downhill and combined downhill-slalom in the open divisions, defeating the defending champion, Dick Dorrance, the famous Dartmouth alumnus, who in turn won the national open slalom. Bill Redlin, of the University of Washington, romped off with the amateur laurels in the downhill, slalom and combined events at Aspen, Col. George Gustavson, of Auburn, Calif., returned as the national cross-country ruler. Dartmouth retained the Collegiate Ski Union title, but lost the thirty-first annual Dartmouth carnival to the University of New Hampshire team.

Women skiers also performed thrilling feats, headed by Miss Gretchen Fraser, of the Sun Valley S. C., who dominated the championships, winning the open class national downhill and combined downhill-slalom. Miss Nancy Reynolds, of Montclair, N. J., won two amateur titles, the national downhill and combined national championship. Miss Marilyn Shaw annexed both the open and restricted slalom titles with great finesse.