Janské Lázně hosted the first World Ski Championships a century ago
Exactly 100 years ago, in February 1925, Czechoslovakia hosted the very first World Ski Championships. The event, called Rendezvous Ski Races at the time, was held in Janské Lázně in the Krkonoše Mountains. A series of events is taking place this week in the northern Bohemian town to mark the anniversary.
Some 240 competitors from 13 countries took part in the very first edition of the World Ski Championships held in February 1925 in the north-eastern Bohemian town of Janské Lázně. At that time, they competed in the following disciplines: 50 km and 18 km races and a ski jump.
To mark the event—which contributed to the development and popularity of winter sports in Czechoslovakia—the association Rendezvous Ski Races 1925–2025 organized a series of commemorative events.
One of its founding members, Klára Stejskalová, explains how it came about that Czechoslovakia hosted the very first world ski championships:
“The decision to hold international skiing races took place at the 1924 FIS Congress in Chamonix and it was decided that it would be held in Czechoslovakia. Because in 1923, there were already races held in Harrachov, which were really well organized, and they were attended by a huge number of people.”
The most important question for the organizers was where the races would be held. Harrachov was the top choice—it boasted excellent cross-country trails and a steep jumping hill. However, in the end the Czechoslovak Ski Association opted for Janské Lázně, explains Klára Stejskalová:
“At the time, Janské Lázně had a newly built Krakonoš ski jumping hill right in the centre of the town opposite the church, so they offered to host the event. For a while, Harrachov and Janské Lázně fought over the honour, but in the end, the latter won, mainly because of its luxury accommodation and spa facilities.”
Back in 2025, the event was called the International Central European Ski Races, or Rendezvous Ski Races, and it was not until 12 years later that the FIS recognized the races in Janské Lázně as the 1st World Ski Championships, says Ms. Stejskalová:
“The event was originally named the Central European Races, then the International Races. Also the German Ski Association wasn’t very happy about the races being held for the first time in Czechoslovakia. So it actually wasn't recognized as a world championship until twelve years later. And the competitors only got their medals forty years later.”
According to Ms. Stejskalová, there was huge public interest in the event, partly because until then sports enthusiasts could only watch the ski disciplines from film weeklies in the cinema.
“When it became clear that the Championships were going to be held in Janské Lázně, special trains were dispatched from Prague heading to the nearby town of Svoboda nad Úpou. The most attractive discipline were ski jumps, and we have some great pictures showing crowds of people surrounding the local church. According to reports, there were up to 12,000 spectators.”
Competitors from all over the world attended the race, including athletes from Germany, Austria, Poland, Norway, Switzerland, and Italy. In addition to ski jumps, the disciplines included the 18-kilometre run, the 50-kilometre run, and the so-called Nordic Combined, which was a combination of the 18-kilometre race and ski jumps.
However, preparations for the first World Ski Championships were not without complications. The extremely adverse weather during the winter of 1925 nearly derailed the event. Only thanks to the dedicated help of the army were the organizers able to avoid cancelling the race—unlike many other international races that were postponed that year due to a lack of snow. Klára Stejskalová explains:
“We tend to think that there was much more snow a hundred years ago, and it's usually true. Unfortunately, a thaw came just before the races, so a day or two before the event, they had to re-route the race tracks, because there was no snow down by Jilemnice. And even the army was called in to bring snow on the track from the forest, using sledges!”
The series of events marking a hundred years since the very first World Skiing Championships in Janské Lázně kicked off on Friday with a 1920s-style ball. Among the other highlights will be the recreation of the original 18km race, due to take place this Saturday, says Ms. Stejskalová.
“The race really follows the original route—with only very slight adjustments—and the racers will be equipped with historic wooden skis. For those who don’t have them, they can participate using mountaineering skis. It’s quite unbelievable, but around 80 participants on old skis have already signed up for the event.”
The entire series of events, which also includes several exhibitions, will conclude on Sunday, February 9, with a ski carnival. You can find out more about the programme on the website of the Rendezvous Ski Races 1925–2025 association https://fis1925.com/1925-to-bylo-tak/.
