Alan K. Engen ski video collection, 1996-1998

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Engen, Alan K.
Title
Alan K. Engen ski video collection
Dates
1996-1998 (inclusive)
Quantity
8 Betacam videocassettes and VHS videocassette copies.
Collection Number
A0402
Summary
The Alan K. Engen ski video collection (1996-1998) contains movies produced or created by Alan Engen dealing with the legacy of his father Alf Engen (1909-1997), an internationally recognized skier and luminary in skiing education in Utah and the American West. Alan Engen is an accomplished competitive skier, administrator and ski historian.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor. The Olympic Torch Relay, "Alf Engen: Ski Meister" and "Sverre Engen film" may only be reproduced with permission of donor.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Alan Engen (b.1940), the son of Alf Engen, began skiing at the age of two. He attended the University of Utah, where he was a member of the ski team from 1958 to 1962. He graduated with B.A. and B.F.A. degrees in Art History in 1963. In a lifetime of competitive skiing, he has won countless championships. Engen is currently the director of skiing at Alta and chairman/president of the Alf Engen Ski Museum.

Alf Engen (1909-1997) was a Norwegian-American skier, ski instructor and owner. His two younger brothers, Sverre (1911-2001) and Corey (1916-2006), were also both accomplished skiers, and their combined contributions to the development and popularity of skiing in the Western United States were significant.

Engen was born in Mjondallen, Norway, the oldest of three boys. As a son of the famous skier Trond Engen he was reared in skiing from a young age. In 1929,at age twenty, Engen immigrated to the United States with his younger brother, Sverre. They settled in Chicago, where the two brothers joined the American-Norwegian Athletic Club to meet fellow Norwegians. In 1931, he settled permanently in Salt Lake City. His youngest brother, Kaare, and their mother, Martha, immigrated to the United States in 1933 and the three Engen brothers traveled the United States as professional jumpers, breaking Nordic records and gaining recognition wherever they went.

Engen's success as a skier is beyond compare. He began his impressive professional career by capturing the National Jumping Champion title eight times between the years of 1931 and 1946. Furthermore, at the age of 37 and on borrowed skis, he won the 1946 National Jumping title by leaping 259 feet. He was also the National Classic Champion (cross country and jumping combined) twice during these years in 1939 and 1941. After learning how to downhill ski at the age of 30, Engen became national downhill and slalom champion in 1947. Engen was also the recipient of numerous awards including the All-American Ski Trophy, 1937, Americanism Award in 1940, Helm's Hall of Fame Award in 1954; and Skier's Hall of Fame Award in 1956. He is credited for developing the technique of powder skiing, honed at the Alta Ski Area.

He established the Alf Engen Ski School at Alta, Utah, and became director of the Deseret News and Telegram Free Ski School. In 1948, Engen and Walter Prager were co-coaches for the United States Olympic ski team. He assisted in the creation of over 30 various ski resorts in the Western United States, in a lifetime dedicated to the development of the industry.

Alf Engen died in 1997, at the age of 88. His two younger brothers both lived to the age of 90.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Alan K. Engen ski video collection (1996-1998) contains betacam and VHS copies of movies, most of which relate to the career of skier Alf Engen, primarily produced and moderated by his son Alan Engen. Personal interviews, documentary films, and lecture presentations deal with the history of ski instruction in Utah as well as the considerable achievements and records set by Alf Engen as a competitive skier. Also included are personal materials documenting Alan Engen's participation in the 1996 Olympic torch relay.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically and by subject.

Related Materials

See also the Alf Engen scrapbooks (Accn 1006) and ski video collection (A0391), Corey Engen scrapbooks (Accn 1401), the Ski Museum records (Accn 518) and the Alan K. Engen papers (Accn 1601).

Processing Note

Processed by Lorraine Crouse in 1997.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
cassette
1 Olympic torch relay

VHS videocassette
Short video clips of the Alan Engen segment of the Olympic Torch Relay. Family, friends and others cheer as the Olympic torch is passed to Alan Engen. The Olympic Torch was carried and passed from person to person across the country, culminating in the lighting of the torch to open 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Reproduction is restricted except by permission of donor.
1996 May 10
2-3 History of the Deseret News Ski School

Betacam videocassette, VHS videocassette
History of the Deseret News Ski School as told by Wilby Durham, Alf Engen and Sverre Engen at the home of Alan Engen. Moderated by Alan Engen and Dr. Joe Arave. 46 minutes.
1996 September 12
4-5 Alf Engen: Ski Meister of the 20th Century

Betacam videocassette, VHS videocassette
Spectacular film footage of ski legend, Alf Engen, as he flies, sprints, zips through gates, and shreds the powder right into the annals of American ski folklore and history. Narrated by Alf's elder son, Alan, this presentation shows why Alf is regarded as one of the finest all around skiers ever to grace the sport. Produced by Alan K. Engen. Directed by Dobber Price
Reproduction is restricted except by permission of donor.
1997
6 Sverre Engen film

VHS videocassette
Reproduction is restricted except by permission of donor.
undated
7 Alan Engen presentation

VHS videocassette
Alan Engen presentats at the Marriott Library Books and Authors Series.
1998 November 08
8 Thrills and spills in the North Country

VHS videocassette
Produced and Directed by Rick Moulton for the New England Ski Museum
1998

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Skis and skiing--United States--History--Sources
  • Skis and skiing--Utah--History--Sources

Personal Names

  • Engen, Alf, 1909-1997

Form or Genre Terms

  • Moving images