In our last post, we talked about the history of ancient skiing. Today, we’re covering ski history in North America, including our own spot in the timeline. Read on to learn more about how the sport got started in the states.

One of Shawnee Mountain’s first chairlifts.

Immigrants from Norway and Sweden are largely responsible for the rise in the popularity of skiing in America. One of the first skiers on record was named John “Snowshoe” Thompson; he used skis to deliver mail in northern California and is said to be the father of skiing on the west coast.

1800s

  • 1849 – The California gold rush draws interest from Norwegian miners who brought knowledge of skiing with them. Most famous Norwegian skier is John ‘Snowshoe’ Thompson.
  • 1880 – The first modern ski club in America was organized in New Hampshire. It remains the oldest continuously operated ski club in the country.
  • 1896 – Demonetization of silver in the United States led to mining towns such as Alta and Aspen to shut down, eventually turned into ski areas because of existing mountain terrain and infrastructure.

1900s

  • 1905 – The National Ski Association was founded by Carl Tellefsen in Michigan. He was also the first elected president of the association.
  • 1909 – Using two ski poles instead of one has achieved universal acceptance.
  • 1920s – Hannes Schneider has created a formalized instructional system based on the stem turn (christy turn), subsequently known as the Arlburg technique. Schneider advocates not using the telemark turn.
  • 1924 – First Winter Olympics – only Nordic style skiing.
  • 1930s – As part of federal efforts to pull the country out of the Depression, the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps cut ski trails across New England.
  • 1936 – Sun Valley opened with the world’s very first chairlifts! Alpine skiing was added to the Olympics.
  • 1952 – The first artificially made snow was created at Grossinger’s resort in New York!
  • 1958 – The first gondola in the U.S. was installed in New Hampshire
  • 1963 – Big-name resorts like Vail, Crested Butte, Park City and Stratton started spinning chairs.
  • 1969 – Ski popularity boost after James Bond movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, features ski scene.
  • 1975 – Shawnee Mountain opens for 75/76 season
  • 1979 – Freestyle skiing recognized as a sport by the International Ski Federation
  • 1988 – Freestyle Skiing allowed in the Olympics
  • 1989 – First snow park built at bear Valley Ski Area in California
  • 1990s – Evolution of ski shape to twin tip. Installation of detachable chairlifts. The ’90s ushered in the era of extreme skiing and big mountain competitions.
  • 2000s – During the ’00s, snowboarding led the way into park and pipe freeskiing.

The building of the Shawnee Mountain base lodge.

Want to read more about the industry’s growth during the 20th century? Check out this great article: https://www.deseret.com/2022/12/30/23509448/skiing-history-west-europe-world-war/

Written on: March 29, 2024  |  Written by: Michaela K., Marketing Asst.

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Fireworks at Shawnee Mountain

July 5 @ 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm