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History
Despite
the fact that cross-country skiing was used as
a mode of transportation in northern Europe and the Scandinavian countries for
thousands of years, it has only been in the past century that skiing has become
a source of recreation and sport. Scandinavian immigrants introduced cross-country
skiing to the United States, where it quickly became popular in northern New
England and the upper Midwest. Its popularity continued to spread, and in 1904,
the first official national championship was held in Ishpeming, Mich., which
is now the home of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum.
A year later, the National Ski Association, or what is now known as the U.S.
Ski and Snowboard Association was formed. The International Ski Federation was
formed in 1924 in time for the first Olympic Winter Games held at Chamonix,
France. While women were competing in the Alpine events, they did not take part
in cross-country until 1952. It wasn't until 1967 that 13-year-old Alison Owen
became the first American female to participate in a national cross-country
championship, when she competed in a junior boys' race.
Athlete
Viewer ( USSA)
Alpine Athlete
Viewer (FIS)
Ski
Museums / Ski Museen / Musee de Ski
New England Ski Museum
Norvegian Olympic Museum
Schwarzwälder
Skimuseum
U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum