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| A Year of Indiana History - 2016 |
Ski slides became popular in the area around Chicago during the 1920's and the rolling dunes of northwestern Indiana were ideal terrain for the construction of "ski slides."
Ski Slides
Ski slides were huge slides with a tower at the apex that allowed skiers to ski down the slide and, using the speed built up during their swift descent and the steep angle of the slide, to vault into flight.
Largest in the World
The 1930-31 National Ski Association Year Book declared, "The new steel ski slide erected by the Ogden Dunes Ski Club is the tallest . . . all steel structure in America today . . ." The Grand Beach Ski Club planned a tower of 240 feet. However, the company that contracted to build the tower did not have the structure completed in time for the January 22 meet. The meet took place on a tower that was only 150 feet tall. The eventual height of the completed tower was 192 feet. The longest jump off this structure was 195 feet.
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© Paul Wonning
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