Minnesotans Jumping to New Heights

In the late 1800s Norwegian immigrants brought ski jumping to Minnesota, launching a winter obsession that still sends jumpers flying through the air today.

—–

Producer: Katharine DeCelle

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

—–

For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.

instagram.com/ampersradio/

Facebook.com/MN90Ampers

Never miss a beat. Sign up for our email list to receive news, updates and content releases from AMPERS. ampers.org/about-ampers/staytuned/

This show is made possible by community support. Due to cuts in federal funding, the community radio you love is at risk. Your support is needed now more than ever. Donate now to power the community programs you love: ampers.org/fund

Transcript

Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.

[SFX: wind and boots walking in snow]

Imagine. It’s January 1907, and you’re in Duluth, Minnesota. It’s freezing outside, and you’re carrying two long wooden skis over your shoulder as you climb the 8o feet of stairs up a towering ski jump.

[SFX: wood creaking, footsteps, wind]

Below you, thousands of people are watching and waiting. The ramp disappears below you and you’re flying through the air.

[SFX wind, whoosh sound, crowd cheer]

This was ski jumping and Minnesota obsessed! In its heyday, at least 30 jumps were built all across the state.

[SFX: crowd]

Some of the jumpers became local celebrities. In 1907, Ole Feiring, a young Norwegian immigrant in Duluth, sailed 112 feet through the air, setting an American ski-jumping record.

[SFX: whoosh sound and big cheer crowd]

Over the decades, Minnesota’s giant ski jumps began disappearing. But the tradition never completely went away. At Bush Lake in Bloomington, the old ski jump was replaced with a bigger and safer jump, where people still jump today, some traveling 300 feet in the air!

[SFX: ski sounds whoosh wind]

More than a century after Norwegian immigrants brought their love of ski jumping to Minnesota, their tradition is still flying.

MN90 is produced by AMPERS, Minnesota's community radio stations, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at MN90.org.