Terje HÃ¥konsen

Terje Håkonsen ( born October 11, 1974 in Vinje, Norway) is a Norwegian snowboarder. He is one of the most influential athletes in the snowboard history and was the first superstar of his class.

Biography

Håkonsen came in the taxi on the way to the hospital in the world. Even as a small child came in contact with Håkonsen winter sports and began at the age of 14 years with snowboarding. But he also gave his original plans to become a professional soccer player on. The visit by Craig Kelly in 1989 in Norway was the foundation for Håkonsens career, since this was noticed him and took him with the Burton Snowboard Competition Team to Camp in Austria. Shortly thereafter, he received a sponsorship contract and still came in the same year the Burton Global Team and participated in the World Championships in St. Moritz, where he finished fifth in the halfpipe. Two years later, a winning streak started ( he won roughly everything there is to win ), which continues unabated to this day.

In his native Norway, he is an icon and it also includes the world's most legendary snowboard freestyle history.

Particularly controversial and at the same legendary is its rejection for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano because he was classified at that time as the top favorite for the competitions, but canceled due to the competitive basis and did not participate. Terje Håkonsen saw in snowboarding no struggle being waged between countries, exercised strong criticism of the rules of the FIS and therefore opted for this statement.

Consequence of his struggle with the FIS is held by him since 1999 The Arctic Challenge competition, which is organized annually in Norway as part of the Ticket to Ride World Snowboard Tour and can be co-influences of the drivers as well. He continues to participate part in it and also has constant top rankings. He also holds still the world altitude record in the quarterpipe at 9.8 m, which now spite of major ramp structures could not be broken (as of 07-02-2008 ).

Sponsors: Burton Snowboards, Volcom, Oakley

Services

Win

• ISF World Championships: Halfpipe (1993, 1995, 1997 )
• European Championships: halfpipe, (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997 )
• Air & Style Contest: Straight Jump (1995), quarterpipe (1997)
• U.S. Open: Halfpipe (1992, 1993, 1995 )
• Mt Baker: Banked Slalom (1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006)
• X-Trail Jam: quarterpipe ( 2001 [ x2], 2003, 2005 )

Events

• The Arctic Challenge, Midstuen, Norway ( quarterpipe contest, along with Daniel Franck ), since 1999