The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1931/193232 & 1932/1933 Ski Seasons)

Vancouver Ski Club

The Winter of 1931-32 was outstanding because of the very heavy snowfall we had; for once we really had too much snow. It was estimated that the snowfall was close to fifty feet from November to April, much of which packed down and melted in that time. By actual measurement there was sixteen feet at the Club House, which is 3,000 feet in altitude, with about forty feet at the peaks, which are nearly 5,000 feet high. This heavy snow blanket changed the appearance of the Ridge as only the taller trees were showing their tops. One could ski practically anywhere for most of tbe season although there was some danger of slides in the higher parts in the spring. The disadvantage of so much snow was that it seemed to be snowing all the time and we were always breaking in new trails and shovelling out our cabins.

Our season started early, about the first week-end in November, and on the King' birthday, June 3, there was nearly five feet around the Club House. Only the most enthusiastic members kept on ski-ing in June as by then it was pretty hot work and summer sports were in full sway, which drew many away. Trips to all parts of our ski terrain were very popular last winter because of the ease with which one could e:et about. Competitions were not so much in favour because of this, and also due to the loss of a number of our better skiers because of injuries and absence. Several of our boys returned to Norway and a number of others moved to outside points where their employment took them. Our representative, at the competitions across the line all made very creditable showings and reported bigger and better tournaments. Ow, Club captain, Chris Engh, was unfortunate enough to break his collar-bone in Seattle, and a motor smash-up, in which a car load of our skiers were involved, put our secretary and treasurer in the hospital. Our vice-president was also hurt in this accident so we were very short handed for some time. All are in good health again and getting ready for another busy season.

The Club Championship was won this year by Lars Gulliksen, and he will hold the Dr. Fletcher cup for a year. A. Johannsen was runner up in A class, close behind Gulliksen in both events. Mickey Mitchell again showed his ability as a good jumper and cross-country man to win B class but was given a close run by Chuck Gillrie, the second man. Our novice cross-country events brought a promising young skier to the fore in the person of Phil Surrey, who led the pack all season. Jack Hutchinson also showed up well to get second. Wilf Roberts was third man in this event. Our ladies and novices take part in cross-country, only the other classes being combined events. Miss Bertha Haigh is lady champion this year, displacing her sister, Miss Nellie Haigh, who was runner up. Miss Bertha Haigh bas an enviable record in that she has won nearly every event she has entered in the last few years. Miss M. Storey was the third place winner in this competition. Ladies B Class was won by Miss M. Kippan, who showed a lot of improvement during the year over her previous showings. The success of these competitions was in a large measure due to our hard working Club captain, Chris Engh, and his committee men, Charlie Schroeter and M. Mitchell. Several very enjoyable dances were held last winter with Miss D. Reaville and her co-workers Miss Ruth Neill and Basil Daines of the social committee in charge. As this is being written a Hallowe'en party in our Club House is being planned to start off the new season. One or two snow flurries have visited the Ridge already so it won't be long until we are hard at it again.

Vancouver Ski Club

Last winter, (1932-1933), will be remembered for the exceptionally heavy snowfall, and more particularly for the outstanding success of our skiers in outside competitions.

There bas been as much snow On the higher levels in the past, but last year the snow wa very low on the mountains, and as our ski-ing is done on the more open and Jess heavily wooded areas. from 3,000 to 4·,900 feet, the lowness of the snow was a hindrance rather than a benefit. The spring month were cold and backward, so that in June there was plenty of snow in the vicinity of the Clubhouse, and even in September snow could be found in the shaded spots. The first new snow for the coming season was reported on September 23.

We were represented by a team comprised of Tom Mobraaten. Henry Sotwedt, Finn Fladmark, and Fred Finckenhagen, at some eight competitions held in Washington and Oregon. Between them and Nordahl Kaldahl, of the Hollyburn Pacific Ski Club, all the first places, with one exception, were annexed. Tom Mobraaten won the Pacific Northwest Combined Championship in Seattle, placing second in the jumping, three-tenths of a point behind Kaldahl, the winner. Some of his other outstanding victories include first in jumping at Leavenworth, Wash., where his longest competitive jumps of 183 and 192 feet were made, first in jumping and second in combined. at Portland, Oregon, finishing the season by winning the Vancouver City Championship at the Easter tournament held on Grouse Mountain.

Henry Sotwedt, was close behind hi team-mate all winter, placing third to him in Seattle, with leaps of 174 and 178 feet, second at Leavenworth and Portland, and by winning the British Columbia Championship for jumping at Princeton, B.C. Finckenhagen and Fladmark also made a very creditable showing, and helped round out a very well balanced team.

Another of our skiers, Alf Johannsen, won the British Columbia Combined Championship at Princeton, B.C., which was the only outside event in which he competed.

Due to the difficulty of attracting any large crowds to our ski-ing grounds to witness jumping competitions, only club cornpetitions were held. These were very successful, and the interest shown by both competitors and spectators was most encouraging. The ladies turned out in increasing numbers for their racing events, and the juniors also showed much promise.

Olaf Hanson was the winner of the Fletcher Cup, emblematic of the Club combined championship, with third place in both jumping and racing. Henry Sotwedt was a runner up, winning the jumping, and placing well up in the race. Mickey Mitchell, one of our young and very promising skiers, won the race from a good field, by a narrow margin. The Class B jumping entry was small, and was won by Chuck Gillrie, with Len Williams second, and George Knecktle third. Stan Ferguson proved to be fastest in the Novice race, but was closely followed by Wilf Roberts and Geoff Bullen.

Miss Peggy Harland and Miss Nellie Haigh took first and second places respectively in the Ladies Race for Class A, which was found to be too short, while th Class B event was won by Miss Phylis Palethorpe, with Vi Burton second, and Myrna Bloomfield third.

Great credit is due to our club captain, Finn Fladmark, and his sports committee of Paddy Barbour and Eilif Haxthow, who so ably handled all competitive events.

The social end of our Club programme was attended to by Basil Daines and his two assistants, the Misses Jennie Dove and Doris Reaville, who were responsible for several very enjoyable dances held in the City and on Hollyburn Ridge.

The Executive Committee for 1934, elected recently, consists of Gordon Billingsley, President; O. B. Ommundsen, Vice-President; C. J. Hutchinson, Treasurer; and Jennie Dove, Secretary. The other three members of the Executive are Basil Daines, Mickey Mitchell, and W. R. Baker. Mickey Mitchell heads the Sports Committee, assisted by Walter Stenner, and Charlie Schroeter, with Basil Daines and the Misses Margaret Kippan and Myrna Bloomfield on the Social Committee.

1932 Hollyburn Mountain & Mount Strachan Photos

1932 Sports Articles & Photos

1933 Hollyburn Mountain Photos

1933 Sports Articles & Photos