Tag Archives: Japan

Sochi 2014: Jumping into History

Posted on February 13, 2014 by AlpineStyle56

johanne kolstad hilda braskeruds ski jump vintage norway womenJohanne Kolstad and Hilda “Nusse” Braskeruds of Norway, pioneers of women’s ski jumping in the 1930s.

johanne kolstad hilda braskeruds ski jump vintage norway womenKolstad (left) toured the U.S. for five years in the mid-1930’s jumping at exhibitions. She was popular with fans and known as The Queen of Skis (or Skies) or The Wonder Girl.  Her 1938 world record jump of 72 meters at Berlin, New Hampshire remained unbroken until 1972.

johanne kolstad hilda braskeruds ski jump vintage norway womenAll vintage photos from the book Hopp, Jenter- Hopp! (Jump, Girls, Jump!) by Karin Berg.

sochi 2014 ski jump women japan sara takanashi Sara Takanshi of Japan in flight off the normal hill at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.  Photo:  AP/ Matthias Schrader

carina vogt germany sochi 2014 women ski jump champion gold medalFebruary 11, 2014 – Carina Vogt of Germany earned the first-ever Olympic gold medal awarded for women’s ski jumping.  Photo:  AP/ Matthias Schrader

sochi 2014 women ski jump daniela irashchko stolz austriaDaniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria flies over the Olympic rings.  Photo:  AP/ Matthias Schrader

Finally!  It seems crazy that this is a landmark in 2014 – but given that gender inequality has plagued ski jumping at the Olympic level – there is reason for celebration with the Sochi Winter Games.  The U.S. Women’s team — lead by World Champion Lindsey Van, Sarah Hendrickson and Jessica Jerome – has tirelessly fought for the inclusion of women’s ski jumping in the Olympics.  Tuesday, that became a reality.

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Ski Nikko: Occupied Japan 1949

Posted on August 1, 2013 by AlpineStyle56

kids ski lift nikko occupied japan army 1949 henry h soulen photoChildren riding the ski lift.  Now that is a different kind of double chair!

boys ski nikko occupied japan army 1949 henry h soulen photoChildren on the ski slope.

father son ski nikko occupied japan army 1949 henry h soulen photoSki time for father and son.

All photos by Capt. Henry H. Soulen, a U.S. Army officer stationed in Japan during the post-WWII occupation.  These photos are each labeled simply: Nikko City, 1949.

I love when I am able to uncover even just a little bit of the story behind a found photo:  Soulen was born in 1915, educated in finance at Wharton, served as a pilot in WWII, was an information and education specialist as part of the Army CID in Japan and Iraq, at some point worked in the film industry in New York City, was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and called the Maine coast home.

Soulen passed away in 2009 and his obituary includes the following:  He had a lifelong passion for photography and was a skilled photographer. During his travels, he would capture the local culture by photographing the people and landscape.  His passion and skill are certainly apparent in these photos – there is something a little different and truly special about these images — I am so thankful to have these in my collection and share them with you.

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Alta 1960: Chick Igaya & Jimmy Heuga

Posted on May 9, 2013 by AlpineStyle56

alta utah jimmy heuga chick igaya 1960February 1, 1960 AP Wire Photo reads:

ALPINE WINNERS:  In Alta, Utah – Chick Igaya (left), 28-year-old Olympic skier from Japan, and 16-year-old Jimmy Heuga of Tahoe City, Calif., beam after taking turns placing first and second in the giant slalom and slalom at the national alpine ski championships.  Igaya, former Dartmouth University star, won the giant slalom, Heuga second.  Heuga won the slalom, with Igaya second.

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