Mikkjel Hemmestveit
Encyclopedia
Mikkjel Hemmestveit was a Norwegian-American Nordic skier
who shared the Holmenkollen medal
with his brother, Torjus Hemmestveit
in 1928.
Mikkjel Hemmestveit was born in Kviteseid
in Telemark
county, Norway
. Both Torjus and Mikkjel Hemmestveit were from the village of Morgedal
, whose most famous resident was Sondre Norheim
, commonly referred to as the father of modern skiing. The brothers had a key role in the development of Telemark skiing
by creating the world's first skiing school in 1881 at Christiania, Norway (now Oslo
).
The brothers would emigrate to the United States
in the late 19th century and ran several ski schools in their new country. They changed the spelling of their surname of Hemmestvedt in the United States.
The first actual recorded tournament in the Midwest took place in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 25, 1887. Hemmestveit and his brother Torjus took the sport west to Red Wing, Minnesota
with an exhibition tourney on February 8, 1887, sponsored by the Aurora Ski Club of Red Wing. The first recorded North American distance record was set in 1887 by Mikkel Hemmestvedt when he flew 37 feet at Red Wing, Minnesota. They became members and competed in the Aurora Ski Club.
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
who shared the Holmenkollen medal
Holmenkollen medal
The Holmenkollen medal is Norwegian skiing's highest award for competitors. It signifies top placings in international championships and other international events, including the Holmenkollen events....
with his brother, Torjus Hemmestveit
Torjus Hemmestveit
Torjus Hemmestveit was a Norwegian Nordic skier who shared the Holmenkollen medal with his brother, Mikkjel Hemmestveit in 1928.Torjus Hemmestveit was born in Kviteseid in Telemark county, Norway...
in 1928.
Mikkjel Hemmestveit was born in Kviteseid
Kviteseid
Kviteseid is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kviteseid...
in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
county, Norway
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...
. Both Torjus and Mikkjel Hemmestveit were from the village of Morgedal
Morgedal
Morgedal, of the municipality of Kviteseid in the county of Telemark Norway, is called the cradle of skiing.Morgedal, Norway is a village whose most famous residents were Sondre Norheim, known to be the father of modern skiing plus Torjus Hemmestveit and Mikkjel Hemmestveit...
, whose most famous resident was Sondre Norheim
Sondre Norheim
Sondre Norheim, born Sondre Auverson, was a Norwegian skier and pioneer of modern skiing. Sondre Norheim is known as the father of Telemark skiing.-Background:...
, commonly referred to as the father of modern skiing. The brothers had a key role in the development of 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...
by creating the world's first skiing school in 1881 at Christiania, Norway (now 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...
).
The brothers would emigrate to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the late 19th century and ran several ski schools in their new country. They changed the spelling of their surname of Hemmestvedt in the United States.
The first actual recorded tournament in the Midwest took place in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 25, 1887. Hemmestveit and his brother Torjus took the sport west to Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 16,459 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Goodhue County....
with an exhibition tourney on February 8, 1887, sponsored by the Aurora Ski Club of Red Wing. The first recorded North American distance record was set in 1887 by Mikkel Hemmestvedt when he flew 37 feet at Red Wing, Minnesota. They became members and competed in the Aurora Ski Club.
other sources
- Sky Crashers: A History of the Aurora Ski Club (Goodhue County Historical Society. 2004)
External links
- Holmenkollen medalists - click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file
- Aurora Ski Club Members