Masters Ski Jumping in the USA Old Boys -- Still at it, after all these years!

OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF THE USA MASTERS SKI JUMPING COMMITTEE

CONTENTS of this Home Page A brief Introduction to Masters Ski Jumping Other names for Masters Annual US Masters Championships in Ski Jumping How to Start Ski Jumping The USA Masters Ski Jumping Committee Related Items and Sites Past US National Masters Champions in Ski Jumping Results of U.S. National Masters Championships in Ski Jumping Annual International Masters Championships in Ski Jumping (IMC) Team USA at IMC through the years International Masters Ski Jumping Committee Our Ski Jump Index Links to Other Ski Jumping Sites

Masters ski jumping is not a new idea, but these championships reflect a new stage in competition for old boys . The first U. S. National Masters Age Group Championships were held in 1982 at the Carvers Lake ski jumping complex of the Saint Paul Ski
Club in Minnesota. Subsequent Championships have visited twelve locations in the East, the Midwest, and the Rockies. The age groups have changed from time to time, settling presently on ten-year age groups starting at age thirty. Recent U.S. Championships have even involved Masters Class-Five, for jumpers over 70 years old (right).

Many ski jumping competitions around the world, including several national championships, recognize a Masters class. In addition, several nations hold separate age group national championships, usually on smaller hills. The Duluth Ski Club's annual Souvenir Booklet lists U.S. National Masters (formerly Veterans) champions starting in 1935. Norway is the cradle of ski jumping and has led the way in Masters jumping. In 1905 for the first time, the old timers had their own class in Holmenkollen, for those over thirty; that year, the oldest competitor was 70 years old. In 1997, the Norwegian Veteran Club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.

And why do they do it? Why do old boys go out and play in the snow, jumping with the kids? For competition, for comeraderie, for exercise, but above all because it is fun and they feel mellow when they get home.

Feel like getting involved in this exciting sport? Here are two links to lists of all ski jumping clubs in the eastern U.S. and in the midwest with contacts and phone numbers.

If you don't live in snow country but would like to try ski jumping as part of your weekend activities, contact Larry Stone, coach at the Olympic Jumping complex in Lake Placid. Click here to use automatic e-mail, or just send your own e-mail response to lhstone@juno.com or call (518) 523-1900. (The answer you hear may include the mysterious word "NYSEF" which stands for New York State Ski Educational Foundation.)

In 1982, the minimum age for Masters jumpers was reduced to 27, and a Small Hill Age Group National Championship was established.
From 1982 until 1991, the age groups were: 27-34, 35-49, 50 and up.
Starting in 1991, ten-year age groups were established and the minimum masters age was increased, one year at a time, from 27 to 30 in order to agree with the international masters age groups. You can look through lists of champions .

Competitors at the 1992 Masters Age Group Nationals, St. Paul.

The National Age Group Championship event broke out of a long dry spell in the year 2000, but not without a struggle. In Madison WI, at the banquet of the 1997 Championships, the Old Boys of the U.S. were called upon to assemble again in 1998 in St Paul for the next Championships. However, a very early spring melted the snow in St. Paul, leaving the organizers scrambling. "How about moving the event way up north to Coleraine, MN?" No luck! Coleraine was scheduled to host the Junior Olympics and even that event had to be moved. So finally, the 1998 Masters Championships were cancelled. The year 1999 was even worse, when poor communication and lack of enthusiasm left the event unscheduled.

For the 2000 season, everybody assumed that St. Paul would finally hold the Championship so it was a surprise when the announcement came around that the Tri-Norse Ski Club would host the event January 8-9 in Wisconsin Rapids. When early January came, there was less than two inches of snow in Wisconsin Rapids, and organizers postponed the Championships yet again, to February 19-20 where it would conflict with the Continental Cup event in Ishpeming and the inaugural Goodwill Games in Lake Placid. Finally, in February, the National Masters Championships ran, with only a slightly reduced field. The Eastern jumpers did not make it back, but the Wyoming contingent showed up and skied well. All reports were of a well run competition with good weather and snow conditions. See complete results of the 2000 Championships.

The Old Boys gathered on January 6 in Westby, Wisconsin for the 2001 event; complete competition results and a photo have been posted.

The 2002 Masters Championships were hosted Jan. 19-20 by the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, IL who did a great job on short notice. The snow gods provided fine weather and the hard working hosts provided three beautifully prepared hills. The competitions were folded into with Norge's annual junior and senior competitions, and it was exciting to see so many new kids trying out the sport that the Old Boys love. Complete competition results and a couple of pictures have been posted.