Hedda Berntsen
Encyclopedia
Hedda Berntsen (born 24 April 1976) is a Norwegian
sportsperson who has competed internationally in telemark skiing
, alpine skiing
, freestyle skiing
and skicross
. She is world champion in Telemark classic from 1997. She later concentrated on the alpine slalom
, her career peaking in the 2000–01 season with consistent performances in the World Cup
as well as a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships
. She later switched to skicross
, receiving a silver medal at the 2008 Winter X Games
. In the Vancouver Winter Olympics on February 23, 2010 she won the silver medal in the women's skicross competition.
, and is the older sister of freestyle skier Ingrid Berntsen
. She studied at the Middlebury College
from 1995 to 1999. Her first international sporting triumph was the gold medal in the classic telemark event at the 1997 World Championships.
. Her World Cup
debut came many years later, in February 2000, when she finished 23rd in slalom
in Santa Caterina
. She followed up with an eleventh place in Åre
a week later. She then opened the 2000–01 season with another 11th place, from Park City in November. In December and January she finished among the top 10 in all her World Cup slalom races, the best result being a fifth place from Flachau
. Then, at the 2001 World Championships
staged in St. Anton
, she won a surprising bronze medal. She rounded off the season with two World Cup fifth places.
Berntsen opened the 2001–02 season with a fifth place at Copper Mountain. However, this remained her season's best result as she did not finish half her races, and recorded only an 11th place in Åre in February. Two weeks later she competed in slalom at the 2002 Winter Olympics, but again did not finish the race. However, with both Hedda and Ingrid competing at the same Olympic Games, but in different sports, the sisters were historic in a Norwegian context. Hedda Berntsen then competed in a lot more races the 2002–03 season, but not only in the World Cup circuit. Her season's best was a 12th place in January in Maribor
. Then, she achieved mediocre results at the 2003 World Championships
staged in St. Moritz
, an 18th place in combined being the best placement.
In November 2003, she was dropped from the national alpine skiing team in favor of Lene Løseth
. This prompted Berntsen to announce her retirement the next month. She competed sporadically in the World Cup between December 2003 and January 2007, but only actually managed to finish one of 13 races, with a 37th place in January 2006 in St. Moritz.
. In the 2007–08 season she opened with a second place in Les Contamines in January. She recorded two additional second places before the end of the season. She also won the silver medal at the Winter X Games XII
. In the 2008–09 season she opened with a fifth place in St. Johann in January, and followed up with her first World Cup victory in Les Contamines.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
sportsperson who has competed internationally in telemark skiing
Telemark skiing
Telemark skiing is a form of skiing using the Telemark turn. Unlike alpine skiing equipment, the skis used for telemarking either have a binding that only connects the boot to the ski at the toes, just as in cross-country skiing, or may be released to only connect there.Telemark turns are led with...
, alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
, freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing is form of skiing which used to encompass two disciplines: aerials, and moguls. Except the two disciplines mentioned earlier Freestyle Skiing now consists of Skicross, Half Pipe and Slope Style...
and skicross
Skicross
Ski Cross is a type of skiing competition. It is based on the snowboarding discipline of boardercross...
. She is world champion in Telemark classic from 1997. She later concentrated on the alpine slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
, her career peaking in the 2000–01 season with consistent performances in the World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
as well as a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2001
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 were held in St. Anton, Austria, between January 29 and February 10, 2001.-Medals table:...
. She later switched to skicross
Skicross
Ski Cross is a type of skiing competition. It is based on the snowboarding discipline of boardercross...
, receiving a silver medal at the 2008 Winter X Games
Winter X Games XII
Winter X Games XII were held from January 24 to January 27, 2008 in Aspen, Colorado. They were the 7th consecutive Winter X Games to be held in Aspen. Television coverage of Winter X Games XII was broadcast on ESPN and ABC, primarily hosted by Sal Masekela and Todd Harris...
. In the Vancouver Winter Olympics on February 23, 2010 she won the silver medal in the women's skicross competition.
Background
Hedda Berntsen hails from FiltvetFiltvet
Filtvet is a small village along the Oslofjord in Hurum, Buskerud County, Norway.-Location:Filtvet is a 45 minute journey to Oslo by car. It has become a popular tourist destination during summer. Accommodation consist principally of camping sites. Filtvet lighthouse is on the west side of...
, and is the older sister of freestyle skier Ingrid Berntsen
Ingrid Berntsen
Ingrid Berntsen is a Norwegian freestyle skier who specialized in the moguls. Her career peaked with good performances in the 2002–03 World Cup, but she never succeeded in the Olympic Games, and spent most of her career in the shadow of Kari Traa.-Background:Ingrid Berntsen hails from Filtvet, and...
. She studied at the Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
from 1995 to 1999. Her first international sporting triumph was the gold medal in the classic telemark event at the 1997 World Championships.
Alpine skiing
In alpine skiing she had made her international debut in December 1995, when competing in a FIS Race in BjorliBjorli
Bjorli is a village in Lesja municipality in Oppland, Norway that lies on the Rauma river near the western municipality border.Bjorli is served by the Raumabanen, providing a convenient method for tourists to reach this destination...
. Her World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
debut came many years later, in February 2000, when she finished 23rd in slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
in Santa Caterina
Santa Caterina
-Places:* Santa Caterina state, Brazil*Santa Caterina Albanese, in the Province of Cosenza, Italy*Santa Caterina dello Ionio, in the Province of Catanzaro, Italy*Santa Caterina Villarmosa, in the Province of Caltanissetta, Italy...
. She followed up with an eleventh place in Åre
Åre
Åre is a locality and one of the leading Scandinavian ski resorts situated in Åre Municipality, Jämtland County, Sweden with 1,260 inhabitants in 2005. It is however, not the seat of the municipality, which is Järpen. 25% of the municipal industry is based on tourism, most notably the downhill...
a week later. She then opened the 2000–01 season with another 11th place, from Park City in November. In December and January she finished among the top 10 in all her World Cup slalom races, the best result being a fifth place from Flachau
Flachau
Flachau is a village in the district of St. Johann im Pongau in the Salzburg state, Austria, with a population of 2,639 . Its numerous skiing facilities are part of the Ski Amadé network of ski areas, the largest in Europe.- History :...
. Then, at the 2001 World Championships
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2001
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 were held in St. Anton, Austria, between January 29 and February 10, 2001.-Medals table:...
staged in St. Anton
St. Anton
Sankt Anton am Arlberg is a village and ski resort in Tyrol, western Austria, with a permanent population of approximately . It is situated at above sea level in the Tyrolean Alps, with Aerial tramways and chairlifts up to . It is also a popular summer resort among trekkers and...
, she won a surprising bronze medal. She rounded off the season with two World Cup fifth places.
Berntsen opened the 2001–02 season with a fifth place at Copper Mountain. However, this remained her season's best result as she did not finish half her races, and recorded only an 11th place in Åre in February. Two weeks later she competed in slalom at the 2002 Winter Olympics, but again did not finish the race. However, with both Hedda and Ingrid competing at the same Olympic Games, but in different sports, the sisters were historic in a Norwegian context. Hedda Berntsen then competed in a lot more races the 2002–03 season, but not only in the World Cup circuit. Her season's best was a 12th place in January in Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
. Then, she achieved mediocre results at the 2003 World Championships
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2003
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2003 were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland, from February 2-16, 2003.St. Moritz previously hosted the world championships in 1974, as well as the 1948 Winter Olympics and the 1928 Winter Olympics ....
staged in St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
, an 18th place in combined being the best placement.
In November 2003, she was dropped from the national alpine skiing team in favor of Lene Løseth
Lene Løseth
Lene Løseth is a Norwegian alpine skier who races for Spjelkavik IL.At the WC 2007 in Åre she came 38th in the giant slalom and 23rd in the slalom....
. This prompted Berntsen to announce her retirement the next month. She competed sporadically in the World Cup between December 2003 and January 2007, but only actually managed to finish one of 13 races, with a 37th place in January 2006 in St. Moritz.
Freestyle skiing
Berntsen eventually took up freestyle skiing, specializing in the skicross. She made her World Cup debut in February 2007, finishing ninth in Les Contamines. The next month she finished 10th at the World Championships in Madonna di CampiglioMadonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio is a village and a ski resort in northeast Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Pinzolo. The village lies in the Val Rendena at an altitude of 1,522 m...
. In the 2007–08 season she opened with a second place in Les Contamines in January. She recorded two additional second places before the end of the season. She also won the silver medal at the Winter X Games XII
Winter X Games XII
Winter X Games XII were held from January 24 to January 27, 2008 in Aspen, Colorado. They were the 7th consecutive Winter X Games to be held in Aspen. Television coverage of Winter X Games XII was broadcast on ESPN and ABC, primarily hosted by Sal Masekela and Todd Harris...
. In the 2008–09 season she opened with a fifth place in St. Johann in January, and followed up with her first World Cup victory in Les Contamines.