NORVAL BAPTIE (1879-1966)
Nation’s Greatest All-Around Skater

North Dakota was the home of the greatest all-around ice skater of the early twentieth century and, perhaps, of all time. Norval Baptie won approximately 5000 ice skating races in the 25 years he competed, and held 10 professional speed records. Baptie is often credited with creating figure skating, and he and his wife became the first to popularize pairs skating. He also created “ice shows” and became one of the two charter members of the Ice Skating Hall of Fame.