Sondre Norheim, born Sondre Auverson, (June 10, 1825 – March 9, 1897) was a Norwegian skier and pioneer of modern skiing. Born at Øverbø and raised in Morgedal in the municipality of Kviteseid in Telemark, he took to downhill skiing as a recreational activity, rising to local fame for his skills. He made important innovations in skiing technology by designing new equipment, such as different bindings and shorter skis with curved sides to facilitate turns. In 1868 he won the first national skiing competition in Christiania, beating his younger competitors by a large margin. His reputation grew, and eventually made Norwegian words like ski and slalom known worldwide. Sondre Norheim is also known as the father of Telemark skiing.[1]
In 1884, Norheim followed in the footsteps of many of his neighbors in Morgedal and immigrated to the United States with most of his family. After having first settled in Minnesota, they moved to North Dakota, near Villard in McHenry County. He continued to ski when he could, though the climate and flat topography of the Dakota prairie offered few opportunities for downhill skiing. It was said he always had a pair of skis placed outside his door.
Norheim grew more religious with age and helped build a Lutheran church in Villard. He died in 1897 and was buried in Denbigh, McHenry County, North Dakota. His grave was unmarked until recently, but a memorial stone now marks its spot. A statue of Sondre Norheim by Norwegian sculptor Knut Skinnarland was unveiled in 1987 in the Scandinavian Heritage Park, in Minot, North Dakota. During 1988, an identical statue was unveiled in Morgedal, Norway by King Olav V. During 1993, the Sondre Norheim Eternal Flame Monument was added to the Scandinavian Heritage Park. Lars Berge Haugen, a skier representing Morgedal, lit the flame.[2]
Further reading
Sondre Norheim - The Father of Modern Skiing by Anne-Gry Blikom and Eivind Molde, (North American Heritage Press. Minot, North Dakota. October 2003)
References
External links
- “Sondre Norheim – The Skiing Pioneer of Telemark”
- “Telelaget of America – Sking”
- “Sondre Norheim, The Father of Modern Skiing”
- “Scandinavian Heritage Association - Sondre Norheim Statue”
- “Morgedal.com”
- The Cradle of Skiing”
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