Johan Remen Evensen
Encyclopedia
Johan Remen Evensen is a Norwegian
ski jumper
from Molde
. A late bloomer, Evensen made his World Cup
debut during the 2008–09 season at age 23, and earned a place in the Norwegian World Cup team following consecutive top-12 finishes at Granåsen
. On 14 December 2008, Evensen finished on the podium for the first time in his career, when he finished third in the World Cup event at Pragelato
. On 11 February 2011, Evensen made the world's longest ski jump with 246,5 meters in the ski flying qualification round at Vikersund, Norway. The following day he won his first world cup competition in the main event.
, but his family moved from Sørvågen to Molde, his mother's home city, when Johan was aged seven. He has four brothers. He took up ski jumping in the sports club Molde og Omegn IF at the age of seven, his father Arnor Evensen being a supportive figure. Johan Remen Evensen attended secondary school at Heimdal
, being affiliated with the regional ski jumping team Trønderhopp. He later moved to Oslo, leaving Trønderhopp to join Eastern Norway's Kollenhopp.
At the Norwegian Championships held in Holmenkollen
in January 2006, Remen Evensen finished seventeenth in the large hill.
In January 2007 he was used as a test jumper in the ski flying hill Vikersundbakken
. He described this as "fantastically fun", and added that the success of Anders Jacobsen
inspired him. By February 2007, he had displayed consistently good results in the Norwegian Tournament. He then performed well in the 2007 national championships. For this, he was sent to Japan to compete in the FIS Cup, the third highest level of international ski jumping. Competing three times, twice in Zao
and once in Sapporo
, Evensen recorded two victories and one second place. He followed up with a second place in his first Continental Cup
event, in Zakopane
two weeks later. He was drafted to the Norwegian squad for the World Cup
event in Planica
, but here he fell through in the qualification round. At this time his short-term goal (his long-term goal being to become "the world's best ski jumper") was to make the Norwegian national ski jumping team. In May the same year his inclusion in the national B team was announced. He landed a number of sponsor deals in order to concentrate fully on his training.
In the 2007–08 season, Evensen continued his Continental Cup career in January, with three competitions in Sapporo. His best result was a fourth place. At his next international competition, the Continental Cup in Trondheim
in March, he finished ninth and tenth in the two races. This season he achieved a personal best jump of 212 metres as a test jumper in Planica. He was also a test jumper at the FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 2008
.
A week later in Pragelato
, Evensen achieved a seventh place. Being the highest-placed Norwegian in the race, he described the experience as "unreal". The next day, he was third after the first round, but as the second round was cancelled due to weather conditions, Evensen took his first World Cup podium.
The podium was followed by several low rankings, however, on February 14, he again showed his potential by placing third behind Harri Olli and Anders Jacobsen in the Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze in Oberstdorf, where he not only improved his own personal record to 223.5 m, but also jumped 0.5m longer than the previous hill record set by Roar Ljøkelsøy
in 2004. His record was not acknowledged because Harri Olli had already landed on 225.5 m in the first round. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec
, Evensen won a silver in the team large hill event.
among others. He is also a member of the Christian
sports organization Kristen Idrettskontakt (KRIK
).
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...
ski jumper
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
from Molde
Molde
is a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Romsdal region. The municipality is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord...
. A late bloomer, Evensen made his World Cup
Ski jumping World Cup
The FIS Ski Jumping World Cup is a ski jumping tournament held yearly by the International Ski Federation since 1979–80 season.- World Cup points :...
debut during the 2008–09 season at age 23, and earned a place in the Norwegian World Cup team following consecutive top-12 finishes at Granåsen
Granåsen
Granåsen is a ski jumping hill, located in Granåsen skicenter in Trondheim, Norway. The hill frequently hosts World Cup and Continental Cup competitions arranged by FIS. The hill sports one K-90 hill and one K-124 hill....
. On 14 December 2008, Evensen finished on the podium for the first time in his career, when he finished third in the World Cup event at Pragelato
Pragelato
Pragelato is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km west of Turin, in the upper Val Chisone. The name Pragelato, meaning ‘icy meadow’, has been derived from the harsh climate and the fact that the ground is covered with ice for long periods...
. On 11 February 2011, Evensen made the world's longest ski jump with 246,5 meters in the ski flying qualification round at Vikersund, Norway. The following day he won his first world cup competition in the main event.
Early life and career
Evensen was born in AlsvågAlsvåg
Alsvåg is a village in Øksnes municipality of Norway, located on the western bank of the Gavlefjord and east of Myre. Its population is 336....
, but his family moved from Sørvågen to Molde, his mother's home city, when Johan was aged seven. He has four brothers. He took up ski jumping in the sports club Molde og Omegn IF at the age of seven, his father Arnor Evensen being a supportive figure. Johan Remen Evensen attended secondary school at Heimdal
Heimdal
Heimdal is the southernmost borough in Trondheim, Norway named after the god Heimdall in Norse mythology. The area has been continuously inhabited since at least the Iron Age, and is rich in archaeological sites....
, being affiliated with the regional ski jumping team Trønderhopp. He later moved to Oslo, leaving Trønderhopp to join Eastern Norway's Kollenhopp.
At the Norwegian Championships held in Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen ski jump
Holmenkollbakken is a large ski jumping hill located at Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway. It has a hill size of HS134, a construction point of K-120, and a capacity for 30,000 spectators. Holmenkollen has hosted the Holmenkollen Ski Festival since 1892, which since 1980 have been part of the FIS Ski...
in January 2006, Remen Evensen finished seventeenth in the large hill.
In January 2007 he was used as a test jumper in the ski flying hill Vikersundbakken
Vikersundbakken
Vikersundbakken is the only ski flying hill in the Nordic countries. With a hill and world record of 246,5 meters, Vikersundbakken is the world's largest ski jumping hill....
. He described this as "fantastically fun", and added that the success of Anders Jacobsen
Anders Jacobsen (ski jumper)
Anders Jacobsen is a Norwegian ski jumper, representing Ringkollen Skiklubb, and the youngest Norwegian to have won the Four Hills Tournament. He has competed since 2003.-Early career:...
inspired him. By February 2007, he had displayed consistently good results in the Norwegian Tournament. He then performed well in the 2007 national championships. For this, he was sent to Japan to compete in the FIS Cup, the third highest level of international ski jumping. Competing three times, twice in Zao
Mount Zao
is a complex volcano on the border between Yamagata Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture in Japan. It consists of a cluster of stratovolcanoes and is the most active volcano in northern Honshū. The central volcano of the group includes several lava domes and a tuff cone, Goshiki-dake, which contains...
and once in Sapporo
Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium
The , also known as the is a ski jumping venue located in the Miyanomori area in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Owned mostly by Sapporo City, the ski jump is placed on the eastern slope of the Mt. Okura. The stadium has hosted a number of winter sports events including 1972 Winter Olympics and...
, Evensen recorded two victories and one second place. He followed up with a second place in his first Continental Cup
Ski jumping Continental Cup
The FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup is arranged yearly by the International Ski Federation . It's the second-highest ski jumping season-long competition, only surpassed by the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. The cup usually consist of juniors, or jumpers who are fighting for a spot on their nation's...
event, in Zakopane
Wielka Krokiew
Wielka Krokiew is a ski jumping venue in Zakopane, Poland. It is a regular venue in the FIS Ski jumping World Cup....
two weeks later. He was drafted to the Norwegian squad for the World Cup
Ski jumping World Cup
The FIS Ski Jumping World Cup is a ski jumping tournament held yearly by the International Ski Federation since 1979–80 season.- World Cup points :...
event in Planica
Letalnica
Letalnica Bratov Gorišek is a ski flying hill located in Planica, Slovenia. It is the 2nd...
, but here he fell through in the qualification round. At this time his short-term goal (his long-term goal being to become "the world's best ski jumper") was to make the Norwegian national ski jumping team. In May the same year his inclusion in the national B team was announced. He landed a number of sponsor deals in order to concentrate fully on his training.
In the 2007–08 season, Evensen continued his Continental Cup career in January, with three competitions in Sapporo. His best result was a fourth place. At his next international competition, the Continental Cup in Trondheim
Granåsen
Granåsen is a ski jumping hill, located in Granåsen skicenter in Trondheim, Norway. The hill frequently hosts World Cup and Continental Cup competitions arranged by FIS. The hill sports one K-90 hill and one K-124 hill....
in March, he finished ninth and tenth in the two races. This season he achieved a personal best jump of 212 metres as a test jumper in Planica. He was also a test jumper at the FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 2008
FIS Ski-Flying World Championships 2008
The FIS Ski-Flying World Ski Championships 2008 took place on 22-24 February 2008 in Oberstdorf, Germany for the record tying fifth time, matching that of Planica, Slovenia. Oberstdorf hosted the championships previously in 1973, 1981, 1988, and 1998. For the first time, both events were held in...
.
World Cup career
Ahead of the 2008 season, his place on the national B team was reaffirmed. He achieved mediocre results during the autumn 2008 Continental Cup run, but his performances in the Norwegian Tournament secured him a place on the team for the 2008–09 World Cup opener in Trondheim. In Trondheim Evensen achieved a tenth place in the first race, and followed up with a twelfth place the next day. He was noted as a surprise achiever by the national media. Evensen himself described the competition as a "dream" and "completely insane".A week later in Pragelato
Pragelato
Pragelato is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km west of Turin, in the upper Val Chisone. The name Pragelato, meaning ‘icy meadow’, has been derived from the harsh climate and the fact that the ground is covered with ice for long periods...
, Evensen achieved a seventh place. Being the highest-placed Norwegian in the race, he described the experience as "unreal". The next day, he was third after the first round, but as the second round was cancelled due to weather conditions, Evensen took his first World Cup podium.
The podium was followed by several low rankings, however, on February 14, he again showed his potential by placing third behind Harri Olli and Anders Jacobsen in the Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze in Oberstdorf, where he not only improved his own personal record to 223.5 m, but also jumped 0.5m longer than the previous hill record set by Roar Ljøkelsøy
Roar Ljøkelsøy
Roar Ljøkelsøy is a Norwegian ski jumper. Ljøkelsøy's early career was not particularly brilliant. While considered almost flawless technically, he did not win an individual World Cup event until 25 January 2003, at age 26...
in 2004. His record was not acknowledged because Harri Olli had already landed on 225.5 m in the first round. At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec
Liberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
, Evensen won a silver in the team large hill event.
Personal life
Evensen married at the age of 22. He is an outspoken Christian, sponsored by the newspaper Vårt LandVårt Land (Norwegian newspaper)
Vårt Land is a daily newspaper published in Oslo. It has a nationwide target audience. Its average daily circulation in 2007 was 27.146, it was Norway's 23rd largest newspaper...
among others. He is also a member of the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
sports organization Kristen Idrettskontakt (KRIK
KRIK
KRIK, Kristen Idrettskontakt, meaning Christian Sports Contact, is a Norwegian christian youth organisation which has the goal of combining the Christian faith with the joy of sport. KRIK was founded in 1981 on initiative by the Norwegian priest Kjell Markset...
).