Curators Note- CHESTER BOWL after its glory days but before the towers came down in 2014. The Duluth, MN jumps spawned hundreds of jumpers and produced many Olympians and national champions. There is an upward swell in the midwest in youth participation and clubs mentioned by Darryl, like Cloquet, now have active and in some cases new small hills!
DARRYL LANDSTROM
Duluth, MN
darryl@dlandstrom.com
Chester Park Ski Club
Once the pride of junior ski jumping, the Chester Park Ski Club had a membership in excess of 100 junior athletes, the largest in the Upper Midwest. The resident manager of Chester Bowl, Walter Mattson, was a friend and father-like figure to many of us who were fortunate to be a part of the ski club. Preparing the jumps was an experience in the 60’s with truckloads of snow dumped at the top of the landing requiring the athletes and coaches to physically push and pack the landing and fill in the jump using gunny sacks filled by hand. Training was available most evenings on the 30 meter jump under the lights and both Big and Little Chester on the weekends often involving upwards of 50 jumpers. Many jumpers departed on the weekends for competitions in locations like Cloquet, Coleraine, Hibbing, Minneapolis and St. Paul with the unforgettable words of encouragement from Walter, “bring home the bacon boys.”
I have many fond memories ski jumping including the many friendships forged during my teenage years. Having the opportunity to jump along side Adrian Watt, Greg Swor, and Ken Harkins not to mention watching Gene and Glen Kotlarek at the top of their career’s competiting in the international competitions at Fondulac in Western Duluth. Chester Park Ski Club jumpers also participated in tournaments in Ishpeming, Iron Mountain, Westby and Madison and brought significant recognition to the club and the city of Duluth.
Unfortunately, the community efforts to save the iconic ski jumps at Chester Bowl were not enough to save Big and Little Chester. The jumps were torn down August 18-19, 2014 and with them, the legacy of ski jumping at Chester Park. When visiting Duluth, I often drive through the Chester Park area to reflect on the memories of my youth and the values the sport of ski jumping provided me at a very impressionable period of my life. While the jumps are gone, the legacy of the Chester Park Ski Club lives on.
Darryl Landstrom
Alpine Sport Committee Chair
U.S. Ski and Snowboard
952-941-9400 Office
612-770-0320 Cell
CHESTER BOWL used to draw in the crowds for competitions as seen in this undated photo.
There’s still alpine skiing at Chester Bowl. And this fossil of the old trestle remains.
