Jim Burkholder (2015) - Hall of Fame - Western Colorado University Athletics

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Jim Burkholder

Class
Induction

2015
Sport(s)

Skiing

Lifetime Athletic Achievement Award recipient Jim Burkholder is a pioneer in Alaska's Nordic skiing scene. Burkholder was born in Denver, Colorado on Aug. 4, 1942 but attended West High School in Anchorage, Alaska.

An all-around athlete in high school, Burkholder participated in track, football and skiing. However, it was skiing he would pursue at the collegiate level.

After spending the 1961-62 season as Western's ski team manager, Burkholder skied for the Mountaineers from 1963-66 under Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame Coach Sven Wiik. Burkholder helped lead Western to a second place finish at the NCAA Division I Skiing Championships in 1966.

While at Western, Burkholder was named to the Winter Carnival court, was the Senior Class President and was a representative on student congress.

After earning his bachelor's degree in 1966, Burkholder pursued his master's degree and helped coach the Mountaineer skiers from 1970-71.

When Burkholder returned to Alaska he began fostering cross country skiing in Anchorage. A true friend of the sport, Burkholder has spent uncounted hours designing, developing, lobbying, lighting, maintaining and grooming cross country ski trails throughout Anchorage.

"I want to let you know that behind the titles and race results is a man who has spent and continues to spend thousands upon thousands of hours doing the little things that need to be done on a weekly or monthly basis to continue to build Anchorage into the skiing destination that it is today," former Olympian Adam Verrier said in his nomination letter. "Western State Colorado University Department of Athletics should be very proud of graduates such as Jim Burkholder, for it is people like Mr. Burkholder who pass on the love of sport to younger generations and create opportunities for younger athletes to pursue their own goals and dreams."

Burkholder's coaching experience includes:

Mears JH XC Ski Coach 1968-70
Dimond HS XC Ski Coach 1971-72
University of Alaska Head Ski and XC Running Coach 1972-1976
Coach Alaska Junior National XC Ski Team 1970,1972
Assistant coach US Ski Team Central Europe Tour 1974
Coach and Team Leader US Ski Team Swedish Tour 1978
Coach and World Junior Team Leader Mt ST Anne 1979
Coach and World Junior Team Leader Ornskoldsvik, Sweden 1980
Assistant Coach US XC Ski Team Lake Placid Olympics 1980
Assistant Coach US XC Ski Team Falun and Holmenkollen 1980

Burkholder was also an accomplished ski race official and has helped run the following races, among numerous others:

Chief of Race XC US Junior Nationals at Alyeska – 1969
Chief of Course World Cup and Nationals - Anchorage 1982-83
Technical Delegate - Alaska State HS Championships 1984-86
Technical Delegate - NCAA Championships - Anchorage 1986-87
Chief of Course - US Olympic Tryouts and National Championships 1993-94
Chief of Course - Alaska Ski for Women 1996-2006
Starting Official Salt Lake Olympics 2002

His work and dedication to the sport of cross country skiing has made Burkholder a legend in Anchorage. His noteworthy accomplishments haven't gone unnoticed. Burkholder was awarded Lifetime Membership in the Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage in 1980, was named to the USSA Alaska Ski Hall of Fame in 1999, was named a Pioneer of Skiing in Anchorage in 2003 and was most recently named to the Alaska High School Officials Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

Now retired, Jim Burkholder currently lives with his wife Sally in Anchorage, Alaska.

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