Irvin Servold
Nordic Combined & Cross-Country Skiing Athlete — Inducted 1980
Irvin B. Servold was one of Alberta’s most accomplished Nordic skiers and a major contributor to the development of cross-country skiing and Nordic combined competition in Canada. As both a competitor and sport administrator, Servold helped advance Nordic skiing at the provincial, national, and international levels.
Born November 14, 1932, in Camrose, Alberta, Servold began skiing at a young age and quickly demonstrated exceptional talent in cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events. His competitive success began early when he captured a Canadian Junior National Championship in 1950, the first of many national honours during his career.
Servold represented Canada internationally throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. He competed in the Individual Nordic Combined event at the 1956 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Four years later, he again represented Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California, competing in the Nordic Combined as well as the 15-kilometre and 30-kilometre cross-country skiing events.
During his competitive career, Servold earned national championships in Nordic Combined, including titles in 1955 and again later in 1972, demonstrating remarkable longevity in elite competition. He also achieved significant success in collegiate competition, winning cross-country skiing titles in 1958, 1959, and 1961, while also placing third in ski jumping competition.
Builder, Coach, and Administrator
Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Servold played an influential leadership role in developing Nordic skiing programs across Canada.
He served multiple terms as Chairman of Canada’s National Cross-Country Ski Program and later as National Nordic Combined Chairman. At the provincial level, he acted as Alberta Technical Chairman and Jumping Chairman, helping organize competitions and athlete development initiatives.
Servold was instrumental in establishing certification programs for cross-country ski instructors, strengthening coaching standards and expanding participation in the sport nationwide.
His administrative contributions extended across numerous organizations including:
- Canadian Olympic Association
- Coaching Association of Canada
- Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors
- Canadian Ski Association (CSA)
He served on national Nordic Combined and Cross-Country program committees and worked as a technical advisor for both jumping and cross-country skiing.
Servold also acted as Chief of Competition at several Canadian national championships and served as a technical delegate and judge at major ski events, including international competitions in Lahti, Finland.
As part of his Olympic involvement, he assisted in evaluating venues during the successful Calgary bid for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and contributed to Nordic World Ski Championship planning in Oslo, Norway.
In coaching roles, Servold instructed national coaching courses and worked with Alberta provincial teams as well as Canadian national teams competing internationally, including events in Sapporo, Japan, and pre-Olympic Nordic competitions in Sarajevo.
After Induction
Servold continued contributing to sport development and athlete education long after his competitive career ended.
- 2001 — Received Augustana’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of his contributions to sport and community leadership.
- 2012 — Inducted, alongside his brother Clarence Servold, into the University of Alberta Augustana Campus Vikings Wall of Fame in Camrose as part of the inaugural class.
Irvin Servold remains recognized as a pioneer of Nordic skiing in Alberta and Canada whose influence extended far beyond competition through coaching, administration, and international sport development.
