Stein Eriksen
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Full name | Stein ERiksen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Oslo, Norway | 11 December 1927||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation | Alpine skier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | [convert: invalid number] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | Norway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Skiing career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disciplines | Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom, Combined | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 1954 (age 26) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams | 2 – (1948, 1952) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals | 2 (1 gold) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Championships | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams | 4 – (1948, 1950, 1952, 1954) includes Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals | 6 (4 gold) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Stein Eriksen (born 11 December 1927) is a former alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist from Norway.[1] Following his racing career, he was a ski school director and ambassador at various resorts in the United States.
Background
Born in Oslo, Eriksen's parents were Marius Eriksen (1886–1950) and Birgit Heien (1900–1996). Marius Eriksen competed in the 1912 Olympic Games as a gymnast. His brother, Marius Eriksen, Jr. (1922–2009), was an alpine skier and during World War II became a fighter ace in the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Stein Eriksen was the top slalom racer in Norway in 1949 and took bronze in the slalom at the 1950 World Championships in Aspen, Colorado.
Sports career
Eriksen won the gold medal in the giant slalom at the 1952 Winter Olympics, which were held in Oslo, Norway. He also won a silver medal in the slalom. Eriksen was the first male alpine ski racer from outside the Alps to win an Olympic gold medal. He also won three gold medals at the 1954 World Championships in Åre, Sweden.[2]
Some of his other accomplishments include the fact that he is credited with devising "aerials", a freestyle skiing event, and he helped revolutionize the world of alpine skiing, especially in America, where he has served as a ski instructor at many different ski schools. At Sugarbush, each Sunday afternoon, combining his gymnast background and his skiing, Stein would demonstrate a flip on skis. For his Olympic medals, Eriksen earned the Holmenkollen Medal in 1952.[3]
It is said that Eriksen was skiing's "first superstar", since he was handsome, stylish, and charismatic. Despite his fame, he maintained a very down-to-Earth personality. For example, he is quoted as saying, "Be tough, be confident. But you will never be a whole and happy person if you aren't humble".[4]
Life in the US
Shortly after his success in the 1952 Olympics, Eriksen moved to America where he continues to live. While ski racing for Norway, he was a ski instructor at Sun Valley in Idaho.[5] Following his racing career, he was the ski school director at various resorts, such as Boyne Mountain in Michigan,[6] Sugarbush in Vermont, Heavenly Valley in California, Snowmass and Aspen in Colorado, and Park City in Utah.[7] He is currently director of skiing at the Deer Valley in Utah, and also serves as host of the Stein Eriksen Lodge, a ski lodge in Deer Valley (not owned by Eriksen, but named in his honor). Eriksen is married to Francoise and has five children: Julianna Eriksen, Ava, Stein Jr. Anja, and Bjørn. He currently calls both Utah and Montana home.
In 1997, Eriksen was honored by the King of Norway. He was knighted with the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for his contribution to Norway, the highest honor that the Norwegian government can give to people living outside Norway.
Eriksen celebrated his 80th birthday December 2007 in Deer Valley.[8]
References
- ^ Stein Eriksen Per Jorsett. Norsk biografisk leksikon
- ^ Skiing Icon honored by the New England Ski Museum (Snow East Magazine)
- ^ Holmenkollen medalists
- ^ Stein Eriksen (Rolf Bryhn. Store norske leksikon)
- ^ "Red Dog Reddish hired as Sun Valley mentor". Deseret News. United Press. September 25, 1952. p. 19A.
- ^ "Eriksen given AT&T award". Deseret News. December 21, 1989. p. 4D.
- ^ "Stein Eriksen on for Park City ski". Deseret News. August 27, 1971. p. 4D.
- ^ Stein Eriksen the Olympic Gold Medalist from Norway (Stein Eriksen Lodge)
External links
- Stein Eriksen at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation
- Stein Eriksen Ski Films
- Sports Reference – Olympic results – Stein Eriksen
- 1927 births
- Living people
- American male alpine skiers
- Alpine skiers at the 1948 Winter Olympics
- Alpine skiers at the 1952 Winter Olympics
- Holmenkollen medalists
- Norwegian alpine skiers
- Olympic alpine skiers of Norway
- Norwegian emigrants to the United States
- Olympic gold medalists for Norway
- Olympic silver medalists for Norway
- Olympic medalists in alpine skiing
- Medalists at the 1952 Winter Olympics