Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 25
flou ished. According to Lundin, in
the Midwest, between 50,000 and
100,000 spectators swarmed to the
competitions, and 5,000 to 10,000
regularly watched in the Northwest.
These supporters traveled far and
wide to follow the tournament
circuit, and trekked steep hills to
reach the jump sites and endured
often frigid and snowy conditions.
Two entities did a lot to build
the public hype. The fir t was the
press. " Newspapers throughout the
country were real supporters of this
crazy new sport of skiing [and] gave
extensive coverage, " Lundin says.
In the 1930s, he recounts that the
Seattle papers included six or eight
articles about skiing or ski jumping
in each edition, and writers covered
tournaments not only locally, but
in the Midwest, California and
Competitors Gene Kotlarek, Oyvin Floystad and Jon St. Andre hike up the steep hill to
reach the takeoffpoint at the 1959 National Ski Jumping Championships and Olympic
trials at Leavenworth, Washington.
Fight for Flight
Norwegian world champion ski
jumper Johanne Kolstad (right)
and her sister Kitty at Earls
Court, London, 1938.
At the first Winter
Olympic Games in 1924 in
Chamonix, France, men's
ski jumping was among the
program's six sports. Female
jumpers, on the other hand,
had to wait 90 long years to
compete in the Olympics,
thanks to the " inherent
sexism that dominates our
country and our sport, " says
John W. Lundin, a lawyer
and historian, and the
author of " Ski Jumping in
Washington State: A Nordic
Tradition " and other books
on the sport's history.
But that doesn't mean
women hadn't been in on the
fun since the beginning. In 1862-at the world's first public
ski jumping event in Trysil, Norway-Ingrid Olsdatter Vestby
flew nearly 20 feet. In 1917, Norwegian skier Olga BalstadEggen
came to the U.S. and competed against men in some
early tournaments at Mount Rainier. She even took top
honors in one, Lundin says.
@sonsofnorway
Several ski clubs in the northwestern U.S. included female
members who participated in events. Then in 1934, champion
jumper Johanne Kolstad, a.k.a. " The Queen of Skis, " came
to America when her home country of Norway banned her
from events because she'd beaten her male counterparts
several times. For years she toured the States, promoting
ski jumping, battling in a couple of tournaments and
demonstrating at exhibitions that women could indeed jump.
By the early 2000s, North American female ski
jumpers had had enough, pushing for acceptance from
the international community. A group filed a lawsuit in an
attempt to enter the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada,
but after a months-long battle, they lost. " The Olympic
Committee from the beginning was always one of the most
conservative and resistant to change, " Lundin says.
Since at least the 1930s, athletes have fought with
the Olympic Committee over who could compete in the
Olympics; most notably who was a professional athlete and
who wasn't. " It kept the people who made their living from
skiing from competing as amateurs, " Lundin adds. " That very
rigid concept of who was able to be 'an Olympic athlete'
permeated the Games for many years. "
Between litigation and lobbying, the international
community finally altered its tune. In 2014, female ski
jumpers competed at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
January 2022
25
TOP PHOTO COURTESY LEAVENWORTH SKI HERITAGE FOUNDATION, BOTTOM PHOTO BY H. F. DAVIS / GETTY IMAGES
Viking Magazine - January 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - January 2022
Contents
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - Cover1
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - Contents
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 3
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 4
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 5
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 6
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 7
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 8
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 9
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 10
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 11
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 12
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 13
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 14
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 15
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 16
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 17
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 18
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 19
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 20
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 21
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 22
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 23
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 24
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 25
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 26
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 27
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 28
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 29
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 30
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 31
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 32
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 33
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 34
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 35
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 36
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 37
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 38
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - 39
Viking Magazine - January 2022 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jul-aug-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/may-jun-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-mar-apr-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jan-feb-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-nov-dec-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-sep-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jul-aug-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-may-jun-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-mar-apr-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-november-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/greenspringmedia/viking/viking-magazine-jan-feb-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/viking/200911
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com