Canada's Olympic Skiing/Snowboarding Memories
1960 Squaw Valley, California (USA)
Canadian Olympic men's ski team [L to R]: Andy Tommy (manager), Clarence Servold (cross country), Irvin Servold (cross country), Jacques Charland (ski jumping), Jean-Guy Brunet (alpine), Fred Tommy (alpine), Alois Moser (ski jumping), Gerry Gravelle (ski jumping), Verne Anderson (coach), Don Bruneski (alpine), Franz Tritscher (coach), Pepi Salvenmoser (coach), Jean Lessard (alpine), [absent]: Franz Baier (coach) - CSM# 76.20 © L'Association olympique canadienne (publication)
Squaw Valley's bid to host the Olympic Winter Games was a surprise, outvoting Innsbruck, Austria, by the slimmest of margins 32 votes to 30. With only one hotel and an absence of sport venues, Squaw Valley became the first Winter Olympic host site to have a purpose-built ski centre, unlike previous Games held at ski resorts. Days before the events began, the site received 10cm (4in) of rain. Fortunately heavy snowfalls soon followed to save the Opening Ceremonies which were presided over by then Vice-President Richard Nixon.
For the first time, many of the Canadian ski teams were selected, not on the basis of results from the previous season, but on trials held just prior to their departure for the Games.
Canadian Olympic women's alpine team [L to R]: Anne Heggtveit, Nancy Holland, Nancy Greene, Elizabeth Greene - CSM# 76.20 © L'Association olympique canadienne (publication)
In the nordic events, Clarence and Irvin Servold might have improved their finishing positions in the 15 and 30km events had their performances not been hampered by competing in events held too close together. To illustrate, Clarence first ran the 30km, followed by the 15km two days later, and then finished with the 15km special on the third day.
Anne Heggtveit in alpine competition © Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Anne Heggtveit's performance in the women's alpine slalom event gave Canada its first Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing, and was a breakthrough achievement for the International Competition Committee of the Canadian Amateur Ski Association, that had adopted a new and ambitious training program. She finished an astonishing 3.3 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Her skiing achievements also gave her the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) world slalom and world alpine combined titles.
Canadian Olympic ski jumping team - Franz Baier (coach), Jacques Charland, Gerry Gravelle, [absent]: Alois Moser - CSM# 76.20 © L'Association olympique canadienne (publication)
Anne Heggtveit in alpine competition - CSM# ©
Anne Heggtveit on the cover of the Ottawa Ski Club annual - CSM# ©
Opening date: February 18, 1960
Closing date: February 28, 1960
Candidate cities: Innsbruck (AUT), St. Moritz (SUI), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER)
To return to 'Canada's Olympic Skiing/Snowboarding Memories' exhibit, please click here.
For a brief history of the Olympic Games, please click here.
To learn more about the skiing disciplines at the Olympic Winter Games, please click here.