Tales from the Norse Country: Two Weeks with Terje Haakonsen

The Sunday after The Arctic Challenge wrapped up, about a dozen folks: riders, writers, shooters, guides, coordinators, filmers, fishermen, and then some piled onto a train headed North. Northwest I believe. First stop would be Bjorli. A small town with a quaint hotel with great food and a resort right next door.

PHOTOS FROM NORWAY: CLICK HERE

Before I get much further, it’s important to know what kind of position Terje Haakonsen holds in Norway. Terje may be the greatest/most famous living athlete in Norway. He is a national hero. When lost in Oslo one day I picked up a tabloid with a picture of Terje and his house on the cover. Right next to Britney’s shaved dome. Another day I picked up one with a story on the Arctic challenge and how the prince and princess of Norway were in attendance. Terje holds a commanding hand in the country. He wrangled a trip together of the highest caliber. With help from Villa Seafood, Classic Norway and More og Romsdal fylke, our legion traveled like royalty. We stayed at multiple Classic Norway resorts and ate the best organic seafood thanks to Villa. I have always hated Salmon and shrimp, but goddamn, they served us such great variations of the two, along with many other breeds. Another notch in Terje’s Awesome Belt came when, after I lost my passport, I was reporting it to the Oslo police. He asked when I last had it. “Friday night, at the Rockefellar,” I replied. “Oh, you are here for the Arctic Challenge?” The mood immediately lightened as the officer knew what I was doing there. He knew exactly what was going on that night… “Terje is a very big star here in Norway. We have good soccer players, but Terje is a national hero.” The officer’s smile was wide and his eyes were beaming. Terje brought snowboarding to the highest echelon. One of heroism and universal respect. Damn. I thought the dude was pretty sweet in Subjekt: Haakonsen and The Garden and stuff. So, there’s a bit more of a chunk on why Terje is so much of The Man.

PHOTOS FROM NORWAY: CLICK HERE

Back to our journey on the coasts. Chris Hotell, one of the finer human specimens you will come across, works at Oakley and has been a friend of mine for 6 or 7 years or some crap; he dates Gretchen Bleiler, he’s tan and smart, funnier than you, and he was along for the trip. Having Chris there was such a happy unexpected treat. At least once a day we said, “Dude, it’s the fucking bird man!” and quietly pointed to Terje. Chris was a fan just as much as I, and was in an equal amount of awe over our trip. At one point we were arguing over who could lick Terje’s board first before he came back to the car. Chris won. Lucky bastard.

Over the course of the week we went surfing, high speed wave hopping in angry oceans, fishing, snowmobiling, island hopping, and snowboarding throughout some of the coolest country one’s eyes could fall upon. Oh, and there was a soccer match up against the local team in Molde. The next day the headlines were all over the town about how legendary rider and his cohorts played a vicious game to the end… but fell to the feet of Molde. Friday Productions, the crew responsible for The Sorsa Project filmed the whole journey, and other escapades with Terje this season for a soon-to-be released project. You and your innermost vicarious adventurer will get very much of the jealous stick beating. That part of the world holds some of the most spectacular everything: food, music, architecture, female design, athleticism, geography, knowledge blah blah blah it was awesome blah blah blah. Keep your ears and eyes peeled wide open for Friday’s project, it will be worth checking out and then checking out some more.

PHOTOS FROM NORWAY: CLICK HERE

Chris and I weren’t the only ones blown away by the time spent with Haakon. Jake Blauvelt and Kevin Pearce, two kids who have earned the respect of everyone in the snowboard community, also earned their trips up north with Terje. I was so curious to hear what it was like for them on the trip; being kids on the quick rise with Terje as a figurehead, as well as a respecting peer. So, I just asked a few questions, something any inquisitive jerk would do.

What did you think about Terje before meeting him?
KEVIN PEARCE: Terje to me before I met him was the biggest thing in snowboarding. I thought of him—and still do—as the best snowboarder ever, so getting to meet him was just insane for me. He was the person I had always looked up to and watched in videos. I never really imagined meeting him ...
JAKE BLAUVELT: That if anyone in snowboarding was considered to be a living legend, it was him.

What does the name Terje Haakonsen mean to you?
KP: Terje Means so many different things to me. He has done so much for the sport and inspired me in so many ways. He is what made me want to snowboard.
JB: The best snowboarder in the world, and one of the most humble and centered people I know.

After spending time with him, how do you see him as not only a representative and ambassador for our sport, but as a person and colleague?
KP: After spending some time with Terje I see him as a friend of mine. The time I have spent with him has been mellow. Its definitely a lot different than I expected in the way that he is—just totally down to earth and a really nice person. I didn't feel like I had to act different around him, but sometimes I would take a step back and realize what was happening… it was totally chill.
JB: He is really trying to take snowboarding in the right direction and give it the right kind of exposure. This year he invited the prince of Norway, (or whatever you call him) to the Arctic Challenge. I realized after spending time with him, that he could care less about all the glitz and glamour of fame. You would never hear him talking about himself—something that I found incredibly humbling. He's an awesome person to share a car ride with and an even better partner to have on your soccer team. And he as a super funny sense of humor, something I would have never thought, just because of his quietness.

What was it like spending two weeks with Terje in his home country?
KP: Spending two weeks with him in Norway was insane. First the Arctic Challenge turned out amazing and then the second half of the trip up North was also a trip I will never forget. It was chill because the trip was so relaxing and although the snow didn't turn out to be very good the trip couldn’t have been any more fun. From the soccer to the surfing we all had a great time.
JB: To shred some heli turns in Norway alongside my hero was like a dream come true. Good snow or bad, it was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. I also realized I gotta work on my soccer. haha!

Anything else you wish to write, go ahead.
KP: I just wanna say thanks to Terje for everything he has done for the sport of snowboarding.

PHOTOS FROM NORWAY: CLICK HERE