The 1950 World Championships for Cross Country and Jumping were being held at Lake Placid, but all was not well. On January 28th the local paper wrote, "With the ground bare of snow here in town the possibility of some New England town coming up with the world's cross-country title events looms stronger hurly. Some decision must be reached within the next few days. Rumford ME and the Eastern Slopes region of NH with their present snow depths still dominate the conversations hereabouts."
To hold the jumping competition in Lake Placid workers pulverized 300 tons of ice from Cascade Lake and carried it by hand to the hill. That is 4,000 peach baskets of crushed ice carried up the hill in 50-degree temperatures. That would not work on an 50 km cross-country course.
Blackie Arsenault from Rumford summed it up by saying, "Lake Placid didn't have any snow and we had a pile of it, we were snowed in."
The decision was made. The Lewiston Daily Sun wrote, "Rumford citizens happily went to work today preparing to entertain the world championship cross country ski championships which have been transferred from Lake Placid. Chummy Broomhall president of the Chisholm ski Club called it a 'Tremendous thing' for Rumford." With 56 hours notice the Rumford community had to prepare for the world's best cross-country skiers and the World Championships.
There were not enough beds in local hotels for the expected four hundred skiers and coaches from nine countries. Town manager, Fred Howard urged townspeople to open their homes to help accommodate the skiers. The citizens of Rumford responded to the call and beds were found for everyone. Most of the hotels didn't charge the athletes.
There was also the issue of money; it is expensive to host an event of that size. A Citizens Committee put out a call for support. The Mayor of Portland told his city's businesses they did not need to help, let Rumford take care of it. The Citizens Committee reached their goal $6,500 was raised by donations to fund the expenses.
Wendall "Chummy" Broomhall, a Rumford native, had been in Lake Placid to race. He also worked to get the races moved to Rumford. Chummy organized a crew and prepared three racecourses. They saved some work by using the 18 km course as part of the 50 km race. The 40 km race was run on an entirely different course. The General Secretary of the Swedish Skiers Association said he was, "astonished to find such a good course and such good conditions in Maine." They were very pleased with the shift from Lake Placid.
The Chisolm Ski Club worked to pack the courses. Fresh snow and blowing winds the morning of the first race kept the crews busy. With twenty degree temperatures and the course in good shape the race was on. Beginning on Spruce Street there were many places spectators could watch and thousands came out to enjoy the races.
Friday night, after the first race, there was a Skiers Ball with the big band music of Lord Rafnell. Muriel Arsenault remembers that it was, "Sunset to sunrise. We danced all night. Many of the guys had to go to work in the mill that next day. I don't know how they did it." It was probably a good thing there were no races on Saturday.
Sunday was a 40 km team relay. With seven teams entered the race began with a seven person sprint down Spruce Street. At the end of the 100 yard straightaway the skier from Sweden was in front. That was the closest any of the teams got to the Swedes who won handily.
Monday was the 50 km ski marathon. The winds were light but snow fell constantly during the race. Gunnar Erickson stopped six times for a drink of warm water and honey but he led his Swedish teammates to a sweep of the top four spots.
Chummy Broomhall not only brought the races to Rumford, helped layout the courses and led the course preparation but he came in 23rd in the ski marathon, the second best US finish.
The town of Rumford had done it. On short notice they had hosted the World Championships of Cross Country skiing. Colonel N. R. Ostgaard, President of the FIS said the snow conditions were perfect and the technical details had been well handled. He added,
"The FIS is indeed indebted and grateful to the people of Rumford. We will never forget what you and the Chislom Ski and Outing club have achieved."
Glenn Parkinson also wrote
First Tracks - Stories from Maine's Skiing Heritage.
For more Maine Skiing history please select a title from the list below.
• Playing in the Great Snow Empire
• A hearty welcome is waiting for you in Fryeburg
• Hardy Veterans of the Waxed Runners Hurtle Into Space
• Rumford hosts the 1950 World Championships
