Per Knut Aaland

Per Knut Aaland grew up on the west coast of Norway and was a typical long-distance skier. He made his international début at the 1974 Junior World Championships, but his real breakthrough came at the 1977 Norwegian Championships when he won the 50 km race and was named the best skier of the championships. He would eventually have three second places in World Cup races, all at 50 km classical style, and competed in two Olympics.

Aaland ended his career in 1987 and during the 1990s was involved with the Norwegian national ski team as a waxing expert. He was educated as a timberman but he is still involved with ski wax, now in the production of Rode Skiwax.