Historical Marker · No. 555

Canton Ski Hill

Lincoln County · South Dakota
Erected by Kong Olav V Lodge No. 1-483 and the South Dakota State Historical Society, 1992

The 1932 Olympic trials on this hill sent their winner to Lake Placid. Casper Oimoen, born in Etnedal, Norway, in 1906, came to the United States in 1923 and settled near Minot, North Dakota; still not a citizen, he had been kept out of the 1928 Games. He won the A division at Canton, and on February 12, 1932, on the Intervales hill, he placed fifth, the best of the Americans, behind three Norwegians and a Swede. Four years later he captained the American ski jumpers at the 1936 Games.

What the plaque says

The Canton Ski Hill A 60 foot ski jump tower stood on the river bluff directly south of this sign. Constructed in 1912 at the urging of Norwegian ski jumpers visiting Canton's Augustana College, it soon became widely popular for the tournaments held by the Sioux Valley Ski Club. The 275 foot vertical drop of the hill and tower attracted several major compe- titions including the U. S. National Tournaments of 1925, 1930 and 1935. The 1932 U. S. Olympic Team trials were held here during which a record jump of 192 feet was made by Sverre Fretheim. Special trains from Minneapolis, Denver and Chicago brought thousands of spectators to the national meets. Large crowds also attended regional meets which were held annually. Because of a lack of snow in 1937, snow from Lake Okoboji was trucked to the site. 300 men carried it up the hill where warm winds turned it into slush. A sudden drop in temperature turned the slush into ice, forcing the cancellation of the meet, and financially breaking the Sioux Valley Ski Club. No further tournaments were held. The landmark tower blew down in 1944. Erected in 1992 by Kong Olav V Lodge No. 1-483 and the South Dakota State Historical Society

Where it stands

43.30086, -96.55088 · Directions

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