"Aude Volare" -- Dare to Fly! New Heights, Online the electronic newsletter of Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Spring 2005 Issue

Arthur, age 28, in 1951 Arthur Emil Tokle (1922-2005) Former Olympic ski jumper and coach Art Tokle Sr. of Lake Telemark, NJ died Thursday, March 3, 2005 at age 82. Arthur Tokle was born in Lokken-Verk, Norway August 16, 1922 and came to the U.S. in 1947. He was U.S. jumping champion in 1951 and 1953 and competed in the 1952 Olympics in Oslo. He was a member of the 1960 Olympic team and three World Championships Teams and was the jumping coach for the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Teams. Art was the last survivor of a triumvirate, with Merrill (Mezzy) Barber and Art Devlin, of great Eastern U.S. jumpers. Art's brother Torger Tokle, also born in Norway, became one of the greatest U.S. jumping champions, and Arthur died 60 years to the day after Torger was killed in combat with the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division in Italy. Both are members of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame. After his coaching days, Art remained a great friend and supporter of ski jumping, attending many Eastern competitions and assisting with coaching and hill preparation. He directed a Nordic ski program at Great Gorge NJ Ski area, served as regional representative for Swix ski wax, and co-authored a book “The Complete Guide to Cross Country Skiing”. During the 1970's, he was many times Chief of the Hill on the old 1932 Olympic jump in Lake Placid, including for the 1972 World University Games, and he again held that title at the 1980 Olympic Games. With all his success in ski jumping, Art remained close to the common folks and always had a good word for every ski jumper, even the most inept. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Oddfrid, a son, longtime jumper and ski official Art Jr., daughter Vivian Lynch, a sister, plus grandchildren, great-grandchildren. The family asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Eastern Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Foundation, Inc. Olympic Jumping Complex, 52 Ski Jump Lane, Lake Placid, N.Y. 12946; or the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 508 Green Pond Road, Rockaway Township, N.J. 07866.   Much later, 1968 in Lake Placid   Oddfrid Tokle, 34 Whippoorwill Ln Rockaway, NJ, 07866-4222 (973) 627-7336 Art Tokle, Jr., 4 Troll Lane Rockaway, NJ, 07866 (973) 625-1973, atoklejr@att.net

STONEY'S CORNER
by Larry Stone, NYSEF/Eastern Jumping Coach

At this writing things look like they are progressing in Lake Placid’s effort to upgrade their K-48 to a K-65 meter hill. As anyone who went to Junior Olympics this year saw, that size hill is such an important resource to elevate the skill levels of our junior flyers. This year’s JO’s also saw a resurgence of Eastern girls with Faye Stratford, Ariel Picton and Tara Garrity/Moetz representing the East and the Lussi girls waiting in the wings for next year’s JO’s to give us a really good group of Eastern Women jumpers not seen since the mid to late 90’s when the group of Lindsey Van, Liz Szotyori, Molly Stone and Marie Pierre Morin made Lake Placid the center of women’s jumping. It seems the East is on a roll so after a short spring break, it will be time to hit the hills again to get ready for an even better year next winter. Good Job Eastern jumpers, combiners, coaches, officials and organizers!

Two Stories from Young Jumpers

By Nina Lussi, age ten

Between the Colors ...
by Dan "Mouse" Warner

This issue’s piece is a bit different than I usually pen. Being involved in the ski jumping community for about 40 years or so, you see a lot of people come and go. Some you remember and some you don't. There are those that have it ingrained into them. It's part of their fabric. A Legend.

In this country there are most likely only a handful of people that even come close. Across the pond there are hundreds. It's the way you grow up. Skiing is a way of life. It's what they do. Until recently, you jumped for the sport of it, because it was fun. Few have ever ascended to Star status.

One person in my eyes has made it to that level. And really not because of his skiing accomplishments which, are as good as anyone's in this country, but because, he cared about others and their well being. Olympic athlete, Olympic coach, U.S. Team coach, Eastern coach, Judge, T.D., father of a jumper, husband, dad to a daughter. Uncle, friend and mentor and the list goes on. It's amazing that one person could do so much.

On a recent trip to Utah the year before the 2002 Olympics he went along with the Eastern hill prep guy's. Some were performing special tasks as a warm up to the Games, others were just along for the trip. So they thought. We all stayed in the same place about 30 miles from the hill. Well the weather was warm and we were up at 4 am headed to the jump each day and we were out each night. Never heard a complaint once from him.

The skiers were always on his mind. That year he was asked to give out the awards at the banquet. It was a proud moment. Little did the jumpers know, but he knew how they did on every jump. And he could tell you as well. If you were a dad, he would ask you how your son or daughter was doing. He cared.

My most fond memory was in the early 70's at training camps in Brattleboro Vt. during vacation week. He was the coach. He would have a coach’s whistle in one side of his mouth and a pipe in the other side. When he was ready for you to go the whistle blew and most often, out came a puff of smoke. This man was loved by many, respected by many and will be missed by many.
Long flights, Art Tokle Sr.

Mouse