21

Don McCrae opening the downhill course for a tournament
1943
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

22

Don McCrae
late 1930's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

23

1946 saw the Big Bend Jump re-christened to be called the "Hans Gunnarsen Jump" to honor Hans Gunnarsen who had been killed in action in Holland in November 1944. Anna Gunnarsen cut the tape and Ivind Nilsen made the first exhibition jump. This tournament saw many locals turn out for the jumping, downhill and slalom races. It spelled the revival of large tournaments and the sport of jumping in Revelstoke. The Hillcrest downhill was also renamed at this time to be called the "Don McCrae Downhill"
honoring Don McCrae, who was killed in action in a bombing raid over Germany in March 1944.

24

Hans Gunnarsen Jump aka Big Bend Jump
1947
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

25

Local jumpers of note through the 1940's included Art Johnson and Earl Pletch. Pletch was known as "Wild Man" Pletch for his daring on the ski jumps and slopes. Art and Earl placed in jumping tournaments along with Hans Gunnarsen in the 1940's. They were some of British Columbia's top jumping talent. It was Earl Pletch that voted for the re-building of the Nels Nelsen Hill and returning it to its former glory.

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Art Johnson jumping at the Big Bend Jump
1940's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

27

Earl Pletch jumping off the Big Bend Jump
1945
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

28

Paul Salva on Earl Pletch
1940's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Paul Salva

29

1947 brought the Western Canadian Ski Championships back to Revelstoke. This was the first large tournament since the War, though there had been Junior Tournaments through the 1940's. Revelstoke had been known as a premier ski centre and they wanted to put themselves back into this prominent place. Much energy was put into the organization of this tournament by Committee Chairman, Craig Rutherford. Snow trains were again used as they had been for the 1939 tournament to bring spectators from Vancouver for the event. The Don McCrae downhill had a reputation as one of the fastest downhill courses on the continent. Gar Robinson from UBC set the record on this course in 1947 with 3:01:8 minutes. Robinson also won the men's slalom race.

30

Don McCrae downhill and slalom courses
1947
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

31

Gar Robinson, winner of the downhill and slalom, Western Canadian Ski Championship
February 1947
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

32

Slalom Course, Western Canadian Ski Championship
1947
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

33

Gertie Wepsala was known as "Canada's Ski Queen." She had won the women's ski championships for several consecutive years in both downhill and slalom.

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Gertie Wepsala, winner of the women's downhill, Western Canadian Ski Championship
February 1947
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue