Birger Adolph Olsen

In the late 1890's Birger Adolph Olsen was one of the top ski jumpers, and cross-country skiers, winning trophies in Norway, Sweden, Canada and in the United States. In 190I Olsen immigrated to Berlin, New Hampshire from Oslo, Norway. In 1918 Olsen moved to Portland, Maine and found work as a machinist and carpenter.

Olsen was surprised to find the use of skis was almost unheard of in the east. That changed in the I920s. In 1924 the Portland Press Herald wrote, "Tremendous interest housed throughout Maine in promotion of winter recreation is reflected in the enthusiasm manifested in Portland and western Maine over the Portland Winter Carnival. Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive here today, hotels reported an influx of enthusiasts last night."

Ski jumping was the most popular spectator event. Olsen built a ski jump on the hill below the Western Promenade. In addition to being President of the Ski Club and one of the sports biggest promoters Olsen, who was 45 years old, also won the cross-country race in the morning and then came in second in the afternoons jumping competition.

Olsen saw the growing popularity of the winter carnivals in Maine; the drawback was they only lasted a few days. He wanted to build a Winter Sports Park, a permanent Winter Carnival, in downtown Portland. This was a novel idea; at the time there was not such thing as a ski area. "There are a great many people who would go to watch ski jumping and participate in winter sports," said Olsen.

Knowing that few people actually skied Olsen planned to offer lessons from a professional instructor in jumping and cross-country. Also available would be ice¬ skating and toboggan rides. There would be a heated central hall for those wishing rest or warmth or simply a sandwich and hot drinks.

The cost of the project was estimated to be as high as $10,000 and that was the stumbling block. Olsen argued that the money would easily be made back, not only on the exposition grounds but also more money would be made by the town and its merchants. Olsen said, "The winter sports have been sufficiently commercialized to make them a good deal more than self supporting."

Unable to raise the money Olsen never built the Winter Sports Park.

He had the proper vision but his timing was off. Downhill skiing, the aspect of the sport destined to create the biggest following, was still a decade in the future.

As a competitor and as a promoter Adolph Olsen drew thousands of people to the little known sport of skiing, laying the groundwork for one of the biggest booms in the sport of skiing. Olsen's ideas of a winter sports park can be found at ski areas around the globe.