Kristian Hovde

Kristian Hovde had his international breakthrough when he placed second at 50 km in Holmenkollen in 1928 behind the Finn Martti Lappalainen. In 1931 he was Norwegian Champion at 30 km, and later in the season he won the silver medal at 17 km at the World Championships in Oslo. Hoved was born in Vikersund, where his father owned a ski factory, Hovde Skifabrikk. In 1938 Kristian Hovde took over the factory from his father. He was one of the men behind the construction of the only ski flying jumping hill in Scandinavia, Vikersundbakken, and, as chairman of the organizing committee, had the pleasure to watch world records in both 1966 and 1967 before his death in 1969.