Steve Collins

Steve Collins, from Fort William First Nation on the outskirts of Thunder Bay, represented Canada in ski jumping at the Winter Olympics and on the World Cup circuit for nearly a decade.

A March 7, 1981 Today magazine article titled “Flying High” described Collins as “one of the best ski jumpers alive, perhaps the most extraordinary prodigy the sport has known,” noting that “his trail is littered with broken records.”

Collins joined the World Cup circuit during the 1979–80 season as a 15-year-old and competed in major international events at Big Thunder in January 1980. The following month he headed to Lake Placid and became an Olympian, highlighted by his ninth-place finish in the men’s large hill event. That March, Collins earned his first World Cup win in Lahti, Finland, shortly after being crowned world junior champion.

He went on to compete at Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988 and, alongside friend and teammate Horst Bulau, ensured Canada maintained a steady, successful presence in elite international ski jumping for a decade.

Collins also held a world record for the longest jump on a 90-metre hill — 128.5 metres at Thunder Bay on Dec. 15, 1980. After his competitive career, he returned to Fort William and played a major role at the 1995 world nordic ski championships hosted at Big Thunder, only the second time the event had been held outside Europe. Collins was given the honour of lighting the official flame.

He had a short but impressive career, representing Canada and Fort William proudly.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 1980 — 1st ski jumping, World Cup, Lahti, Finland; 1st world ski flying title, Harrachov, Czechoslovakia; 12th overall in World Cup standings (out of 101 competitors); 1st jumping event, International Tournee, Thunder Bay, Ont., with the largest point total ever recorded in 90-metre competition; 1st ski jumping, World Junior Championships; 1st ski jumping, Canadian National Senior Jumping Championships.
• 1980–1988 — Competed at Lake Placid 1980, Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics; held the world record for longest jump on a 90-metre hill (128.5 m, Thunder Bay, Dec. 15, 1980).
• 1995 — Lit the official flame at the world nordic ski championships at Big Thunder.

Note: Information compiled from several sources; may not include all accomplishments. © Canadian Ski Museum & Hall of Fame. For personal/educational use only. All rights reserved.