Alf Engen newspaper clippings, photographs, and telegrams, 1934 - 1942

Page 14

WALT The adage "two heads are better than one" definitely will be proven during this coming winter season. These two heads (one each, that • is) belong to Alf Engen and Walter Prager, coaches of the 1948 U. S. Olympic ski teams. And these two past masters, who have gained great experience in their skiing years, will guide the American ski invasion of Switzerland come wintertime. When the time to pick the coaches neared last season there was little doubt as to who would be the train­ing chiefs for the young team. Walt and Alf were the logical choices, as collectively they have probably raced and done more on skis than any others in this c~untry. When these two heads get together-results are forth­coming quickly. The co-coaches have been planning all summer for the attack against Europe's best skiers. They saw what Switzerland had to offer in Molitor, Rominger and Valaer, and now they know just what the ·Americans must do to get into the win column against this toughest competition. Already they have announced a train­ing program for the downhill, slalom, cross-country and jumping teams. They have tested equipment, waxes and everything else that will aid the Americans in the first post-war Olym­pics. This coming February, when the races will be held at St. Moritz, will see the culmination of their efforts, based on many years of racing ex­perience. Alf is a native of the Kongsberg area of Norway, where most of the world's best ski jumpers first learned funda­mentals. After coming to this country to make his home in 1929 he joined a group of traveling professional jumpers who thrilled the Americans with great jumping performances. But he tired of touring and after a period of non­participation he regained amateur status to later acquire more_ skiing laurels. It's been told many times how Alf turned to downhill and slalom skiing late in his competitive career, but his real love is jumping. He still has great jumping ability, and in 1946 he added another chapter to the history of American ski jumping. The Na­tional championships were slated for ·Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Rowel­son hill had been designed for pos­sible record-breaking leaps. This was to be the first post-war jumping champ­ionship and excitement was high in the little Colorado town. Alf had last jumped on the hill in 1944 when he and Torger Tokle per­formed for a movie short ·subject. Torger's tragedy in Italy must have re- 0 C T 0 BE R, 19 4 7 by Dick Movitz called old memories for the N orski, bur he thought he'd try a few jumps just for fun, and maybe if he felt all right he would enter the competi­tion. Everyone was there-Art Devlin, Walt, Ralph and Roy Bietila, Olaf Ul­land, Joe Perrault, Eugene Wilson and several more. All the "A" jumpers were getting long jumps but seemed to be landing very liard with many broken skis resulting. Alf's 195 pounds caused a terrific jar when landing at 250 feet and he broke two pair of new skis the day before the meet. He felt good, too, but he had just one pair left. The morning of the meet was clear and cool, and most of the boys went out for a few practice jumps . . Alf went along, and he took his turn with a terrific leap down the hill. But a loud crack was heard, and although he didn't fall his ski was in splinters. With only a few hours before the official competition, Alf was without skis-and he'd just about lost hope. One of his old jump­ing friends saw what happened and suggested that Alf try a pair of his jumpers which were quite old and battered, but would probably last for a few jumps. Well, he tried the skis, jumped in the meet with excellent form and the longest distance, 259 feet. The crowd knew that the old master had ;done it again, and probably for the last time. He'd won his tenth National jumping title, and the one that he wanted most. Walt isn't a newcomer to the ski world either, as he was one of Swit­zerland's leading racers during the early thirties. His home is in the Arosa district of the Alps, and dur­ing his many years of racing he has ALF won almost every European ski title. He came to this country in 1936 and became coach of the Dartmouth Uni­versity ski team. During his years at Hanover, the Big Green seldom lost a ski championship. Such outstand­ing racers as Dick Durrance, Ted Hunter, Bob and Ed Meservey and Mo Distin skied under the expert guidance of coach Prager. Going back to Switzerland will be a great homecoming for Walt Prager. Walt's steady, smart racing made him internationally famous and he has been one of the really great Swiss ski com­petitors. He won the F.I.S. in 1930 and 1933 plus the Arlberg Kandahar, Parsenn Derby and Swiss champion­ships just to name a few. Walt had quite a long and varied army career. He was drafted in the first American conscription, when the term was for only one year's training. He went in, spent the year, and was discharged, as the war had not begun yet. He was enjoying his freedom in November, visiting the ski resorts and planning for. the future. Then fateful Dec. 7, 1941, decided his immediate future for him. Back he went into the service with the mountain troops, and he became first sergeant of the original 87th mountain regiment. He went through the training at Ft. Lewis and Mt. Rainier, Washington, and then the outfit moved to Camp Hale, Colorado. From Colorado to Texas to Italy was a matter of months and the tough 87th went into the thick of battle. At the war's end the mountain troopers went to the Grossglockner glacier in Austria for an International army ski race. The battle-weary skiers improvised boots, skis and other necessities and held the race. Walt -seemed quite at home on the European slopes and captured the combined crown. Then it was home, dis­charge and start living again. Both the coaches have attractive wives, who ski, too. Alf's wife, Eve­lyn, assists with secretarial duties of the Sun Valley ski club. They have a son, Alan, who is just beginning to get his ski legs. Many's the time at Sun Valley when young Alan has point­ed and said "that's my daddy," as Alf floats far down the Ruud Mt. ski jump. Pretty soon it will be vice versa. Walt and wife, Eleanor, ski and mountain climb together, and quite soon they will have an offspring to carry on the skiing tradition. On re­turning from Switzerland the Pragers will probably live in Jackson, Wyo., where Walt will run his ski and moun­taineering school. But, now, in another month or so, the mountains will be white again­and coaches Prager and Engen will embark on the big job. 13 t( · Boosted by Reddish But AlE has had more tJ:Ian h~s By JIMMY HODGSON I Wius Them All Sha· re o'f competition and h1s d_ ec1- The Olympic ski team ' and the r h t l leaders will be chosen by the Olym- )lion to stay out of t e na wna pic ski committee. The intermoun- j, Alf Engen . , , In line for job as Olympic ski team coach. See story in Press Box. After jumping 245 and 2-37 feet steal the show at Ecker hill , Alf Engen reported that would not defend his national ski-jumping crown this year. .' Alf still figures he can hold h1s with any of them aftd proved by his performance at Ecker Sunday which stands as the best performance reported all sea­son. "But," he pointed. out, "I'm too busy and can't get away right " Alf climaxed his great career lwhen he got out of a sick bed and without practice and on borrowed won the national ski-jumping at Steamboat Springs, Colo. Anything he does after that ' .performance will be an anti­f: limax. 'I meet likely will mean the e~d of tain representative on that comm1t- · that 'has never been done before. Aiis appearance in the natwnal t ee is Don c. Reddish who will have ~ EJumping event, althoug_h p.e plans charge of the .national downhill and 1 Alf also has won the combined 1 d 1 1 ' title, making him the greatest (to participate in the natJ<?na _ow~- 8 ~~~ ::J~esMonday that, "I have J · h' all-around skier m 1s t ory. ?t:ill and slaJom races WhiCMh Wlcllh 1e a lready suggested Alf to the com- ) held at Snow Basin on · ar . mittee. Two coaches will , be ch?sen k C h and Alta on · March 2. and I don't know anyone who would 1\ Olympic S i oac · { Engen is the only skier in the make a better selection or a more J · With this great background, with try who has ·ever won all the deserving s ~lection than E_ngend i \' his a bili ty as a teacher and the re- ' coun · h ·onships · He definitely w1ll vote for htm an spect that he commands everywhere, major ski P ampl t h 1 · d believe he will get the assignment J and a lso because he is dropping out . started as _a_ jumper ~u e earn~ unless sorr_te ~?litics get mixed up in of the competition, it is our opinion his lessons m downhill and slalo t he selection. '1- lc l, th.at the United states couldn't find skiing_ s_o well in 1937 and 1938 \ Other members o! ~~e- i OllmJ' )' a better coach to lead its 1948 Olym~ that he was able to astound. the co:nm~ttee ~r~ Jilb~~\>f' ~irv.?a:uk:: 1' pic ski team. I ·- ld by adding those titles Franctsco, r ar ted B" n' Alf admitted Sunday after the skimg wor . . ething Ro'!'er Langley of Boston, ~ • e - . Ecker hill jumps that he was very ~1 to his jumpmg crown-som mar of Denver. Alex ¥ri~J.J'f- :0~~: much interested in the job and wouldl · ton and Darroch Cro~k~. I ' . 1 be "tickled to have a chance to · · land. Sigal and Bellma'!' · a so ate coach the team." He also intimated ) - ·rc;:t known to be favorab~"' to .AJ!, s~ that he had received some feelers on - -, the veteran appears t~_> ~e the No. the po ~t. but added : "Nothing def- choice for t~e post r1g t now- an inite has been done I am sure. I he deserves 1t. don't know whether I will have aj) T • _ . -l chance or not, but I would certainly • "' .. like to."