Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Sep 8, 2009, 7:16 pm
The U.S.S.R., which had dominated the speed skating competition in the 1956 Games at Cortina, continued to display great power in the events at Squaw Valley. Russia's two greatest stars in speed s...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Sep 4, 2009, 6:28 pm
As was the case at Cortina in 1956, American athletes were most prominent in the figure skating competition. Closest rivals to the Americans were representatives from Canada.Barbara A. Wagner and Robe...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Aug 31, 2009, 3:41 pm
Work on the McKinney Creek Stadium began in August, 1959. It was rectangular, 250 meters long and 45 meters wide, although in some spots it was only 34 meters wide. The stadium area contained a Timin...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Aug 28, 2009, 5:45 pm
The Blyth Memorial ArenaHub of all skating activity at the VIII Olympic Winter Games was, of course, the Blyth Memorial Arena. The theme building of the Games which had won a national award for progre...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Aug 27, 2009, 5:27 pm
The biathlon, a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship, was included in the Squaw Valley program, marking the first time the event had ever been held in an Olympic Winter Games. Bi...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Aug 25, 2009, 4:35 pm
The cross-country ski races were held at McKinney Creek, approximately 12 miles south of Squaw Valley on Highway 89. The start and finish area was only about 1000 feet off the highway and easily acces...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Jul 3, 2009, 5:58 pm
The 80-meter special jumping, which provided the last day crowd with some of the Games' most exciting moments, resulted in an easy victory for Germany's Helmut Recknagel. Each of the 45 compe...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Jul 3, 2009, 5:53 pm
The Olympic Jumping Hill at Squaw Valley was designed by Heini Klopfer of Oberstdorf, Germany, who is the foremost authority in the world on design. Klopfer designed the hill in the spring of 1957.The...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Jul 3, 2009, 5:45 pm
Austria and France were the dominant countries in the men's Alpine events, while the United States won most of the medals in the ladies' Alpine races. Austria was particularly outstanding in t...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Jul 3, 2009, 5:34 pm
Four cameramen covered the slalom competitions in case of any protests against a gatekeeper's decision. Their film was available to the juries 30 minutes after each race. These films, incidentally...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Jul 3, 2009, 5:26 pm
Bleachers were provided at all finish areas for competitors, team officials, coaches, press, photographers and dignitaries. Capacity was 400, except for the bleachers at the men's downhill, where ...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Jul 3, 2009, 5:16 pm
There was a steady build-up in the hiring of labor for the Alpine events. By January of 1960, there were a foreman and 25 civilian laborers and 150 Marines, and by February, 1960 there were 25 additio...
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Julianna Otto posted an article on Olympic California - Jul 3, 2009, 4:45 pm
After Squaw Valley was awarded the VIII Olympic Winter Games, the Organizing Committee hired an outstanding staff to assure proper staging of the Alpine Events. In June, 1958, Willy J. Schaeffler, ski...
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