Evangelizing A Sport

Authentic American Alpine

We traveled to the heartland of Skiing in America. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is rich with ski history when Scandinavian immigrants introduced, taught, and evangelized the sport throughout the country.

Skiing in the United States was delivered into the arms of Americans by Scandinavian immigrants who introduced, taught, and evangelized the sport throughout the country during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. When married with quintessential curiosity, an embedded “can-do” spirit, and a natural American bravado, the sport was readily adopted by adrenaline junkies eager to test their edges and fortitude in downhill flight. Recognizing a shared set of culture values and a collective need for speed, the National Ski Association (NSA) was formed in Ishpeming, Michigan in 1905. Honing both the organization and
the competitiveness of its members and participants, the NSA recognized the first Americans to ski under the flag of the United States in international competition in 1928. From Gretchen Fraser’s first American gold medal at the ’48 games in Switzerland to Billy Kid’s first male medal at Innsbruck in ’64, the legends and
moments that have followed have placed American go-for-glory guts on display for the world which remains a living legacy celebrated every 4 years.

First a hotbed of ski jumping competitions in which first generation Americans tested their verve and nerve in flight and then home to the founding of the National Ski Association in 1905, Ishpeming Michigan was the original proving ground of American downhill prowess.  A ski-mad population which sparked and fueled the sport’s expansion, it was Ishpeming and the Ishpeming Ski Club itself on which the foundation of United States competitive skiing was to properly organized and ultimately galvanized. Turning passion into world beating competitiveness, the National Ski Association of Ishpeming was to recognized the first Americans to ski under the flag of the United States in international competition in 1928. Forged by a skiing values and a collective need for speed, Ishpeming Michigan is forever linked with the birth of U.S. Skiing and the legendary moments that have followed which have placed American go-for-glory guts on display for the world.

Honoring the origins of American downhilling, Alps & Meters is proud to present the Authentic American Alpine Collection made in the USA. Four knitwear pieces, blended with ultra soft cashmere and merino yarns, these classic racing silhouettes have been designed with a red-white-&-blue signature expression across the collection regaling the alpine heritage of Ishpeming as what would become the birthplace of the United States Ski Team.

All knitwear is vailable for pre-order now and expected to arrive starting in mid-November. #designedbytradition

John Kusz, Copper Peak in Ironwood, MI. John started jumping when he was just five years old in his backyard after his father built him a little ski jump. With a dream to some day to jump the famous Copper Peak, John graduated in his ski jumping abilities as he got older. 1978, John finally achieved that dream as he jumped Copper Peak and thereafter 24 more times until 1981.

1905 Ski Patch represents the year the National Ski Association was founded in Ishpeming, MI.

Pictured above is our Ski Race Knit Ishpeming.