History
Norwegian nordic athlete Sondre Nordheim is credited with the first officially measured ski jump in 1860. The first ski jumping contest was held in Trysil, Norway, in 1862. Throughout the mid-1800’s, ski jumping was part of ski carnivals in Norway, but the sport gained added prestige when, in 1892, the Norwegian royal family decided to donate the “King’s Cup” trophy to the winner of the annual meet held in Holmenkollen.
The sport was brought to the United States by Norwegian emigrants, and the first ski jumping meet in the U.S took place Feb. 8, 1887. It was won by Norwegian emigrant Mikkel Hemmestvedt.