Irvin Servold

Irvin Servold was a significant contributor to Canadian skiing for most of his life, serving with the Canadian Olympic Association (COA), the Coaching Association of Canada and as a past member of the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors.

An influential member of the Canadian Ski Association (CSA), Irvin chaired both the jumping and cross-country committees in Alberta. At the national level, he served on the nordic combined and cross-country committees. He was also a technical advisor to several committees and worked as chief of competition for the national cross-country, jumping, nordic combined and senior cross-country championships.

Irvin also served on the jury at a number of national cross-country and ski jumping events, including competition in Lahti, Finland. He was a technical delegate to national ski championships and the Canada Winter Games.

His involvement with the Canadian Olympic Committee included, in 1978, participating in site selection for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. He was also a member of the study group for the nordic world championships in Oslo, Norway.

As a coach, Irvin instructed at national coaches’ courses in cross-country skiing and led both Alberta teams and national teams in cross-country, ski jumping and nordic combined. His international experience included work at the Myasma Ski Games in Sapporo, Japan, the pre-Olympic nordic competitions in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, and the World Cup nordic combined circuit in Scandinavia.

In a distinguished competitive career, Irvin represented Canada at the 1956 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, competing in nordic combined. Four years later, he returned to the national team at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, Calif., competing in the 15-km and 30-km classic and the nordic combined.

Irvin began skiing competitively in 1939 at the age of seven and went on to capture multiple Alberta titles in cross-country, ski jumping and nordic combined. At the national level, he won the nordic combined championship in 1955 and 1962.

He also stood out in international intercollegiate competition, placing third in ski jumping in 1958 and winning cross-country skiing titles in 1958, 1959 and 1961. He competed in nordic combined and in U.S. cross-country relay events as well.

In 1980, his outstanding contribution to sport was recognized with induction into the Alberta Hall of Fame.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1955 — Canadian champion, nordic combined
• 1956 — Competed at Olympic Winter Games, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (nordic combined)
• 1958 — 3rd, ski jumping, international intercollegiate championships; 1st, cross-country skiing, international intercollegiate championships
• 1959 — 1st, cross-country skiing, international intercollegiate championships
• 1960 — Competed at Olympic Winter Games, Squaw Valley, U.S.A. (15-km, 30-km, nordic combined)
• 1961 — 1st, cross-country skiing, international intercollegiate championships
• 1962 — Canadian champion, nordic combined
• 1971 — Technical advisor, national cross-country committee (CCC)
• 1974 — Program committee chair, Cross Country Canada
• 1975 — Nordic combined chair, Cross Country Canada
• 1982–83 — Nordic combined chair, Cross Country Canada
• 1986 — Vice-chair, officials, Cross Country Canada
• 1980 — Inducted into Alberta 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.