From the Archives
The big jump

January 23, 2009

By Patrick Hayes, U of S Archives

This issue's image depicts the wooden ski jump that was once located on the east side of the riverbank, just south of the weir. The club house is on the right. The view is from the top of the jump as a skier jumps onto the frozen river ice.  The picture was published in the 1949 Greystone (U of S Yearbook). Now known as the Ski Jump Coulee, the Meewasin Valley Authority has erected a commemorative plaque to mark the site.

This was actually the second location for a ski jump on the riverbank. The first was at Devil's Dip just south of the Diefenbaker Centre.  It opened and closed in 1930.  In January 1929, President Murray gave permission to the newly formed Saskatoon Ski Club to build a ski slide "on the big hill near the varsity".  Before the end of the season a jumper had broken a leg and the university pulled its support.  The club moved the jump site down the river bank to what was then city property.

It was reconstructed in 1936 and measured 25 meters or 86 feet, making it at the time the highest ski jump in Western Canada.  In 1971, Saskatoon hosted the Canada Winter Games.  Part of the new facilities at Mt. Blackstrap was a ski jump, making the riverbank facility redundant.  It was closed in 1974 and demolished in 1978.  If you venture off the trail, you can still see the remnants of the jump's footings and tow lift.