Wee Willi Winkels, a significant figure in the early development of snowboarding and skateboarding.
Born in Germany in 1956 and immigrating to Canada as an infant, Winkels grew up in Brampton, Ontario, and began skateboarding in the 1960s. His nickname “Wee” stemmed from being the youngest of seven, distinguishing him from his father, also named Willi. This background is crucial for understanding his early influences and innovations, which later extended to snowboarding.
Connection to Blue Mountain Ski Resort
Wee Willi Winkels’ association with Blue Mountain ski resort is well-documented, particularly through his activities in the 1970s and 1980s. Blue Mountain, located in Collingwood, Ontario, became a testing ground for his snowboard prototypes. Historical accounts indicate he tested these designs on the resort’s slopes, notably at Apple Bowl, with a specific mention of snowboarding there in 1977. This event is significant as it marks one of the early instances of snowboarding at the resort, a time when the sport was still emerging and often restricted at ski areas.
Further, Winkels served as an instructor at Blue Mountain, contributing to the local snowboarding community’s growth. The resort later honored him by naming a run after him, a testament to his impact. This recognition, noted in various local sources, underscores his role as a fixture at the resort, with stories of him testing innovations and influencing the sport’s development.
Specific Older Stories and Events
Several older stories highlight Winkels’ activities at Blue Mountain, providing a glimpse into his contributions during the sport’s formative years:
- 1977 Snowboarding at Apple Bowl: One notable story is his snowboarding at Blue Mountain’s Apple Bowl in 1977, as recounted in a 2014 Mountain Life article. This event is significant as it aligns with the early adoption of snowboarding, a time when skiers and snowboarders often shared slopes with tension, and Winkels’ presence helped normalize the sport.
- Testing Snowboard Prototypes: Historical accounts, such as those in the Surfer Today article from 2022, detail how Winkels tested early snowboard prototypes on Blue Mountain’s slopes. This included modifications like the “Flying Yellow Banana,” a plastic board he adapted with skateboard decks and plastic hooks for riders’ feet, introduced in 1978. The sight of him “bombing down hills facing sideways” at Blue Mountain reportedly amazed onlookers, marking a pivotal moment in the sport’s visibility.
- Instructor Role and Run Naming: Later, Winkels became an instructor at Blue Mountain, as noted in multiple sources, including the Thornbury Paper from 2019. The resort’s decision to name a run after him, possibly in the late 1990s, reflects his lasting legacy, with local tributes like the annual Wee Willi Winkels Day, proclaimed in 2022, celebrating his contributions.
Broader Innovations and Collaborations
Beyond Blue Mountain, Winkels’ innovations had a wider impact. He is credited with creating the 7-ply laminated Canadian maple skateboard deck, used widely in the 1970s and 1980s, and is said to have coined the term “snowboard.” His collaboration with figures like Tom Sims and Lonnie Toft, particularly in the late 1970s, extended his influence, with joint efforts at places like Mammoth Mountain in California. These collaborations are detailed in sources like the Hammer Skateboard blog from 2020, which also mentions his legendary skate team touring Southern Ontario, further illustrating his regional impact.
Community and Legacy
The local community’s recognition of Winkels is evident in initiatives like the Craigleith Heritage Depot’s online exhibit, accessible at bluemountains.librariesshare.com/williwinkels/. This exhibit, launched to collect memories and photos, highlights his life from the 1970s onward, with calls for submissions of stories and images, such as those from his demos at events like the 1978 Skatopia Park opening in Calgary. These efforts ensure his legacy endures, with the Town of The Blue Mountains proclaiming the first Saturday in March as Wee Willi Winkels Day, starting in 2022, as per the official town website.
Tables of Key Events and Contributions
To organize the information, here is a table of key events related to Winkels at Blue Mountain:
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Snowboarded at Blue Mountain’s Apple Bowl | Early adoption of snowboarding at the resort |
| 1978 | Introduced “skiboard” (Flying Yellow Banana) at Blue Mountain | Increased visibility and innovation in snowboarding |
| Late 1970s | Tested early snowboard prototypes on Blue Mountain slopes | Contributed to sport’s technical development |
| 1997 | Blue Mountain named a run after him | Recognition of his contributions to local snowboarding |
Another table summarizes his broader innovations:
| Innovation | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 7-ply laminated Canadian maple skateboard deck | Created in the 1970s, used by athletes | Standardized skateboard construction |
| Coined the term “snowboard” | Attributed to his modifications of early designs | Established terminology for the sport |
| Early snowboard bindings | One of the first to create proper bindings | Improved rider control and safety |
Challenges in Finding Direct Older Stories
While these stories are recounted in recent articles, accessing direct newspaper clippings or interviews from the 1970s and 1980s proved challenging. Local archives, such as those mentioned in Simcoe County’s historical research guides, suggest resources like the Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin, but specific online access to articles from that era was not readily available within the scope of this inquiry. This highlights the difficulty in preserving and digitizing local history, with calls for public contributions to exhibits like Craigleith’s underscoring the need for community involvement in historical documentation.
Wee Willi Winkels’ connection to Blue Mountain ski resort is marked by significant events in the 1970s, such as snowboarding at Apple Bowl in 1977 and testing prototypes, alongside his later role as an instructor and the naming of a run in his honor. These stories, drawn from historical accounts and local tributes, illustrate his pioneering role in snowboarding’s development, with broader innovations like early bindings and the term “snowboard” extending his legacy. For further exploration, the online exhibit at bluemountains.librariesshare.com/williwinkels/ invites community stories, offering a living archive of his impact.
WILLI THE PIONEER & INNOVATOR
First to build a travelling demonstration skateboard half-pipe in Canada
One of the first members of the Ontario Freestyle skiingteam
One of the first to design a motorized skateboard
First to design the modern snowboard bindings.
First to laminate the snowboard and use special epoxiesand change the shape of the snowboard
First to use the word “snowboard’.
First to change the name of ‘Skiboard’ to “Snowboard” due to legal constraints
First to design snowboard safety glove with mirror
First to snowboard at Blue Mountains Ski Resort
Key Citations:
- Wee Wonder: The Legend of Wee Willi Winkels Mountain Life article
- Wee Willi Winkels: the skateboard and snowboard innovator Surfer Today article
- Did you know Wee Willie Winkels? Thornbury Paper article
- Push underway to proclaim Wee Willi Winkels Day in Collingwood Collingwood Today article
- History Lesson: Wee Willi Winkels Hammer Skateboard blog
- Willi Winkels: Remembering The Legend Blue Mountains Library exhibit
- Town Recognizes 1st Annual Wee Willi Winkels Day Town of The Blue Mountains official website
