- Item
- 1938-03-27
Part of Richards Studio Photographs
When the 1938 Silver Skis race on Mt. Rainier was cancelled due to gale force winds above 9,000 feet, promoters hurriedly threw together entertainment for the crowd of 8,000 spectators. A special jump was constructed for skiers to show off their best stunts. Here Olav Ulland, left, of Norway and Hjalmar Hvam of Portland perform simultaneous somersaults. As they flip through the air, skiers lining the course watch with amazement. Incidentally, neither skier was able to land on his skis. Olav Ulland was for many years co-owner of Seattle's largest ski store, Osborn & Ulland, and was inducted into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame for his ski-jumping prowess. Hjalmar Hvam, who by 1938 was recognized as a leading jumper, cross-county racer and speed skater invented the first mass produced "safety" toe iron, the "Saf-Ski" release. (T.Times, 3/28/1938, p. 1).
Skiing--Mt. Rainier--1930-1940; Skiers; Winter sports; Ulland, Olav; Hvam, Hjalmar;