Terje Håkonsen
Encyclopedia
Terje Håkonsen, is a Norwegian snowboarder.
Håkonsen (also sometimes spelled "Haakonsen") dominated freestyle snowboarding
in the 1990s winning the ISF World Championships in half-pipe
three times in a row, in 1993, 1995 and 1997. He has also won 5 European championships in half-pipe (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997), the U.S. Open in half-pipe 3 times (1992, 1993, 1995), and the Mt. Baker Banked Slalom
6 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004). He also won the Innsbruck Air & Style Contest
in 1995. Håkonsen set the world record for highest 'air' during the qualifying round of the Arctic Challenge in Oslo
2007 when he reached 9.8 meters out of the top of the quarterpipe
with a backside 360.
He is the creator of an aerial snowboard maneuver named The Haakon Flip. Beyond specific tricks, Terje's fluid style, coupled with his ability to ride virtually any type of terrain are perhaps his biggest influences on the sport. While he laid down his foundation as a top rider in the halfpipe, Terje established his industry dominance in video parts showing his skill riding powder, big mountains and in "big air" contests - the first iteration of today's slopestyle competitions.
Håkonsen is also credited to have developed the T6, made out of a material named "Alumafly," an aluminium honeycomb construction and as a co-creator of the Burton Fish (a powder-specific board) and the Burton Malolo, a cross-breed between a freestyle and powder board.
He starred in the documentary First Descent
, along with five other exceptional snowboarders, including Shaun White
, Hannah Teter
and Travis Rice
. Other films include The Haakonson Factor and Subjekt Haakonson by filmmaker Dave Seoane. In 2007 Håkonsen created a documentary series called Terjes Sesongkort (Terje's Season Pass) following him through a year of free riding, contests and his life as a professional snowboarder. The series featured other accomplished snowboarders such as Nicolas Müller
, Shaun White
, Mads Jonsson and Kevin Pearce
.
In 2005 Håkonsen was the first snowboarder to ride the 7601 (a mountain in Alaska).
Håkonsen has referred to the late snowboard legend Craig Kelly
as his mentor.
, Håkonsen boycotted the qualification. Håkonsen, and many other snowboarders, were displeased with the IOC
, and particularly the fact that the IOC selected the FIS
to handle the qualification instead of the snowboarders' own federation, ISF
.
Håkonsen, together with Daniel Franck
, started The Arctic Challenge
as a snowboard event where the riders would be in focus. The Arctic Challenge was first arranged in 2000 and has been arranged annually in different places in Norway
since then. The Ticket to Ride (World Snowboard Tour)
evolved out of the system that was used to qualify for The Arctic Challenge. The winners of prestigious international snowboard competitions earned themselves a ticket to ride (TTR) at The Arctic Challenge. The Ticket to Ride World Snowboard Tour developed into the Snowboard World Ranking List crowning the World Tour Champions. After The Arctic Challenge gained its 6Star TTR rating Håkonsen became the first professional rider to own an event with such a rating.
Håkonsen (also sometimes spelled "Haakonsen") dominated freestyle snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
in the 1990s winning the ISF World Championships in half-pipe
Half-pipe
A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity extreme sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, freestyle BMX, and inline skating. The structure is wood, concrete, metal, earth, or snow. It resembles a cross section of a swimming pool, essentially two concave ramps , topped by copings and...
three times in a row, in 1993, 1995 and 1997. He has also won 5 European championships in half-pipe (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997), the U.S. Open in half-pipe 3 times (1992, 1993, 1995), and the Mt. Baker Banked Slalom
Mt. Baker Banked Slalom
Mt. Baker Banked Slalom, also known as the Legendary Banked Slalom , is a snowboarding contest held annually since 1985 at Mt. Baker Ski Area, in Washington State, United States. The LBS is regarded as the predecessor to the boardercross event, and has been won by some of the biggest names in the...
6 times (1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004). He also won the Innsbruck Air & Style Contest
Air & Style
The Air & Style is a European snowboard contest first held in Innsbruck, Austria in 1994 and now held annually.-History:Charly Weger and his snowboard photographer friend Andrew Hourmont first started the Air & Style Contest in Innsbruck. They only expected some hundred spectators but more than a...
in 1995. Håkonsen set the world record for highest 'air' during the qualifying round of the Arctic Challenge 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...
2007 when he reached 9.8 meters out of the top of the quarterpipe
Quarter pipe
A Quarter pipe is a ramp used in extreme sports which resembles a quarter of the cross section of a pipe. They are most commonly found in skateparks and a skiing/snowboarding terrain park, although the trained eye of an extreme sports fan can find them in modern day architecture...
with a backside 360.
He is the creator of an aerial snowboard maneuver named The Haakon Flip. Beyond specific tricks, Terje's fluid style, coupled with his ability to ride virtually any type of terrain are perhaps his biggest influences on the sport. While he laid down his foundation as a top rider in the halfpipe, Terje established his industry dominance in video parts showing his skill riding powder, big mountains and in "big air" contests - the first iteration of today's slopestyle competitions.
Håkonsen is also credited to have developed the T6, made out of a material named "Alumafly," an aluminium honeycomb construction and as a co-creator of the Burton Fish (a powder-specific board) and the Burton Malolo, a cross-breed between a freestyle and powder board.
He starred in the documentary First Descent
First Descent
First Descent is a 2005 documentary film about snowboarding and its beginning in the 1980s.The snowboarders featured in this movie represent three generations of snowboarders and the progress this young sport has made over the past two decades...
, along with five other exceptional snowboarders, including Shaun White
Shaun White
Shaun Roger White is an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He rides regular stance, twelve and negative three degrees on his board.-Early life:Shaun White is an Irish American...
, Hannah Teter
Hannah Teter
Hannah Teter is an American snowboarder from Belmont, Vermont. She is an Olympic champion, having won the gold medal in halfpipe at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. She also won bronze at the 2005 FIS World Championships at Whistler, British Columbia, and has six World Cup victories...
and Travis Rice
Travis Rice
Travis Rice is an American professional snowboarder. He is #13 on Snowboarder magazine’s list of the Top Twenty Most Influential Riders, He has been considered "the Paul Revere" of the big mountain freestyle movement....
. Other films include The Haakonson Factor and Subjekt Haakonson by filmmaker Dave Seoane. In 2007 Håkonsen created a documentary series called Terjes Sesongkort (Terje's Season Pass) following him through a year of free riding, contests and his life as a professional snowboarder. The series featured other accomplished snowboarders such as Nicolas Müller
Nicolas Müller
Nicolas Müller, is a Swiss snowboarder noted for his smooth riding style and his ability to read different terrains and adjusting his riding to the terrain....
, Shaun White
Shaun White
Shaun Roger White is an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He rides regular stance, twelve and negative three degrees on his board.-Early life:Shaun White is an Irish American...
, Mads Jonsson and Kevin Pearce
Kevin Pearce (snowboarder)
Kevin Pearce is an American snowboarder. He was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, and raised in Hartland, Vermont before moving with his parents to Norwich, Vermont.-Career:...
.
In 2005 Håkonsen was the first snowboarder to ride the 7601 (a mountain in Alaska).
Håkonsen has referred to the late snowboard legend Craig Kelly
Craig Kelly (snowboarder)
Craig Kelly was a professional snowboarder. He attended the University of Washington where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity and studied Chemical Engineering....
as his mentor.
Olympics Boycott and formation of Arctic Challenge
When the snowboard halfpipe was introduced as an Olympic event in the 1998 Winter Olympics1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
, Håkonsen boycotted the qualification. Håkonsen, and many other snowboarders, were displeased with the IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
, and particularly the fact that the IOC selected the FIS
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
to handle the qualification instead of the snowboarders' own federation, ISF
International Snowboarding Federation
The International Snowboarding Federation was a body organised to run snowboarding competition.Following the collapse of the National Association of Professional Snowboarders in 1990, five nations and 120 racers established the International Snowboarding Federation with the goal of keeping the...
.
Håkonsen, together with Daniel Franck
Daniel Franck
Daniel Franck is a Norwegian professional snowboarder. He started riding in 1991, professionally since 1993. After winning the National and Nordic championships he aimed higher and started riding world cup competitions in 1993. Daniel won his first international championship Gold at the European...
, started The Arctic Challenge
The Arctic Challenge
The Arctic Challenge is a snowboarding contest arranged for and by the riders themselves. It was started by Norwegian professional snowboarders Daniel Franck and Terje Haakonsen. The contest was established as an alternative to the former competitions that had become streamlined and run by...
as a snowboard event where the riders would be in focus. The Arctic Challenge was first arranged in 2000 and has been arranged annually in different places in 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...
since then. The Ticket to Ride (World Snowboard Tour)
Ticket to Ride (World Snowboard Tour)
Founded by Terje Håkonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour is a rider-driven organization that aims to represent the progression of snowboarding...
evolved out of the system that was used to qualify for The Arctic Challenge. The winners of prestigious international snowboard competitions earned themselves a ticket to ride (TTR) at The Arctic Challenge. The Ticket to Ride World Snowboard Tour developed into the Snowboard World Ranking List crowning the World Tour Champions. After The Arctic Challenge gained its 6Star TTR rating Håkonsen became the first professional rider to own an event with such a rating.