Eskil Ervik
Encyclopedia
Eskil Ervik is a Norwegian
speedskater
. Ervik's best distance is traditionally the 5000-m, where he for several years was among the very best of the world, but his top priority for the most part of his career was to perform optimally in the allround championships. His retirement from top international speedskating was announced in April 2007.
Ervik won bronze at the World Allround Championships
in Hamar
in 1999 and silver at the European Allround Championships
in 2000 and 2006, again in Hamar. As of January 2007, he has won the Norwegian allround championships seven times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007), and has also won a string of Norwegian single distance championships titles.
Under American coach Peter Mueller
, Ervik enjoyed a new spring as a speed skater – on 15 October 2005, he set a new world outdoor record on the 3000 meters, finishing at 3:44.90 in Inzell
, and on 5 November 2005, he set the world record (indoor or outdoor) on that distance in Calgary
with a time of 3:37.28. Eight days later in Calgary, he broke the world record on the 5000 meters, finishing in 6:12.19, on that occasion also being the first skater ever to do the 5000 meters with all lap times below 30 seconds. This was a short-lived world record, though, since Chad Hedrick
skated faster in the next race.
Ervik's highest ranking on the all-time best-ever Adelskalender list was a 4th place, a position he held briefly on 4 December 2005, when he became the second skater ever to race a 10,000-m below 13 minutes (but 12.52 seconds later Enrico Fabris
overtook his 4th rank position). Ervik was for several years the best Norwegian on the Adelskalender, until Håvard Bøkko
passed him in March 2007. At the time of his retirement from speedskating, Ervik held the 8th position at the Adelskalender.
In "Top Gear
Winter Olympics Special" Jeremy Clarkson
raced with Jaguar XK8 against Ervik.
Ervik currently works as head of the marketing department at the Storhamar Dragons
front office.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
speedskater
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
. Ervik's best distance is traditionally the 5000-m, where he for several years was among the very best of the world, but his top priority for the most part of his career was to perform optimally in the allround championships. His retirement from top international speedskating was announced in April 2007.
Ervik won bronze at the World Allround Championships
World Allround Speed Skating Championships
The World Allround Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of the world...
in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
in 1999 and silver at the European Allround Championships
European Speed Skating Championships
The European Speed Skating Championships are a series of speed skating events held annually to determine the best allround speed skater of Europe. The International Skating Union has organised the European Championships for Men since 1893 and the European Championships for Women since 1970. The...
in 2000 and 2006, again in Hamar. As of January 2007, he has won the Norwegian allround championships seven times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007), and has also won a string of Norwegian single distance championships titles.
Under American coach Peter Mueller
Peter Mueller (skater)
Peter Alan Mueller is a former speed skater and currently a speed skating coach....
, Ervik enjoyed a new spring as a speed skater – on 15 October 2005, he set a new world outdoor record on the 3000 meters, finishing at 3:44.90 in Inzell
Eisstadion Inzell
Eisstadion Inzell is a stadium located in Inzell, Germany, best known as a speed skating venue. It is an outdoor, artificial ice, rink, located 690 metres above sea level and has a capacity of 20,000 people...
, and on 5 November 2005, he set the world record (indoor or outdoor) on that distance in Calgary
Olympic Oval
The Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a covered speed skating oval built for the 1988 Winter Olympics. It is the official designated training center for Speed Skate Canada and the Canadian National Speed Skating team. It is located on the University of Calgary campus...
with a time of 3:37.28. Eight days later in Calgary, he broke the world record on the 5000 meters, finishing in 6:12.19, on that occasion also being the first skater ever to do the 5000 meters with all lap times below 30 seconds. This was a short-lived world record, though, since Chad Hedrick
Chad Hedrick
Chad Hedrick is an American inline speed skater and ice speed skater. He was born in Spring, Texas.Hedrick revolutionized the inline speed skating world with his unique technique, called the double push or DP...
skated faster in the next race.
Ervik's highest ranking on the all-time best-ever Adelskalender list was a 4th place, a position he held briefly on 4 December 2005, when he became the second skater ever to race a 10,000-m below 13 minutes (but 12.52 seconds later Enrico Fabris
Enrico Fabris
Enrico Fabris is a former Italian long track speed skater who has won three World Cup races and became the first European Allround Champion from Italy when he won the 2006 European Championships one month before the Winter Olympics in Turin. In 2007 he won also the silver medal an in 2008 the...
overtook his 4th rank position). Ervik was for several years the best Norwegian on the Adelskalender, until Håvard Bøkko
Håvard Bøkko
Håvard Bøkko is a Norwegian speedskater, widely considered to be one of the most promising talents for many years, with junior results similar to those of Sven Kramer, Gianni Romme and Eric Heiden. He is the older brother of Hege Bøkko.-Speed skating career:In 2006, Bøkko was the Junior World...
passed him in March 2007. At the time of his retirement from speedskating, Ervik held the 8th position at the Adelskalender.
In "Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
Winter Olympics Special" Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
raced with Jaguar XK8 against Ervik.
Ervik currently works as head of the marketing department at the Storhamar Dragons
Storhamar Dragons
The Storhamar Dragons is an ice hockey club based in Hamar, Norway and plays in the GET-ligaen. The club also includes the largest junior department in Norwegian ice hockey.The ice hockey department of the Storhamar IL was founded on 18 March 1957...
front office.