Olav Hans Ulland

Olav Hans ULLAND November 23rd, 1910 to June 7, 2003 Seattle and the northwest lost a skiing and ski industry legend on Saturday, June 7 2003 when Olav Ulland peacefully passed away in his sleep. He left behind a legacy in the Norwegian and Ski Industry communities that will not be soon forgotten. Olav Ulland was born on a farm 7 miles into the woods from the town of Kongsberg, Norway on November 23, 1910. He had to work on the farm, but in the free periods, it was skiing and athletics that he enjoyed. His parents, Reier and Anne Ulland had 11 children and they all had to help with chores on the farm. He began ski jumping at a young age and became part of the Kongsberg Jumping team that boasted some of the best jumpers in the world. Olympic gold medal winners Birger & Sigmund Ruud were on this team and Olav was one of the best known out of this prestigious group. As a competitor in Norway from 1929 to 1936 Olav won many competitions, but his biggest claim to fame was when he became the first jumper in the world to surpass the 100-meter mark when he flew 103.5 meters in Ponte Di Legno, Italy in 1935. As his international career was winding down, he became known as a fine coach and took the Italian Team to the 1936 winter Olympics in Germany. He also coached the U.S. Olympic team in the 1956 Olympics in Cortina, Italy as well as the 1958 world Championships in Finland. His reputation was such that when the 1960 Olympics were held in Squaw Valley California, Olav was selected to be the Chief of Jumping competition. Ulland first came to the United States in December of 1937 to help coach Seattle area jumpers and fell in love with the area. He had to leave the US when his 4-month contract was up, but went to a cabin in the mountains above Vancouver and hid out until his proper emigration visa was in order. He worked in a local sporting goods store and on weekends would compete in any jumping event he could find. At that time Ski jumping was very much a glamour sport in this area so there was an event going on in the Northwest just about each weekend during the winter months. It was at one of these events at Snoqualmie Pass that he met his future wife, Ruth Croxford, from Snohomish. Soon love blossomed and they were married April 2, 1940 in Seattle. Olav actually continued jumping all the way up to the age of 60 when he and Fritz Peterson would compete in the senior Division at the Leavenworth Ski Hill. It was in 1940 that friend Eddie Bauer came up with a proposition for him. He wanted to know if he and Scott Osborn wanted to open a sporting goods store in Seattle. Bauer loaned them about $1000 each and Osborn & Ulland Sporting goods store was opened. After some lean years, they brought in a third partner, Hal Kihlman. That store became a Seattle mainstay for 54 years and at its peak there were 7 stores in the Northwest. The big sale they started, Sniagrab (bargains spelled backwards) was a tradition for many in the Seattle area wishing to outfit themselves in the latest ski gear at the lowest prices. The forties for Olav also included a stint in the U.S. army. Most of his tenure was spent as a communication specialist based out of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He was in the service from 1943 to his Honorable Discharge in late 1945. Olav received many awards and accolades during his lifetime. These included being inducted into the United States Ski Hall of fame in 1981. He is also a member of the Washington Sports Hall of fame (1966) as well as a member of the Northwest Ski Hall of fame (1990). In 1957, he received the Julius Blegen Award, which is the United States Ski Association's highest award honoring volunteer service. He also received awards from the Ski Industry as a founding member of the Ski Industries of America (SIA) as well as the Western Winter Sports Salesman Association. As recently as 1980, Olav participated in the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid as one of the measurers for the jumping events. His hometown of Kongsberg has a section of the Ski Museum there dedicated to Olav's awards. Perhaps his most prestigious award came in 1975 when he received the Norwegian Sesquicential award along with Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson. They were honored as the Norwegian Americans most influential in the state of Washington over the past 150 years. Olav was the reason many Norwegian skiers came to this state in the 50's & 60's and many of them spent at least a few days as guests in the Ulland home. He and Ruth's hospitality were well known in the ski circles and many lives were changed thanks to Olav's generosity. He was president of the Seattle Ski Club in 1949, and when Seattle Ski Club became a social club, in 1954 Olav became a founder and President of the Kongsberger Ski Club that still exists today. His family was always very important to him and daughter Krista came along in 1943. After his honorable discharge in 1945, Olav split his time between jumping, the store, his daughter and wife. In 1958, an unexpected event occurred as Ruth gave birth to Hans Olav Ulland at the age of 47 to complete the Ulland family. They lived in their Magnolia home until 1964, when they built a home on Lake Sammamish in Bellevue. This spot became a popular one for get-togethers among friends and family alike. Olav & Ruth lived there until 1999, when they moved to a smaller place in Redmond and finally to Kent which was near son Hans & his family. Olav loved visits to and from his grandchildren Ryer & Kailey, and also watching them in their assorted sporting events. His wife Ruth passed away last February, so this last year has been quiet, but he still enjoyed the trips to soccer games and especially visits where Norwegian was spoken. We will all miss him very much. There will be a celebration of Olav's life at the Mountaineers Club, located at 300 3rd Ave., Seattle on Sunday June 29 starting at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum, PO Box 191, Ishpeming, MI 49849.