Hungry Horse news., 1949-03-04
Observation-Disclosures National

Noon Saturday, and then at one
minute intervals, top skiers fror
all parts of America will start
down the two-mile run of White
fish's Big Mountain. 1t will be g
fast drop of $500 feet over two
miles of snow to determine the
nations champion downhill men
and Women's skiers.
Speeds up to so miles an hour
will be obtained by these out-of
door athletes on their graceful
wood strips. Careful following with
binoculars will pick out jumps ur
to rs feet as the men and women
race against stop watches.
Packed paths have been made &C
that spectators can leave the i'm
mediate area OF the ski lodge, arc
truck transportation will be avail
able to take spectators down AMI
back from the downhill race finish
Entered in the races by Thurs
dy evening were 119 contestants
including 80 women, the largest
number of ladies to compete in q
national ski meet.
The downhill races are expected
to be over about 2:30 p. m. Satur-
day, and then about 10 a. m. Sun
day starts the event that conccn-
trates on skiing skill and form with
skillful and fast maneuver'ng
through flag gates, the slalom
These races will be over about
$3.50 p. m. Sunday, and the COM
bined winners are determined by
standings IT the downhill and sla-
lom.
There are name skiers here by
the dozen. Jack Reddish of Utah's
Brighton club was 1948s national
champion, and Suzanne Harris OF
Salt Lake City was the 1913 W.
mems champion. They'll be racing
on Big Mountain.
Canada's champion, Peter John
ston will vie along with most OF
last years Olympic team. There s
ski names like Dick Movitz, Steve
Knowlton, Paula Kann, Andrea
Mead, and the lady from PARIS
Patricia de Surmont. Big Noun
tain's top skiers, Toni Matt, Gene
and Rhonax ellis rate with the
very" best.
Judges include CORTLAND Hill
Los Angeles, president of the Far
West Skiing association and grand
son of the empire builder; Ebr
Scheule, Seattle, is chief timer,
and chief of course is Dick Dur
rance formerly Of Dartmouth ano
a national champion, now of AS
pen. Douglas M. Burckett, Cam
bridge, Mass, National Ski assoc
iation vice president, is to be chief
recorder; Fred Bellmar, Denver,
president of the southern Rocky
Mountain Ski association is the
official referee. Co-chairmen of
the race committee are DR.. Amos
Little, Helena, and Lloyd Null
down, Whitefish.
The Flathead and especially
delighted in being good
1osts to skiers this week. Contes-
ANTS were housed in Whitefish
ZONES and enjoyed the hospitality
If a small western Montana city.
when the slalom course
needed packing, it got special boot
treatment by 80 Whitefish stud
,nts let out of school. They stamp
ID up and down the mountain
tide.
Thursday events were contest
INT meetings, a social hour and
inally a torchlight parade down
he mountain.
To help patrol the course, ski
,atrol members from Great Falls,
Helena, Butte, Red Lodge and
Vest Yellowstone were in. Com
was problem being
worked out by Flathead national
crest men. They like Big Mount
in; part of it is forest service
and having a recreational use by
he public.
There's room for about 800 cars
It the ski lodge. Buses will leave
both Saturday and Sun
ay from across from the Cadillac
otel with a one-way fare of so
ents. If cars are used, don't for
-et chains. Lunches are available
t the ski lodge, and chief ham,
urger cook will be old army mess
Ross Luding.
A Wednesday accident resulted
n 2O-year-old Seattle and Sun
ALLEY skier, Glib Eaton being hos
italized with a broken leg. Thurs
ay saw two apparently less SCI
ous injuries.