The Skiing Finns of Fairport & Ohio's Nordic Skiing Tradition
News Report by Elaine Lillback
The Skiing Finns of Fairport & Ohio’s Nordic Tradition was presented to the museum members by Tom Cook, the Brecksville, Ohio based Ohio Nordic Ski Club president. Cook is also the junior development coach for the Ohio Nordic Hilltoppers’ Cross Country youth program.
Tom presented a wonderful overview of the development of cross country skiing in the Northern Ohio area. He recounted that the birth of organized ski racing came in the 1970's with the USSA-Sanctioned events were held on a short, 2.5 kilometer loop atMt. Chalet in Chesterland. Cook explained that the core of the team was dominated by skiers from Fairport Harbor.
These local Finns were also well represented at national level events, winning the USSA Team Relays from 1974 to 1980. Though Ohio produced a two-time Olympic cross country skier, Elizabeth Youngman (Calgary – 1988, Albertville – 1992), this enthusiasm for ski racing in the 1970’s and early 1980’s thawed due to a series of low-snow winters.
The Fairport Finns on the Ohio Nordics 4 X 10 KM XC Racing Team were the National Amateur Champions, USSA, from 1974 through 1980. The team members were Karl Salonen, Aarre Kangas, Kauno Kallio, and their coach Reinhold Upsons, a Austrian, but affectionately called the "honorary Finn."
Tom’s roots go back to Denmark giving him that Scandinavian connection, consequently, he was very enthusiastic about the snow we’ve had this winter. He said in Lahti, Finland, where he’s traveled as part of his job as epidemiologist, people sit for hours on bleachers and in the snow to observe the youth participate in snow culture activities.
Tom joined the Ohio Nordic Ski Club in 2003 in Lake Farm Park when it was down to an all time low membership of half a dozen skiers. It is now a stronger organization, having grown from six kids to sixty teenagers.
Cook also explained that Nordic skiing is different from Alpine skiing in that the race is run on ground without downhill inertia as the major propellant. It is up to the skier to propel himself over the course using either the traditional cc skiing motion, or the skating motion. Most use the skating motion these days. The skis are different also, with cc skis being narrower with only the toe and not the the heel anchored to the ski.
Waxing skis is very important. Tom had a picture of Herman Johansson Smith in Lake Placid where he lived until 111 years of age, waxing his skis on a train going to a ski meet. Smith was very instrumental in developing the skiing group of his day. Cook explained that waxing is the fourth important thing with strength, stamina, and technique taking more important roles.
Many FHM members have had wonderful experiences as skiers and as racers and have won medals and trophies. These members include Veikko Malkämaki, Sharon and Denny Mackey, George Lehtonen, and Elli Saari.
One of the women on Nordics xc racing team was not a Finn from Fairport. Virginia "Ginny" Stearns grew up in Middlebury, Vt. She attended Lake Erie College in Painesville, and, having gotten a job after graduation at Deepwood in Mentor, she found an apartment in Fairport and became part of our town. Being a good skier, she naturally became associated with the area nordic ski team, which included a lot of the Fairport Finns. She was arguably the best woman skier on the team, although she insists that Ellie Saari was the best. This team competed for several years, and traveled all over the country. Ginny skied with the team in Vail, Co., and Big Sky, Montana, as well as locally. She said the Finns all tried to teach her the finer points of skiing and racing, and encouraged her in the races, telling her to run on her skis as hard as she could. It must have been good advice because she won several races, as related by Sharon Mackey.
With questions from the audience, Cook clarified differences in skis, both downhill and cross country.
Cook stated that in February of 2011, the first USSA Junior Olympic qualifiers ever held in Ohio will take place at Lake Farm Park in Kirtland. It would appear that this enthusiasm for ski racing is once again back on track. We will pay tribute to Ohio’s early Nordic ski champions, our two-time Olympian and also highlight the resurgence of interest in Nordic skiing among Ohio's youth. While some things have changed, including skis, technique and ski fashions, this talk will also highlight how much things have remained the same.
Our curator Suzanne Jokela and her assistants Larry and Janine Bounty have set up a great display of cross country skiing with actual racing bibs that the men had worn during their races, and pictures and stories of the championship skiers.
In other Finnish Heritage Museum news:
Our museum’s new year’s leadership has shifted into a new era. Lasse Hiltunen is our newly elected president for a two year term. A special note of thanks and appreciation was given to Heikki Penttila for his past six years of leadership. Our museum has gone forward well and we are thankful. We also look forward to the programs this coming year. Vivian Heikkinen, past program chairman and recently passed, is remembered for her guidance in past programs. Linda McAdams is now the chairman of that group.
Serving lovely refreshments were Millie Laituri and Sue Troutman.
Text ©by Elaine Lillback, Pictures ©Finnish Heritage Museum 2011.
NEXT MONTH IS A PRESENTATION
ON
FAIRPORT AND THE BOOTLEG YEARS, PRESENTED BY DALE POHTO.
