Erich Windisch
Encyclopedia
Erich Alfred Windisch was a German Olympic
ski jumper who developed in 1949 the jumping technique in which the jumper’s arms are slightly arched and pointing downward. Windisch's technique
modified the previously popular Kongsberger technique
and it was the standard form in elite jumping competition until the current standard V-style
technique was developed by Jan Boklöv
in 1985.
During World War II
, Windisch was a captain in the German army’s mountain troops, serving in Russia
. After the war, he taught the Mountain Troops of the 3rd US Army. He later was the director of a ski school at Schneefernerhaus
on Zugspitze
near Garmisch.
In 1949, Windisch was pivotal in the evolution of ski jumping, changing the forward arm movement for balance, to a position of arms alongside the body. He had to do so because of a dislocated shoulder, which forced him to jump with his hands at his sides. He won the Bavarian championship in 1949 using the new style and the new position was adopted by other skiers who realized it improved aerodynamics. Scientific tests made in a wind tunnel in Switzerland proved the arms-down style was better than the then-current Kongsberger technique
. The technique was the standard form used by elite jumpers until the introduction of the V-style
in 1985 by Jan Boklöv
of Sweden
.
Windisch’s best jump was 337 feet, at Oberstdorf
in 1950. He held the world record in water ski jumping
, also in 1950.
Windisch was a member of the German Olympic team in both ski jumping and Nordic combined
for the 1952 Games
in Oslo
, Norway
, but he again dislocated his shoulder and was dropped out of the competition.
In 1957, he moved to Colorado
and was a ski teacher there for more than 50 years — 39 of them at Vail. In 1994, he was named Ski Instructor of the Year by Colorado Ski Country USA and inducted into the Colorado Ski Museum Hall of Fame. In 2005, Windisch was inducted into the Veteran’s Professional Ski Instructors Association.
Windisch also studied architecture and built three houses - one in Vail and two in Dillon, Colorado
. Windisch did oil paintings and had an annual showing at the Vail Library. His paintings mostly were of mountains, in the United States and in Europe.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
ski jumper who developed in 1949 the jumping technique in which the jumper’s arms are slightly arched and pointing downward. Windisch's technique
Windisch technique
The Windisch technique is a ski jumping technique that was created by Erich Windisch of Germany in 1949. This technique was a modification of the Kongsberger technique. In the Windisch technique, the jumper’s arms are placed backward toward the hips for a closer lean...
modified the previously popular Kongsberger technique
Kongsberger technique
The Kongsberger technique in ski jumping was created in Kongsberg, Norway by Jacob Tullin Thams and Sigmund Ruud. The technique was developed after World War I, and was characterized by the upper body being bent at the hip, and arms extended at the front with the skis parallel to each other...
and it was the standard form in elite jumping competition until the current standard V-style
V-style
The V-style of ski jumping was created by Miroslaw Graf, a Polish ski jumper from Szklarska Poreba. As early as 1969 Graf discovered the style as a kid, but later his colleagues were laughing at his jumps....
technique was developed by Jan Boklöv
Jan Boklöv
Jan Mauritz Boklöv is one of the most successful Swedish ski jumpers of all time, probably only rivaled by Sven Selånger. He won the World Cup in 1988/89, and dominated the Swedish championships in the late 1980s. He is however most known for inventing the V-style, which has been the standard...
in 1985.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Windisch was a captain in the German army’s mountain troops, serving in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. After the war, he taught the Mountain Troops of the 3rd US Army. He later was the director of a ski school at Schneefernerhaus
Schneefernerhaus
The Schneefernerhaus is a former hotel in the Alps, that is now used as an environmental research station. It lies immediately below the summit of the Zugspitze at a height of 2,650 m and was opened on 20 June 1931. It used to house the top station of the Bavarian Zugspitze Railway as well as a...
on Zugspitze
Zugspitze
The Zugspitze, at 2,962 metres above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest mountain in Germany. It lies south of the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the border between Germany and Austria runs over its western summit. South of the mountain is...
near Garmisch.
In 1949, Windisch was pivotal in the evolution of ski jumping, changing the forward arm movement for balance, to a position of arms alongside the body. He had to do so because of a dislocated shoulder, which forced him to jump with his hands at his sides. He won the Bavarian championship in 1949 using the new style and the new position was adopted by other skiers who realized it improved aerodynamics. Scientific tests made in a wind tunnel in Switzerland proved the arms-down style was better than the then-current Kongsberger technique
Kongsberger technique
The Kongsberger technique in ski jumping was created in Kongsberg, Norway by Jacob Tullin Thams and Sigmund Ruud. The technique was developed after World War I, and was characterized by the upper body being bent at the hip, and arms extended at the front with the skis parallel to each other...
. The technique was the standard form used by elite jumpers until the introduction of the V-style
V-style
The V-style of ski jumping was created by Miroslaw Graf, a Polish ski jumper from Szklarska Poreba. As early as 1969 Graf discovered the style as a kid, but later his colleagues were laughing at his jumps....
in 1985 by Jan Boklöv
Jan Boklöv
Jan Mauritz Boklöv is one of the most successful Swedish ski jumpers of all time, probably only rivaled by Sven Selånger. He won the World Cup in 1988/89, and dominated the Swedish championships in the late 1980s. He is however most known for inventing the V-style, which has been the standard...
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Windisch’s best jump was 337 feet, at Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
in 1950. He held the world record in water ski jumping
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, also in 1950.
Windisch was a member of the German Olympic team in both ski jumping and Nordic combined
Nordic combined
The Nordic combined is a winter sport in which athletes compete in both cross-country skiing and ski jumping.- History :While Norwegian soldiers are known to have been competing in Nordic skiing since the 19th century, the first major competition in Nordic combined was held in 1892 in Oslo at the...
for the 1952 Games
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, but he again dislocated his shoulder and was dropped out of the competition.
In 1957, he moved to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and was a ski teacher there for more than 50 years — 39 of them at Vail. In 1994, he was named Ski Instructor of the Year by Colorado Ski Country USA and inducted into the Colorado Ski Museum Hall of Fame. In 2005, Windisch was inducted into the Veteran’s Professional Ski Instructors Association.
Windisch also studied architecture and built three houses - one in Vail and two in Dillon, Colorado
Dillon, Colorado
Dillon is a home rule municipality in Summit County, Colorado, United States. The population was 802 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dillon is located at ....
. Windisch did oil paintings and had an annual showing at the Vail Library. His paintings mostly were of mountains, in the United States and in Europe.