Karl Martitsch

An accomplished international athlete and influential official, Karl Martitsch helped shape ski jumping and nordic skiing in Canada and abroad.

Born in Ratnitz, Austria, in 1917, Karl competed on the Austrian national team for 12 years as a “four-way” skier—downhill, slalom, cross-country and ski jumping. Over a competitive career spanning 25 years, he won about 360 trophies and prizes.

Karl first gained prominence in the 1930s and ’40s. In 1936–37, he was junior slalom champion and runner-up in combined (downhill and jumping) at the Austrian junior championships. In 1946, he became nordic champion of the Austrian universities, and in 1947, he won a bronze medal in ski jumping at the Universities World Championships. He represented Austria in the nordic combined at the 1948 Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and again at the 1950 World Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. From 1946 to 1949, he also served as the Austrian universities’ representative for ski sports.

Karl settled permanently in Canada in 1951, working as a civil engineer. He was instrumental in building Canada’s first 70-metre ski jump at Hiawatha Park in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. It was during this time that he became actively involved with the Canadian Ski Association.

In 1963, Karl began representing Canada with the International Ski Federation (FIS), serving on its subcommittee for ski jumping hills. In 1969, he was appointed to the FIS Jumping Committee. A respected international judge, he officiated at major ski jumping competitions around the world.

In 1974, the FIS selected Karl as a technical expert to evaluate Lake Placid’s suitability for hosting the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. He later oversaw the development of major Olympic venues. In 1980, he was involved in designing the 86-metre and 114-metre ski jumps at Lake Placid, N.Y. In 1988, he oversaw the construction of the 30-metre, 50-metre, 89-metre and 144-metre jumps at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary for the XV Olympic Winter Games. And in 1995, he contributed to the world-class 90-metre and 120-metre ski jumps in Thunder Bay, Ont., for the World Nordic Championships.

In 1979, Karl was nominated by Canada and elected to the FIS Council, where he served for 13 years overseeing all skiing disciplines. At the national level, he held leadership positions on the Canadian Ski Association’s nordic and jumping boards and served on both the board and executive committee.

Career Highlights

• 1936–37 – Junior slalom champion and runner-up in combined, Austrian junior championships
• 1946 – Nordic champion, Austrian universities
• 1947 – Bronze medal, ski jumping, Universities World Championships
• 1948 – Competed in nordic combined, Olympic Winter Games, St. Moritz, Switzerland
• 1950 – Competed in nordic combined, World Championships, Lake Placid, N.Y.
• 1946–49 – Austrian universities’ representative for ski sports
• 1951 – Emigrated to Canada; helped build first 70-metre ski jump at Hiawatha Park, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
• 1963 – Began representing Canada with the International Ski Federation (FIS)
• 1969 – Appointed to the FIS Jumping Committee
• 1974 – Selected as FIS technical expert for Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games
• 1980 – Technical lead on 86-metre and 114-metre ski jumping complex, Lake Placid, N.Y.
• 1988 – Contributed to development of 30-metre, 50-metre, 89-metre and 144-metre ski jumps, Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, Alta.
• 1995 – Helped design 90-metre and 120-metre ski jumps, Thunder Bay, Ont., site of the World Nordic Championships
• 1979–1992 – Member of the FIS Council, representing Canada internationally

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.