The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-01-29
SUCCESSFUL SKI TOURNAMENT
SUNDAY $1,000 PEOPLE SEE EXHIBITION.
American Legion Meets With Deserved Sue
cess In Its Initial Step Towards Calling
Attention to Ely Winter we'll as a
Summer Playground.
Riders More than Pleased With Handsom
Prizes Given by Local Mechanically Ski
Club to Be Represented at National Meet
in Duluth.

thusiasts were at the hill south of
the city Sunday and witnessed the
public initiation of the hansome
new ski slide erected by the City
of Ely in it's program of furnishing
winter sports for the city and Wis
itors The vast coneourse which
lined the ski hill, the toboggan slide
and hill adjoining and every other
vantage point where good view of
the riders could be obtained, were
more than pleased with the first Ski
Tournament of the Ely Ski Club of
the Arrowhead Circuit.
The weather was conducive to
fine riding and jumping but was
Just a little chilly for spectators
who had not prepared themselves
for the occasion with warmer cloth
ing and extra foot covering. How
ever the larger part of the vast
throng stuck it out to the last jump
and longed for more.
At sharp / 100 o'clock, the Ely
Community Band headed a parade
of ski riders who had arrived from
Duluth, Coleraine, Hibbing and Vir-
ginia, augmented with eleven or
more local boys who essayed fast
company for the first time and
marched to the ski slide on the hill
fronting on Central Avenue. The
banner of the Frank Lozar Post of
the American Legion under whose
auspices the tournament was held
led the procession followed by the
committee members of the post who
had arranged for the affair. The
sixty or more Ski club members of
the several communities mentioned
with their skis pointing skyward
and their natty vari-colored cos
tunes presented a very attractive
appearance. All the men in line
were healthy, robust appearing fell
lows-a fitting advertisement for
Minnesota and especially the Arrow
ground And, let US tell you that
the spectators whg followed were Of
the same stamp and showed what
pure, health-giving air will do for
a community.
The sixty riders were all given a
chance to try the slide and each
was announced and introduced by
megaphone artist Clyde Blair of
Coleraine who acted as judge for
the day. Each received vociferous
applause from the audience after
the breath-taking flight through the
air and the successful landing at the
bottom of the hill. According to
the new rules of the National Ski
Association, long jumps are not a
necessity for winning prizes, more
attention being paid to form, char
acter and general appearance in the
air and at landing.
After successfully testing out the
slide, the official announcer called
for the judges and the Tournament
was on. Ely had eleven boys in
line and this showing was remarked
on by the visitors as being one of
the best ever made for a new club.
The showing made by the Ely boys
was good and Npresages a very sue
cessful lot of riders in the coming
few years who are apt to make
some of the best of them hump to
protect their laurels.
At 600 o'clock the banquet to
the visiting riders and the members
of the Ely Ski Club took place at
the Community Center where the
tables had been prepared for over
hundred. Every seat was filled
when the Opera House Orchestra
augmented by the addition of Henry
Reinshagen Sr. and Jr. opened the
proceedings. The banquet was served
by Emil Erickson of the American
Lunch in his usual efficient manner.
Those at the banquet BOARD were
not slow in disposing of the tempt
ing dishes set before them as the
cool air and vigorous exercise OF the
afternoon had whetted their ap-
petites.
Mayor E. w. Hanson acted as
POSTMASTER. After fittingly illus
trating his point with story, he in
troduced Ole Grinder as the first
speaker. Ole was received with
applause. He is well known ski
rider of few years ago and many
of those present remembered his
work in the interests of skiing now
recognized as the greatest outdoor
sport of the world. Mr.. Grinder
told of the efforts of enthusiasts in
getting the sport established and the
valuable help secured from the city
council and the citizens.
That veteran in the sport, Ole
Mangseth of Coleraine, was next
introduced. Mr.. Mangseth has dis
| continued riding because of age but
two of his sons are following in the
footsteps of their father and are
national figures. One of the boys
was here at the meet while the other
was at the tournament at Gary
Indiana, for the day. He told OF
the new rules adopted by the Ma
tional association and the changes
made in the scoring. His advice te
the younger riders was good and hi
cautioned them to not essay Tor
long jump record but to perfect
themselves in class, poise and char
| acter.
Gus Olson Of Duluth spoke briefi!
on his pleasure in being able to %
here and was followed by B. G
Leighton, physical director in tn
Hibbing schools, who made I'M
talk to the boys of the clubs. Vet
eran Rider Johnson, president o
| the Virginia Club made a few brie
| remarks. Clyde Blair OF Coieraine
L - %