Nordic

Cross Country Legend Helped Shape Sport in USA

by
Tom Kelly
2016-07-06 16:33
 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (July 6, 2016) - Olympic Ski Team coach Sven Wiik, a legendary Swedish native who brought his passion for cross country skiing to America, passed away Tuesday (July 5) at his adopted home of Steamboat Springs at the age of 95. Wiik is credited as one of the notable pioneers of cross country skiing in America, bringing thousands of youth into the sport and coaching successfully at the collegiate, national team and Olympic level. He was an honored member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and a recipient of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s Julius Blegen Award, the highest honor for service to sport. He was also the developer of the original American Birkebeiner ski trail in Wisconsin.

Wiik came to the United States in 1949 from his home in Solleftea, Sweden. He became a successful coach at Western State College in Gunnison, CO for 19 years where a dozen of his athletes qualified for Olympic and World Championship competition. He played a key role in getting cross country skiing as an intercollegiate sport with the NCAA.

Wiik also coached the U.S. World Championship Team in 1958 and was the Olympic coach in 1960 at Squaw Valley. He was presented with USSA’s highest honor, the Julius Blegen Award, in 1974. He served as a chief steward for the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid.

In 1973 he answered a call from cross country entrepreneur Tony Wise to come to Wisconsin to design a new cross country ski trail. Wiik’s creation of the American Birkebeiner ski trail set the stage for the early days of the now famous cross country ski race that attracts 10,000 racers every year.

But his lifetime passion was the ski resort hotel he developed in Steamboat Springs, the Scandinavian Lodge, where tens of thousands of guests were introduced to alpine and cross country skiing by one of its greatest fans.

“The pioneering efforts of coaches like Sven Wiik helped set the stage for the success our cross country athletes are having today,” said USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “Our country was blessed to have him bring his passion for skiing to America and to give so much back to the sport he loved. I was proud to ski on some of the trails he developed for the Slumberland American Birkebeiner this past season.”

“Today, the skiing world lost someone very special,” said American Birkebeiner President Ben Popp. “The mark Sven made on cross country skiing is immeasurable. His dedication and vision in developing the Birkie Trail, which has been used by hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, has inspired generations of athletes. Every skier, runner, and biker who uses the Birkie Trail will forever be touched by his generous legacy.”

“Sven is an icon, especially in Steamboat,” said U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team Coach and Olympian Dave Jarrett. “I remember training camps at the Scandinavian Lodge, skiing on treadmills, doing gymnastics with Sven. It was awesome to see Sven out skiing at the touring center in Steamboat; he truly is an inspiration.” 

Wiik was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1979.

 


 


Preview the new U.S. Ski & Snowboard website.


Preview