Happy 96th Birthday To The Iconic Skier Stein Erikson

Stein Eriksen was an alpine ski racer and an Olympic gold medalist, originally from Oslo, Norway.

He is also credited with inventing airs, as the "godfather of freeskiing", and he would demonstrate these tricks on Sunday afternoons at Sugarbush in Vermont.

After moving to the US from Norway, Stein worked as a ski instructor at Sun Valley, Idaho, and as the ski school director at resorts across the country such as Boyne, Pine Knob, Sugarbush, Heavenly, Snowmass and Aspen, and, importantly, Park City in Utah.

Watch a tribute video to Stein Eriksen below.

Eriksen took gold in giant slalom at the 1952 Winter Olympics, held in Oslo, Norway, additionally winning silver in slalom.

Eriksen was also the first male alpine ski racer from outside the Alps to win an Olympic gold medal. He won three gold medals at the 1954 World Championships in Åre, Sweden.

Officials at Deer Valley Resort wrote, "today, Stein Eriksen’s birthday was officially named Stein Eriksen Day by former Utah Governor, Mike Leavitt."

This isn't the first time Eriksen has received recognition. In 1997, Eriksen was knighted by the King of Norway with the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for his contribution to Norway.

That kind of thing doesn't happen often to skiers these days!

Sadly, Deer Valley reminded us that "Stein Eriksen passed away on December 27, 2015. His influence in the ski industry and at this resort was infinite and his legacy will forever live on here, where he served as our Director of Skiing for more than 35 years."

"Please join us as we #CelebrateStein and what would have been his 96th birthday."

Are you going to do a flip, or maybe visit the Stein Eriksen lodge (the only 5 star resort in Deer Valley)?

Whatever you do, get out there! It's what Stein would have wanted.

Related: Every Day Is a Good Day at Deer Valley

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