Clarence Lloyd Servold

Clarence L. Servold was an outstanding competitor, coach and administrator whose 35-year career spanned local, provincial, national and international levels.

His dedication to the sport was honoured by the International Olympic Committee when he was invited to light the Olympic flame at the Canmore Nordic Centre during the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

Born in Camrose, Alta., on March 28, 1927, Clarence rose to national prominence in 1948 when he became Canadian junior champion in nordic combined, cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

He represented Canada at the 1956 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, placing 19th in the 15-kilometre cross-country classic — the highest finish by any North American athlete. Invited again to the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, Calif., he competed in the 15 km and 30 km cross-country classic events as well as nordic combined. Career commitments forced him to decline an opportunity to compete at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

Clarence attended the University of Denver beginning in 1956. At the 1958 NCAA cross-country championships, he finished four minutes ahead of his nearest competitor. That December, the Denver Post called him “…the best cross-country man in college history.” He won the NCAA title again in 1959 and held the U.S. 15 km cross-country title in 1959 and 1960. In 2004, he was inducted into the University of Denver Ski Hall of Fame.

Returning to Canada in 1960, Clarence coached the Canadian nordic ski team at the world championships in Zakopane, Poland. In 1963, he became the first Canadian appointed to the FIS cross-country committee.

In 1964, Clarence remained competitively active, winning the Canadian nordic championships. Two years later, he coached the Canadian nordic team at the world championships in Oslo, Norway.

A professional engineer, Clarence contributed his expertise to ski facility development across Canada. He helped design Blackstrap Mountain in Saskatoon — site of the 1971 Canada Winter Games — planning mountain contours, ski facilities, cross-country courses and ski jumps. He also consulted on the design of the 1975 Canada Winter Games site in Lethbridge, Alta., and served as an official at the Games.

Clarence was involved in designing and redesigning ski jumps, ski lift installations and cross-country courses in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. He also advised the Canadian Ski Association and Sport Canada on a five-year plan to improve high-performance nordic combined skiing in Canada.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1948 – Canadian junior champion in nordic combined, cross-country skiing and ski jumping
• 1956 – 19th place, 15 km cross-country classic, Olympic Winter Games, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy — highest North American finish
• 1958 – NCAA cross-country champion, University of Denver; finished four minutes ahead of nearest competitor
• 1959 – NCAA cross-country champion; U.S. 15 km cross-country champion (also 1960)
• 1960 – Competed in 15 km, 30 km and nordic combined, Olympic Winter Games, Squaw Valley, Calif.; coached Canadian nordic ski team at world championships, Zakopane, Poland
• 1963 – First Canadian appointed to FIS cross-country committee
• 1964 – Won Canadian nordic championships
• 1966 – Coached Canadian nordic team at world championships, Oslo, Norway
• 1971 – Designed Blackstrap Mountain, Saskatoon, Sask., site of the Canada Winter Games
• 1975 – Consulted on design of Canada Winter Games site, Lethbridge, Alta.
• 1988 – Lit Olympic flame at Canmore Nordic Centre during Calgary Olympic Winter Games
• 1989 – Inducted into University of Denver Ski Hall of Fame

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.