Alf Engen: Difference between revisions
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==Career== |
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Alf Engen quickly gained a reputation for his world class skiing skills. Although a [[ski jumping|ski jumper]] when he arrived in the [[United States|U.S.]], he quickly mastered [[alpine skiing]] and is credited for developing the technique of powder skiing, honed at the [[Alta Ski Area]]. The following years he won numerous American and international titles. In 1940, Engen finished first in the National Four-way in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]. Engen was also the recipient of numerous awards including the All-American Ski Trophy, 1937, Americanism Award in 1940, Helm's Hall of Fame Award in 1954; and Skier's Hall of Fame Award in 1956.<ref>[http:// |
Alf Engen quickly gained a reputation for his world class skiing skills. Although a [[ski jumping|ski jumper]] when he arrived in the [[United States|U.S.]], he quickly mastered [[alpine skiing]] and is credited for developing the technique of powder skiing, honed at the [[Alta Ski Area]]. The following years he won numerous American and international titles. In 1940, Engen finished first in the National Four-way in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]. Engen was also the recipient of numerous awards including the All-American Ski Trophy, 1937, Americanism Award in 1940, Helm's Hall of Fame Award in 1954; and Skier's Hall of Fame Award in 1956.<ref>[http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/UU_EAD,1380 ''Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation'' (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)]</ref> |
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He helped establish the ski school at [[Alta Ski Area|Alta]], and assisted in the creation of thirty other ski resorts in the western United States. The three Engen brothers helped to popularize skiing in the West, primarily in [[Utah]] and [[Idaho]]. Alf's son Alan carries on the family tradition at Alta. Alf Engen died in 1997, at the age of 88. His two younger brothers both lived to the age of 90.<ref>[http://historytogo.utah.gov/people/alfengen.html ''Alf Engen'' (Utah Encyclopedia)]</ref> |
He helped establish the ski school at [[Alta Ski Area|Alta]], and assisted in the creation of thirty other ski resorts in the western United States. The three Engen brothers helped to popularize skiing in the West, primarily in [[Utah]] and [[Idaho]]. Alf's son Alan carries on the family tradition at Alta. Alf Engen died in 1997, at the age of 88. His two younger brothers both lived to the age of 90.<ref>[http://historytogo.utah.gov/people/alfengen.html ''Alf Engen'' (Utah Encyclopedia)]</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:37, 3 March 2011
Alf Engen (May 15, 1909–July 20, 1997) was a Norwegian-American skier and skiing school owner/teacher. Alf Engen set several ski jumping world records during the 1930s.
Background
Alf Engen was born in the town of Mjøndalen, in Nedre Eiker municipality in Buskerud county, Norway, the first son of Trond and Martha Oen Engen. He had two younger brothers, Sverre (1911-2001) and Corey (1916-2006), both of whom were also accomplished skiers. As the first-born son of a famous skiing father, Engen was naturally reared to ski. After his father died of the Spanish flu in 1918 when Alf was 9, his mother moved Alf and his younger brothers the short distance to the small town of Steinberg. In 1929 at age 20, Alf and his brother Sverre (age 18) emigrated to the U.S., first settling in Chicago, then relocating to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1931. Their widowed mother Martha and younger brother Corey (age 17) joined them in 1933. [1]
Career
Alf Engen quickly gained a reputation for his world class skiing skills. Although a ski jumper when he arrived in the U.S., he quickly mastered alpine skiing and is credited for developing the technique of powder skiing, honed at the Alta Ski Area. The following years he won numerous American and international titles. In 1940, Engen finished first in the National Four-way in Seattle, Washington. Engen was also the recipient of numerous awards including the All-American Ski Trophy, 1937, Americanism Award in 1940, Helm's Hall of Fame Award in 1954; and Skier's Hall of Fame Award in 1956.[2]
He helped establish the ski school at Alta, and assisted in the creation of thirty other ski resorts in the western United States. The three Engen brothers helped to popularize skiing in the West, primarily in Utah and Idaho. Alf's son Alan carries on the family tradition at Alta. Alf Engen died in 1997, at the age of 88. His two younger brothers both lived to the age of 90.[3]
Alf Engen Ski Museum
The Alf Engen Ski Museum is located in the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center at Utah Olympic Park, four miles north of Park City, Utah. It contains more than 300 trophies, medals, uniforms, scrapbooks, skis, boots, photos, films and other collectables that span some 70 years in the career of the Engen family. The museum's educational component gives school children a skiing-based foundation to study subjects such as the water cycle, physics and Utah's colorful history. [4]
References
External links
- Alf Engen Ski Museum Park City, Utah
- Alf Engen Scrapbooks University of Utah's Marriott Library: Special Collections
- Alta Historical Society Early history of Alta