Engen, Alf, 1909-1997
Biographical History
Alf Engen (1909-1997) was a professional skier both in the United States and internationally.
Alf Marinius Engen was born on May 15, 1909, in Oslo, Norway to parents Trond Sorli Engen and Martha Maranda Oen. He came to the United States in 1929 from Norway, and already had a skill in ski jumping. In 1931, he won the World Pro Championship in ski jumping, and in 1937 he won the national championship in the U.S. He married Evelyn Pack on December 23, 1937, in Centerville, Utah. In 1940, he made the Olympic team both in jumping and in the downhill-slalom, but never competed because the games were canceled due to World War II. In 1948, he coached the United States Olympic jumpers, and in that same year, he founded the Alf Engen Ski School in Alta and ran it until he retired in 1989.
He set several ski jump records throughout the course of his life, and won over 500 sports trophies. Alf also helped in the design of several ski resorts, including Sun Valley, Idaho; Alta, Utah; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He was elected to the Helms Hall of Fame in 1954 and the United States Skiing Hall of Fame in 1959.
He died on July 21, 1997, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Citation:
FamilySearch, via WWW, accessed 03 February 2020 (born May 15, 1909 in Oslo, Norway to Trond and Martha Engen; married Evelyn Pack on Dec. 23, 1937 in Centerville, Utah; died on July 21, 1997 in Salt Lake City, Utah).NYTimes obituary, via WWW, accessed 03 February 2020 (came to the U.S in 1929 from Norway; won the World Pro Championship in ski jumping in 1931; won the national championship in the U.S. in 1937; made the Olympic team both in jumping and in the downhill-slalom in 1940; games were canceled due to World War II; coached the United States Olympic jumpers, and founded the Alf Engen Ski School in Alta in 1948; ran the Ski School until retirement in 1989; set several ski jump records, and won over 500 sports trophies; helped in the design of several ski resorts, including Sun Valley, Idaho; Alta, Utah; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming; elected to the Helms Hall of Fame in 1954 and the United States Skiing Hall of Fame in 1959).
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Alf: Ski Meister of the 20th Century
Contains a DVD about Alan K. Engen labeled, "ALF: ski meister of the 20th century." 1997. This DVD takes place in Utah and was created by Alf's son Alan in honor of his father.
For the love of skiing ; a snapshot of early Alta ski history
Contains a DVD labeled, "For the Love of Skiing; A Snaphsot of Early Alta Ski History; Copyright: Alan K. Engen; Running time: 1:20:00." Recording goes into the history of the Alta Ski Resort and the history of skiing as a sport. It was created to be shown in the Alf Engen Ski Museum. DVD dated 2001.