Nov. 1, 1916: Young
Viking announces that he is planning on organizing a skii club and
if enough enthusiasm is manifested will later give a series of skii
jumping contests.
[Tim Kelley note: Yes -
"Young Viking" was apparently the name of a real
person. This name is mentioned in later articles.]
(Ad by A. A. Shonbeck,
General Merchandise, Anchorage-Matanuska, "Cut Hickory Lumber
for making Sleds and Skis.")
Feb. 16 1917: The
Scandinavian Society is contemplating forming a skiing club with
the view of pulling off a skiing contest in the near future.
Feb. 20, 1917: Dr. K. A.
Kyvig and Young Viking, representing the Scandinavian Society,
have made arrangements to pull off a ten-mile skee race one wee
from next Sunday. Appropriate prizes will be given to the
winners, three in all, and a silver cup will go to the first man
to cross the finish line. The course will be laid out so the
contestants will race through Fourth Avenue three times during the
race and the finish will also be located at some central place on
the avenue. All persons expecting to enter the race are
cautioned to start practicing as there are several noted athletes
in this line who have signified their intentions of competing for
the prizes.
Feb. 24, 1917: Young
Viking reports that so far ten contestants have entered into the
skiing race and are practicing for the big event that is dated for
next Sunday.
Feb. 27, 1917 (Tuesday):
The enthusiasm in Sunday's skiing race is growing and the
contestants are practicing daily and will be in good physical
shape for the big race.
Mar. 3, 1917 (Saturday):
"Ski Race Comes Off in Afternoon Tomorrow"
Weather conditions-mild and
start of spring thaw with continued warm weather tomorrow.
Chief Nicholi forecasts a clear and favorable day for the ten-mile
skii race.
Two sporting bills are
scheduled for tomorrow. A skii race starting at 2 o'clock in
the afternoon under the auspices of the Scandinavian Club, and a
double-header basketball game at the Labor Temple. Games
called at 3:30 o'clock.
Mar. 5, 1917 (Monday):
"John Aho Wins the Ten-Mile Skii Race"
John Aho won the ten-mile
race pulled off by the Scandinavian Society yesterday afternoon,
in 1 hour, 8 1/2 minutes. Emil Gustafason was second in 1
hour and 9 minutes, and H. Lind and K. Hang tied for third place
in 1 hour and 12 minutes.
This
is the first skii race in the city's history and was
successful from every standpoint. Forth Avenue was lined
with spectators for two blocks and presented a typical Copenhagen
picture. Young Viking acted as starter wih H. Callstrop and
W. Mastrom judges and H. Evans timekeeper. The race was
intensely exciting with John Aho who drew No. 5 for place, the
favorite in betting. A. Gustafason, starting third in the
race, was the first contestant to make the five-mile lap in the
record time of 34 minutes and 30 seconds. Mr. Kaiser, the
moving picture operator, took several pictures of the start in
front of the Recreation Alley and the large crowd who gather to
witness the race stayed until the finish. Another race has
been arranged for the near future and it is possible that the
Scandinavian Society will also arrange for a skii jumping
contest. The finish of yesterday's race was close and Aho,
the winner, was carried into the Recreation on the shoulders of
his many admirers.
Mar. 7, 1917: E.
Hansen badly fractured his right leg above the ankle yesterday
afternoon and was taken to the government hospital for
attention. Hansen and a party of associates were practicing
skii jumping off the hill near the water tank at the time of the
accident that was caused by a defective strap breaking when he
landed after taking the offset.
Mar. 8, 1917: With
Young Viking as the prime mover, a bunch of local sports have made
arrangements for another 10 mile skii race Sunday. In
addition to the race a force of men are preparing the skii jumping
slide near the city water tank and a skii jumping contest will be
pulled off prior to the race. Three cash prizes will be
awarded to the winners of each event and a number of contestants
have entered the lists.
Mar. 9, 1917
(Friday): Several bets have been placed on the contestants
in the skii race that is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The race will follow the skii jumping contest that takes place on
the hill near the water tank.
Mar 10, 1917
(Saturday): "Another Skii Race is Schedled [sic] for
Tomorrow"
Arrangements have about
been completed for the skii race, which is to be pulled off Sunday
afternoon under the auspices of the Scandinavian Society of
Anchorage. The race will start on Forth Avenue in front of
the Recreation Bowling Alley and the source will be the same as
that followed last Sunday. The race will start at 2 o'clock
providing the snow is not too soft; if too wet the start will be
made at 4p.m. A canvas among the business men and others
interested in seeing the sport of skiing promoted in this city
resulted in a goodly sum being subscribed, which will be hung up
in cash prizes. Four prizes are offered and as they are
large enough to be worth while, the rivalry to be inside the money
will make and interesting contest. Up to the time of going
to press eight entries had been made, as follows: L. E.
Sundell, Homer Lind, Wider Larson, Emil Gustafason, John Aho,
Knute Hangs, S. Olson and Nels Abrahamson.
Anyone desiring to enter
the race must give in their name before 10 o'clock at the
Recreation poll hall as the entries will close at that hour.
As the prizes will be good it is hoped a large number of
contestants will enter and make the race as interesting and
exciting as possible.
The committee in charge of
the race is as follows: Harry Challstrop, chairman; Young
Viking, Swan Swanson, W. Nastrom, Otto Fahle, Tom R---ing and John
Malsom.
Mar 12, 1917
(Monday): "Aho Wins in the Skii Race"
One of the most interesting sporting events of
the winter was the skii race, pulled off by a number of adherents
of the sport in Anchorage yesterday afternoon. The race was
closely contested from the start wand the winner of last Sunday's
contest, John Aho, again came in ahead by the narrow margin of 24
seconds. The time made for the distance, 10 miles, under
existing conditions, was remarkably good.
A purse of $100, divided into four prizes, had
been hung up for the event, as follows: Fifty dollars for
first; $30, second; $15, third and $5, fourth.
[Tim Kelley note: Using a
consumer price index calculator - $100 in 1917 equals about $1500
in 2005 dollars due to inflation. So the winner in 1917 won
about $750 dollars in 2005 dollars. This is the same amount
a professional cross country ski racer would make in 2005 for
winning a national caliber SuperTour USSA race]
The winners and their times follow: John
Aho, No. 6, first, 57 minutes 25 seconds; Lee Sundell, No. 10,
second, 57 minutes, 49 seconds; H. Lind, No. 9, third, 58 minutes,
43 seconds; T. Hennington, No. 8, fourth, 60 minutes, 31 seconds.
Harry Challstorp, W. Nastrom and Swan Swanson
acted as judges and timekeepers.
The Recreation Bowling Alley, from which the
race started and finished, acted as stakeholder for considerable
money, as enthusiastic supporters were quite willing to back the
various favorites.
A banquet was given at the Oyster Grotto last
evening for the contestants and members of the committee having
the race in charge, at which 21 were seated. The prizes were
distributed and the party was an enjoyable affair. The
committee wishes to thank the business men and others who
subscribed for the purse and otherwise made the race
possible. The skii jumping contest was postponed
indefinitely owing to the fact that the jump prepared was only 40
feet and was considered too short to make the contest
interesting. Fourth Avenue was packed Yesterday afternoon
between D and E street and many spectators scattered all along the
course. The skii races are causing so much excitement and
have arouse so much enthusiasm that another race will undoubtedly
be arrange for next Sunday and possibly a short dog team race.
The committee in charge of yesterday's
successful affair deserves all credit for the sportsmanlike manner
in which it was carried out.
Mar. 16, 1917 (Friday): A 20-mile
skii race is scheduled for next Sunday and this time the race will
be under the management of the Native Sons of Finland.
Mar. 17, 1917: The Young Viking has
been asked to manage the 20-mile skii race that is scheduled for
tomorrow under the auspices of the local Finlanders. The
race will start in front of the Recreation Pool Hall at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning and the racers will pass through Fourth Avenue
four times during the race. Aho, the winner of the last two
contests has entered as have Hemminson, Sundell, Lind and several
others.
Mar 19, 1917: Yesterday's ski race was a frost and
caused very little excitement. Aho, who won the two previous
races, showed the yellow: dropped out in the second lap.
Lind finished first, Sendell second and Gustafason third.
The race was for 20 miles and Lind made the distance in 2 hrs and
48 minutes. There were six entries in the race, that will
probably end ski racing for the season.
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