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Trophies awarded to the winners, Ski jumping competition
1958
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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John McInnes started skiing at age 7 and by age 9 was jumping on the "B" hill. He and his brother Al started out on the Hans Gunnarsen jump but John went on to be a member of the Canadian Ski Jumping Team for 12 years, competing in Europe as well as North America and on his home turf of Revelstoke.

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John McInnes
c. 1950's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
John McInnes

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Through the 1960's and into the '70's, the Revelstoke Ski Club put money and energy towards all disciplines: downhill, slalom, jumping and cross-country. In 1961, the old judges' tower on the Big Hill came out and was replaced by a new, steel, judges' tower. The tournaments continued through the 1960's, though there was no jumping tournament in 1963 due to lack of snow! Revelstoke had a green Christmas that season (1962).

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Ski Jumping Tournament
1964
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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Through the 1960's, there was a noticeable decline in interest in jumping, however, the Revelstoke Ski Club worked hard to keep jumping competitions on the Nels Nelsen Hill. The Tournament of Champions was a spectacular event that continued to bring international talent. Competitions were held on the 80 meter jump and the 60 meter Olympic jump which had been built for Olympic trials. Through the 1960's there were ski trains that brought spectators from Vancouver, B.C. and Edmonton and Camrose in Alberta to view the tournament. There was even talk of putting a bid in for the 1968 Olympics.

In 1961, two Revelstoke ski jumpers, John McInnes and Kaare Lien, were named to the Canadian National Jumping Team and were chosen to go to the World Championships in Poland.

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Jumpers returning from Europe, John McInnes and Kaare Lien
1960's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
John McInnes

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John went to Poland to compete in the 1962 World Championships, Innsbruck for the 1964 Olympics in Oslo for the 1966 World Championships. For seven years, the Canadian team went to Europe to compete.

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John McInnes jumping
1960's
unknown

Credits:
John McInnes

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John McInnes' Canadian Ski team jumping skis
1960's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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John McInnes on the ski team and travel to Europe
1960's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
John McInnes

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John reminisces about the training, coaching and support the Europeans and Scandinavians gave to their jumping athletes. There was nothing on that scale in Revelstoke. "We'd go to a competition in Europe and it would be the first time we put our skis on for the season," said John. "For the Europeans, it might be their 1000th jump for the season… there was just no comparison."

1962 saw a tournament called "Tournament of Future Champions" which included a "cradle class" for 4 year olds as well as classes for peewee, midgets and juveniles. The Ski Club was working hard to get the youth interested in jumping! 1962 also saw the North American Nordic Championships and Tournament of Champions held and 1964 saw the Canadian Nordic Championships and O'Keefe Tournament of Champions. Both Olympic and National Cross Country skiers and jumpers were in Revelstoke and the event attracted over 3000 spectators. Kaare Lien won the Canadian Jumping Championship title breaking the record with a 281' and 271 jumps in the "A" Class.

More jumping records fell on the Nels Nelsen Hill through the 1960's with Kjell Sjoberg setting a new Canadian jumping record of 310' in 1967.

Despite the lack of coaching and time training on the hill, John McInnes' prowess on the jumping skis put Revelstoke back on the map for one more time in the ski jumping arena. In 1969, John McInnes won the North American Championship in Quebec.

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John McInnes, North American Champion, with Trudeau
March 1969
Quebec

Credits:
John McInnes

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John McInnes with his trophies
March 2008
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Nancy Geismar