Davos became a key hub for ski jumping in the early 20th century, highlighted by Harald Smith’s record jump of 45 meters in 1909. Despite a mishap, his brother Trygve reached 46 meters. The Smith brothers, renowned for their skiing techniques and innovations, contributed significantly to the sport in Switzerland. Harald later settled in Bad Ragaz, promoting skiing and golf, and lived a long life, passing away in 1977. Their legacy endures in skiing history and local culture.
Davos: The Early Days of Ski Jumping
It may seem surprising today, but at the dawn of the 20th century, Davos emerged as a vibrant center for the global ski jumping community. The Bolgenschanze, inaugurated on February 28, 1909, marked a historic moment with the first-ever ski flying world record achieved on Swiss soil.
Norwegian ski jumper Harald Smith captivated a crowd of 1,200 spectators with a remarkable jump of 45 meters, surpassing his own previous record set just a week earlier in Bardonecchia. Notably, Smith played a significant role in constructing the jump in Piedmont that bore his name.
His younger brother, Trygve, managed to soar even further at Davos, reaching 46 meters. Unfortunately, his landing was tumultuous, resulting in a broken ski tip and his record not being acknowledged. Reports from the time highlight that the impact was so severe that it caused the ski to fracture.
Hjalmar, the eldest Smith brother, also took to the skies, and together, these pioneering siblings contributed significantly to the legacy of Swiss skiing. Artifacts detailing their achievements can be found at the Ski Museum in Bad Ragaz, where the founder has meticulously chronicled Harald Smith’s journey.
The Smith Brothers: Pioneers of Skiing in Switzerland
Around 1905, the Smith brothers were invited to Switzerland, where their expertise in skiing was highly sought after, given Norway’s advanced techniques in the sport. They excelled in various skiing disciplines back home, with Harald being the proud recipient of the prestigious Holmenkollen medal, an accolade awarded by the Swedish king.
The brothers’ educational backgrounds were impressive; Harald had a navy service and an architecture degree. Yet, they found their passion in ski instruction, particularly in regions like the Engadin and the Bernese Oberland. Harald even acted as a promoter for Karl Molitor, a notable winner of the Lauberhorn races in Wengen.
Their clientele ranged from locals to military troops, royalty, and nobility, making their ski courses immensely popular. An interesting detail from that era is that advertisements promised “light and heating” included with hotel bookings.
In St. Moritz, the brothers not only showcased innovative skiing techniques, such as slalom and ski-joring, but also established a ski manufacturing business. They focused on enhancing ski bindings, addressing the common issue of skis becoming loose during jumps.
To protect their inventions, the Smiths promptly filed patents and showcased their products at the Swiss National Exhibition of 1914 in Bern. By that time, their manufacturing had moved to Diessenhofen in Thurgau and later to Upper Austria.
As time went on, Trygve carved out his own path, competing in the 1912 Olympic Games as a tennis player and advising a French baroness on establishing a ski resort in Megève, inspired by St. Moritz.
Legacy of Harald Smith: A Lasting Impact
In 1931, Davos witnessed another ski flying world record, this time achieved by Sigmund Ruud, a fellow Norwegian who jumped 81.5 meters on a newly constructed Bolgenschanze. Harald Smith likely observed with interest as a new generation of ski flyers emerged, including local talent Andreas Däscher, who revolutionized the sport with a new jumping technique in the 1950s.
Smith eventually settled in Switzerland, spending his later years in Bad Ragaz, where he sold Norwegian sports equipment and continued to teach skiing and tennis well into his eighties. His wife, a Viennese, operated a local shop, contributing to the community.
Harald Smith also played a crucial role in the development of the local golf club in Bad Ragaz, which faced challenges during World War II when crops were planted on the greens to ensure food supply. After the war, the golf club thrived, and Smith took on the role of golf pro, providing lessons and overseeing operations.
The Bolgenschanzen in Davos did not endure, with the newer structure closing in the mid-1960s due to a lack of funds for necessary renovations. Remarkably, Harald Smith lived well beyond the lifespan of these jumps, maintaining good health well into his late years. Just before his passing in the spring of 1977, he shared that he still walked to the train station at nearly 98 to grab his favorite sports newspaper.
Ultimately, while Harald made significant contributions to skiing, he would not claim the title of the longest-lived in his family, as his older brother Hjalmar surpassed the century mark.