John Bower

First American Skier to win the Holmenkollen Nordic Combined Championship

John Bower's competitive skiing achievements began in high school when he led Edward Little to three straight state titles, 1957-58-59. In 1958 and 1959 the team also won the New England championship. Bower set a record that still stands in winning skimeister honors in 1959 with a perfect score of 400 points, winning the slalom, downhill, cross country and jumping crowns to cap an undefeated season for the Eddies.

Following his graduation in 1959 Bower continued his skiing at Middlebury College setting numerous records in NCAA Nordic events across the country. As a member of the U.S. Nordic team he won four national Nordic combined titles and represented the United States in the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria and in 1968 in Grenoble, France.

The biggest victory of his career came in 1968 when Bower stunned the nordic world by winning the King's Cup at the Holmenkollen in Norway. This nordic combined event is the most prestigious nordic title in Europe and no American had ever won it.

On retirement from competition, John turned to coaching at Middlebury and later as Nordic Combined Coach for the U. S. Ski Team. He served as Nordic Program Director for the team from 1975 to 1980 and again from 1988 to 1990. He is also a past Director of the Utah Winter Sports Park at Bear Hollow, Utah.

For his achievements in skiing compe¬tition and his contributions as a coach and director, John Bower was elected to the National Ski Hall of Fame and the Auburn Sports Hall of Fame.