George Hovland
Encyclopedia
George Hovland, Jr. is an American
cross country skier who has been competing since the 1950s. He competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics
in Oslo
. He is a four-time Central USSA four-event champion (jumping, cross-country, slalom, and downhill) He has completed every Birkebeiner
with the exception of the first one. and has been the age group winner approximately ten times. He has been the age group champion for National Alpine NASTAR
seven times and is the first non-European to complete the Swedish 90 kilometer Vasaloppet
.
George Hovland is the founder of the Spirit Mountain
Ski Area, Snowflake Nordic Ski Center in Duluth, Minnesota
, and the Northshore Inline Marathon. He has also owned the following ski areas: Ski Kenwood (Duluth) and Mont du Lac (Wisconsin).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cross country skier who has been competing since the 1950s. He competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He is a four-time Central USSA four-event champion (jumping, cross-country, slalom, and downhill) He has completed every Birkebeiner
Birkebeiner
The Birkebein Party or Birkebeinar was the name for a rebellious party in Norway, formed in 1174 around the pretender to the Norwegian throne, Eystein Meyla...
with the exception of the first one. and has been the age group winner approximately ten times. He has been the age group champion for National Alpine NASTAR
NASTAR
NASTAR is the world's largest known recreational ski and snowboard race program. It allows ski or snowboard racers of all ages and abilities, through a handicap system, a way to compare themselves with one another and with the national champion, regardless of when and where they race...
seven times and is the first non-European to complete the Swedish 90 kilometer Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet is an annual long distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March in northwestern Dalarna, Sweden between the village of Sälen and town of Mora. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and in popular consideration the biggest cross-country ski race in the world...
.
George Hovland is the founder of the Spirit Mountain
Spirit Mountain (ski area)
Spirit Mountain is a ski area in Duluth, Minnesota. The ski area was founded by The City of Duluth and was built in 1974. Supporters of Spirit Mountain were Mayor Ben Boo, Former Olympian George Hovland and Manley Goldfine. The city was currently led by Mayor Ben Boo during its creation and...
Ski Area, Snowflake Nordic Ski Center in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, and the Northshore Inline Marathon. He has also owned the following ski areas: Ski Kenwood (Duluth) and Mont du Lac (Wisconsin).