 Photograph of Sondre Norheim ca. 1880 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1825-06-10)10 June 1825 |
| Died | 9 March 1897(1897-03-09) (aged 71) North Dakota, US |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Norway |
| Sport | Skiing |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personalbests | 19.5 m (64 ft) Brunkeberg, Norway (March 8, 1868) |
Sondre Norheim, bornSondre Auverson, (10 June 1825 – 9 March 1897) was aNorwegian skier and pioneer of modernskiing. Sondre Norheim is known as the father ofTelemark skiing.[1][2]
Sondre Auverson was born at Øverbø, a littlecotter's farm and raised inMorgedal in the municipality ofKviteseid inTelemark, Norway. Skiing was a popular activity in Morgedal. Sondre took todownhill 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 differentbindings and shorter skis with curved sides to facilitate turns. He also designed theTelemark ski, which is the prototype of all those now produced. Sondre Norheim was regarded by his contemporaries as a master of the art of skiing. He combined ordinary skiing with jumping and slalom. In 1868 he won the first national skiing competition inChristiania, beating his younger competitors by a large margin. His reputation grew, and eventually madeNorwegian words likeski and slalåm (slalom) known worldwide.[3]
On 15 January 1854 Sondre Norheim married Rannei Åmundsdotter from a cotter's farm atØyfjell, a neighbouring village. In March 1854 their first daughter, Ingerid, was born. The next year little Hæge came, but she died at 15 weeks old. The next year Olav was born, and then another daughter they called Hæge, then Anne, Auver, Åmund and Talleiv. Sondre and Rannei lost a second child when Auver died at age 12. The family moved around to different places in Morgedal. Their last place was called "Norheim", which Sondre took as a new family name.[4]
On 30 May 1884 Sondre and Rannei left Norway together with three of their children– Anne (21), Åmund (14) and Talleiv (12). Their son Olav and daughter Hæge had left home previously, and their eldest daughter Ingerid decided to stay back home. Norheim followed in the footsteps of many of his neighbors in Morgedal and emigrated from Norway to theUnited States. After having first settled in Minnesota, they moved toNorth Dakota, nearVillard inMcHenry 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 aLutheran church in Villard. He died in 1897 and was buried inDenbigh,McHenry County, North Dakota.[5]
Sondre Norheim was honored during opening ceremonies at the1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, at the1960 Winter Olympics inSquaw Valley, California and at the1994 Winter Olympics inLillehammer, Norway. His grave was originally unmarked, but a memorial stone now marks its spot. During the week ofNorsk Høstfest, held inMinot, N.D., groups visit the grave site and hold a commemorative service in memory of Sondre Norheim.[6]
The movie,Frikaren på ski – The history of Sondre Norheim, the Father of Modern Ski Sport was produced byNRK in 1970.[7]In 1984, Norheim was inducted into theScandinavian-American Hall of Fame as the first class of inductees. A statue of Sondre Norheim by Norwegian sculptor Knut Skinnarland (1909-1993) was unveiled in 1987 in theScandinavian Heritage Park, inMinot, North Dakota. During 1988, an identical statue was unveiled inMorgedal, Norway byKing Olav V. During 1993, the Sondre Norheim Eternal Flame Monument was added to theScandinavian Heritage Park. Lars Berge Haugan, a skier representingMorgedal, lit the flame.[8]
Set on the first ever official ski jumping competition.
| Date | Hill | Location | Metres | Feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March,8 1868 | Hauglibakken | Brunkeberg,Norway | 19.5 | 64 |
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