Alf Engen ski video collection

Collection

Identifier: A0391

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Dates

1938-2004

Creator

Engen, Alf, 1909-1997 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.

Biographical Note

Alf Engen (1909-1997) was born in Mjondallen, Norway, the oldest of three boys. Engen's father died when he was only nine years old, but he had already implemented the joy of skiing into the hearts of his sons, Alf, Sverre and Corey (Kaare). The boys learned to ski jump at a young age and became well known for thier Nordic ability in their homeland.

In 1929 Engen immigrated to the United States with his younger brother, Sverre. They Initialy settled in Chicago where they joined the American-Norwegian Athletic Club. He and several club members traveled to Westby, Wisconsin to participate in a ski jumping meet. With his first jump in the Westby Nordic event, Engen broke the world's record for distance ski jumping and was invited to tour the North American Nordic circuit with professional jumpers.

In 1931 he settled in Salt Lake City, Utah. His youngest brother, Corey, and their mother immigrated to the United States in 1933 and the three Engen Brothers travled the United States as professional jumpers, breaking Nordic records and gaining recognition everywhere they went.

In 1937, Engen married Evelyn Pack, regained his amateur standing, and ranked among the top Nordic skiers in the world. He helped in planning and developing around thirty ski areas in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming while working for the United States Forest Service as a winter sports advisor. In 1938 he was invited to represent the Sun Valley Ski Club in Nordic jumping. While living in Idaho, he taught himself how to Alpine ski and spent time off the slopes preforming in several movies and newreels. In 1940, he finished first in the National Four-way in Seattle, Washington.

Engen assisted with the operation and ski lessons at Alta and Snow Basin Ski Schools during the 1945-46 ski season and later returned to Utah to direct the Alta Ski School, the Little Mountain Ski School, and the Deseret News Free Ski School after coaching the United States Olympic Ski Team in 1948. He received the Skier's Hall of Fame Award in 1956.

Alf Engen died in 1997 at the age of 88.

Extent

17 16mm film

65 VHS

39 U-matic

14 Betacam

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Alf Engen ski video collection (1938-2004) contains footage that reveals the evolution of the sport of skiing and of ski facilities and resorts, including news reports and interviews featuring Engen and footage Engen competeing in National Championship events, instructing ski school, and skiing with family and friends. Alf Engen was an internationally recognized Nordic and Alpine skier instrumental in the development of the ski industry in Utah and the American West.

Arrangement

The materials are arranged by format type.

Related Materials

See also the Alf Engen scrapbooks (Accn 1006), Corey Engen scrapbooks (Accn 1401), the Ski Museum records (Accn 518) and the Alan K. Engen ski video collection (A0402) and papers (Accn 1601).