Camrose Ski Club – Pioneers of Western Skiing

In 1893 the first settlers of Scandinavian origin moved into the New Norway and Nordbo areas surrounding Camrose. These immigrants, coming from Norway or Sweden, brought with them their love of ski jumping and ski running. Almost every family had at least one pair of skis in their household. For the most part they were homemade but of excellent design and craftsmanship. 

Organized Nordic skiing in Canada was pioneered right here in Camrose. The first ski club, the Fram Ski Club, was formed in 1911. The charter members were the three Engelbretson brothers, P. Mikkleson, and Lars and Adolph Maland with J.R. Engelbretson as first president. Minutes of the club’s first minutes survive – written in Norwegian, they have been kindly translated by Ingrid Urberg and are shared in a separate document. The Scandinavian immigrants had been cross country skiing and touring since their arrival in Canada. The club was formed to build a “ski slide” (now called a ski jump) and to host a tournament which took place in January 1912. 

Another ski meet was held with skiers from Edmonton and Camrose competing. Over a thousand people watched the event and competitive skiing in Camrose was here to stay. After this tournament an association was formed to govern the sport through the provinces west of Winnipeg – the National Ski Association of Western Canada. The first president and secretary were from Camrose.

In the ensuing years Camrose was known across Canada for the fine performances of its skiers. Names such as Nels Willman, S. Sandboe and the Maland brothers dominated the winner’s lists. In 1914 Ole Eivandsen won a seven-mile race at Revelstoke and in 1917 Lars Maland won the Sons of Norway Trophy in Banff. Also, in 1917 Adolph Maland set a new Canadian record with a ski jump of 128 feet.

In 1921, the name of the club was changed to the Camrose Ski Club with Peter Borud serving as the first president. In 1922 the Ski Club organized a cross country race over a nine-mile course beginning at the first block on Main Street and ending at the south end of Camrose. Mr. C. Gotaas of Camrose won in a time of 1 hour and 20 seconds. The location was designed to introduce spectators to the sport and encourage more participation.

Two Camrose skiers qualified to represent Canada at the 1932 Winter Olympics - Jostein Nordmoe and Paul Gotaas. You can find out more about these two athletes in the sections on ski jumping and cross country skiing respectively.

Until 1947 skiing in Camrose had been strictly a competitive sport for men and even more so for Scandinavian men. However, in 1947 girls began to cross country ski in competition. In 1948 a former Swedish cross country star named Gostaf Lindgren came to Camrose. He began to work with Carl and Paul Gotaas Jr. and also the Servold brothers who would later represent Canada in the Olympic games. 

During the 1950s the Camrose Ski Club was very well represented in championship skiing throughout Western Canada. In 1953 the Camrose delegation took all the top honours in the Provincial championships. The average club membership in the 1950’s was between 75 and 100 skiers. Also, around 1950 Rolph Lund developed a small hill southwest of Camrose Lutheran College so he could begin to teach small children how to ski.

By 1960 the club operated from a 2,800 square foot ski lodge, a ski hill with senior and junior jumps, two tows and electric lights for evening skiing. In 1966, due to the large number of people skiing, the ski club started work on a new ski area three miles southwest of Camrose. This hill consisted of five runs and two tows.

The 1970 Alberta Ski Championships were held in Camrose. Several Camrose skiers took medals including Bob, Norm and Joan Osness, Shelly Servold and Claire Rolf. The 60th anniversary of the Camrose Ski Club was celebrated in 1972 with the club hosting the Provincial Championships. In 1977 90 skiers attended the Camrose Ski Club’s annual meet.. Skiers from Camrose and Camrose Lutheran College dominated the medals. 

The first Ski Gallop was held in 1977. It was open to participants age 10 years and older. The race began at the Ski Lodge and proceeded up the Stoney Creek Valley through Jubilee Park and onto the golf course. The Ski Gallop was later renamed the Ole Uffda Loppet after the 1990 Alberta Winter Games mascot. 

In 1979 at the Junior National Championships in Sudbury, Ontario Camrosians Carol Gibson, Steven Hansen, David Ingebergson and Reuben Hansen represented Alberta.

In 1980 the Camrose Ski Club, the Camrose Regional Recreation Department and Camrose Lutheran College jointly proposed the establishment of a major Nordic Ski Centre.  The idea was to provide an adequate training centre for athletes in the triple disciplines of Cross Country, Nordic Combined and Biathlon and to ensure the provision of recreational facilities for the City and surrounding area. 

The Rotary Club of Camrose purchased cross country ski equipment for use in a school program and the Kinsmen donated $21,000 toward the initial purchase of snow-making equipment. The Camrose Rifle and Revolver Club allowed the use of their range, which was cleared and expanded, with the addition of baffles along the facility for the safety of spectators and competitors.  In 1981, 26,000 cubic feet of dirt was put on the ski hill. The club was awarded $65,000 from the city and $5,800 from the Provincial Parks and Recreation department for trail development. Work began that summer on a biathlon loop and widening the cross-country trail. The ski hill was recontoured and a new tow was purchased. Early that fall the creek bed was leveled off at the bottom and work on the stadium area began.

By December of 1981, the Camrose Ski Club was appointed to run the facility with supportive financing provided by the City of Camrose. A manager was selected and the new tow was installed. January 1982 was celebrated with the arrival of a new alpine ski-doo and a track setter. February saw the club host the Western Canadian Biathlon Championships and the Ski Gallop. The Centre was well on its way!

In 1982 five Camrose skiers, coached by Clarence Servold, went to the Canadian Biathlon Championship in Val Cartier, Quebec. They were Ingrid Servold, Susan Stewart, Ken Rayment Jr., Steve Hansen and Glen Rupertus. In February 1986 the Alberta Sports Council presented a $17,000 cheque as the first of four payments designed to make Camrose a Nordic training area. 

In March of 1986, 12 out of 29 Alberta skiers at the Canadian Biathlon Championships were from the Camrose Ski Club and the Camrose Lutheran College ski team.

During the 1986-87 season, the Ski Club hosted three Biathlon and two Cross Country Ski races, a Jumping and a Nordic Combined competition and a Loppet. After the 1990 Winter Games this Loppet or Ski Gallop became known as the Ole Uffda Loppet. 

The ski trails have been consistently upgraded over the years. We have generations of skiers, coaches, volunteers and funders to thank for the outstanding facility we have today. Camrose Ski Club volunteers maintain and enhance the trails, cut the grass in summer, and groom the trails in winter. The Camrose Ski club is more than skiing. In addition to the traditional cross country skiing, biathlon and luge programs the club has running, mountain biking, road biking, triathlon and snowboarding.

Erik Olaf (Ole) Heie, precious and beloved son and brother, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 10th, 2021 at the age of 12, while running on the trails at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park. Favourite teammate, dedicated training partner, faithful friend and honourable competitor; Ole’s joy and kindness will be remembered and dearly missed.

Ole was born on February 11, 2009 in Edmonton, Alberta, early in the morning and incredibly happy, to Robert and Leigh Heie of Kingman, Alberta. An early riser from the very beginning, Ole’s infectious smile and pure joy lit up the world around him throughout his entire life. Ole was gifted in so many things and his accomplishments throughout his young life were immeasurable. He was extremely musical, where his talents extended to the ukulele, guitar, flute and piccolo. He was a proud and independent farm kid, exploring the family land with full imagination at every opportunity, working hard and beginning to learn the family business of farming. He was a conscientious student, studying in French-Immersion and the dream pupil of every Teacher’s career. Ole also loved to write. He was a very talented and thoughtful writer and had one day hoped to write a book. Cross country skiing, biathlon, running, swimming, mountain biking and road cycling became important passions and talents that Ole chose to pursue, gaining endless skills and friendships along the way.

A lifelong member of the Camrose Ski Club and Jr. Vikings, nothing made Ole smile bigger than heading down the trail chasing the 'big kids' on an after-school practice! A driven and dedicated athlete, Ole recently crushed some impressive goals, powered by gummies, of course - reaching 1000 km in just the first 54 days of the last ski season, making national news with his one-day 100km ski, and completing his first ultra marathon this spring. Whether he whizzed by, blond hair flowing, on his roller skis at Mirror Lake, down the dipsy-doodles, or at a race in the mountains, Ole’s adventurous passion and positive spirit was infectious to all who had the honour of sharing the trail.

From classmates to fellow athletes to coaches, Olympians, Strava and Instagram buddies around the world, teachers to music instructors, Ole was comfortable being himself and making a connection with any person, regardless of their age. He had a natural way of creating energy that motivated those around him and a determination to wish others well. Although usually one of the first to finish any race, Ole was always the last one to return to the wax tent, for he always diligently cheered every last racer across the finish line. To Ole, sport wasn’t just racing, it was for seeing your friends, celebrating gains, encouraging each other and enjoying the moments. He shared his philosophy as a proud brand ambassador for the Salomon athletic company and enjoyed interacting with other enthusiasts and ambassadors from around the world.

Ole was his sister Ava’s biggest fan, best friend, and loudest cheerleader. As they grew up together, Ava and Ole were inseparable, touching nearly every blade of grass on the family farm, finding fun and working hard side by side with their parents. Together, Ole and Ava were the architects of many family travel adventures, creating cherished memories around the globe. Almost every family trip was planned by the two siblings around something they were interested in, including their latest trip to Greece. Ole, with his family discovered Greece, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Canary Islands, Amsterdam, Madrid, California (in a camper van). They enjoyed camping, canoeing and loving the great outdoors as a family throughout Canada and the US and especially beautiful Manitoba. Ole loved exploring and his ambitious nature took the Heie’s to experience the most amazing places, often in the quiet of an early morning, while everyone was still sleeping. From Ole-initiated family rides around home to magical runs (every single run with Ole was magical) towards Ancient Olympia, each moment with Ole was a treasured gift for his proud parents. Each and every day, Ole worked and dreamed towards one day competing in the Olympics and becoming a fifth-generation farmer. He continues to be an inspiration to all who knew and loved him.

Ole’s kind character and love for the outdoors will be greatly missed. As we all navigate the heartbreaking grief of his passing, we hope that you will find comfort with Ole’s spirit on the trail and by sharing some gummies and memories of Ole with friends.

Left to cherish Ole’s memory are his best friend and sister, Ava Heie; parents, Robert and Leigh; grandparents Jean Heie of Camrose and Randy and Gwen Usick of Minnedosa, MB; honourary grandparents John and Linda Cummings of Wetaskiwin, AB; great baba Mary Usick of Minnedosa, great grandfather Art Bayes of Brandon, MB; aunts and uncles Nolan Heie of Calgary, Randi (Corey) Haley of Spruce Grove, Kim (Mike) Speiss of Neepawa, MB; cousins Theo, Harrison, Wiley and Bodhi; his fellow Jr. Vikings athletes and countless friends. He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Donald Heie.

• Camrose Ski Club archives
• Gibson Family scrapbooks
• A Light From the Past – a Camrose History
• Four Seasons Environmental Centre material – prepared in 2007 – spearheaded by Ken Duncan with research and writing by Glen Hvenegaard, Chad Winger, Susanna Bruneau, and Kim Macklin. 
• Gotaas Family Archives

Photo sources:

• Glenbow Collection
• Camrose and District Centennial Museum
• Gibson Family Scrapbooks
• Camrose Ski Club archives