UUM_A0391.xml Guide to the Alf Engen ski video collection Engen (Alf) ski video collection Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Shuput. J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections

2005 (last modified: 2026)
295 South 1500 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 Business Number: 801-581-8863 special@library.utah.edu https://lib.utah.edu/collections/special-collections/index.php
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-01-02. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Alf Engen ski video collection Engen, Alf, 1909-1997 A0391 17 16mm film 65 vhs 39 u-matic 14 betacam 1938-2004 The Alf Engen ski video collection (1938-2004) contains footage that reveals the evolution of the sport of skiing and of ski facilities and resorts, including news reports and interviews featuring Engen and footage Engen competeing in National Championship events, instructing ski school, and skiing with family and friends. Alf Engen was an internationally recognized Nordic and Alpine skier instrumental in the development of the ski industry in Utah and the American West. English

Alf Engen (1909-1997) was born in Mjondallen, Norway, the oldest of three boys. Engen's father died when he was only nine years old, but he had already implemented the joy of skiing into the hearts of his sons, Alf, Sverre and Corey (Kaare). The boys learned to ski jump at a young age and became well known for thier Nordic ability in their homeland.

In 1929 Engen immigrated to the United States with his younger brother, Sverre. They Initialy settled in Chicago where they joined the American-Norwegian Athletic Club. He and several club members traveled to Westby, Wisconsin to participate in a ski jumping meet. With his first jump in the Westby Nordic event, Engen broke the world's record for distance ski jumping and was invited to tour the North American Nordic circuit with professional jumpers.

In 1931 he settled in Salt Lake City, Utah. His youngest brother, Corey, and their mother immigrated to the United States in 1933 and the three Engen Brothers travled the United States as professional jumpers, breaking Nordic records and gaining recognition everywhere they went.

In 1937, Engen married Evelyn Pack, regained his amateur standing, and ranked among the top Nordic skiers in the world. He helped in planning and developing around thirty ski areas in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming while working for the United States Forest Service as a winter sports advisor. In 1938 he was invited to represent the Sun Valley Ski Club in Nordic jumping. While living in Idaho, he taught himself how to Alpine ski and spent time off the slopes preforming in several movies and newreels. In 1940, he finished first in the National Four-way in Seattle, Washington.

Engen assisted with the operation and ski lessons at Alta and Snow Basin Ski Schools during the 1945-46 ski season and later returned to Utah to direct the Alta Ski School, the Little Mountain Ski School, and the Deseret News Free Ski School after coaching the United States Olympic Ski Team in 1948. He received the Skier's Hall of Fame Award in 1956.

Alf Engen died in 1997 at the age of 88.

The Alf Engen ski video collection (1938-2004) contains footage that reveals the evolution of the sport of skiing and of ski facilities and resorts, including news reports and interviews featuring Engen and footage Engen competeing in National Championship events, instructing ski school, and skiing with family and friends.

The materials are arranged by format type.

Audio-visual materials can be fragile and require specialized equipment to play back. For this reason, access to audio-visual materials is provided through digital copies, and it might take longer to provide access to items that are not yet digitized. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.

See also the Alf Engen scrapbooks (Accn 1006), Corey Engen scrapbooks (Accn 1401), the Ski Museum records (Accn 518) and the Alan K. Engen ski video collection (A0402) and papers (Accn 1601).

Processed by Elizabeth Shuput in 2005.

Forms part of the Ski and Snow Sport Archives.

 Engen, Alan K. Engen, Sverre Alf Engen Ski School Deseret News Ski School Alta (Utah) Skis and skiing--United States--History--Sources Skis and skiing--Utah--History--Sources Sports and Recreation Moving Images Moving images Engen family skiing 1950-1960 Silent, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 1 Engen family skiing 1960s Silent, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM) 2 Alta ski jumps 1969 Sound, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 3 North American Ski Instructors conference 1970 Sound, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 4 Sports Club: Alf Engen skiing 1976 Sound, black and white 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 5

Engen demonstrates basic ski technique and maneuvering tricks.

 National Four-Way Championship 1940 Silent, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 6 Ski gulls undated Sound, black and white 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 7

Early skiing.

 Ultra powder undated Sound, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; Betacam (TM) 8

Alf Engen and others skiing untracked powder.

 Summer skiing at Mt. Baldy, California 1959 Sound, black and white 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 9 Peruvian Lodge film 1960 Sound, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 10

Promotional film for the Alta Peruvian lodge narrated by American ski legends Lowell Thomas, Alf Engen, Alan Engen, Stein Erickson, Buddy Wagner, and Junior Bounous.

 Peruvian Lodge film 1970 Silent, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 11 Alf and Alan Engen skiing 1950s Sound, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 12

Alf Engen skiing with his son Alan Engen.

 Old Sun Valley 1950-1960 Silent, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 13

Various people skiing and at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho as well as races held at the resort.

 National Jumping Championship 1938 Silent, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 14 Alf and Alan skiing at Alta undated Silent, color 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 15

Alf Engen skiing with his son, Alan Engen at the Alta Ski Resort in Utah's Wasatch Mountains.

 Alf Engen Ski School undated Sound, black and white 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM); Betacam (TM) 16 Snow trails 1940-1950 Sound, black and white 16mm (photographic film size); VHS; U-Matic (TM) 17 White ecstacy: the ski chase undated U-Matic (TM) 18 Dr. Quakenbush skis the headwall undated U-Matic (TM) 19 Skiing with Alf Engen and family undated U-Matic (TM) 20 Alta: the first fifty years undated U-Matic (TM) 21 Legends of American skiing 1849-1940 undated U-Matic (TM) 22 National Broadcasting Company (NBC): Alf Engen and Mike Lenard 1984 U-Matic (TM) 23 National Broadcasting Company (NBC): Alf Engen 1992 U-Matic (TM); VHS 24

This news story, focused on Alf Engen, examines his career as an athlete and ski instructor, then shifts to Engen's experience with injuries. The segment also shows Engen skiing at age 85.

 Larry Warren interview: Alf Engen at Bear Hollow undated U-Matic (TM); VHS; Betacam (TM) 25 Keith West interview: Alf Engen at Alan Engen's home undated U-Matic (TM) 26 Ski riders of the Wasatch undated U-Matic (TM) 27 Skiing the American way undated U-Matic (TM) 28 Eighth Interski undated U-Matic (TM) 29 Mike Lenard interview: Alf Engen 1992 U-Matic (TM); VHS; Betacam (TM) 30 Alta's 50th anniversary Gelande undated U-Matic (TM) 31 Alan Engen footage undated U-Matic (TM) 32 The white badge undated U-Matic (TM) 33 Sixth Interski undated U-Matic (TM) 34 National Ski Academy (NSA) certification directors meeting 1959 U-Matic (TM) 35 Playtime Journey newsreel: First Deseret News Ski School, Ecker Hill ski jumping undated U-Matic (TM); VHS 36 For the love of skiing: a snapshot of early Alta ski history undated VHS; Betacam (TM) 37 Alf Engen: an American ski legend undated VHS 38

The annals of ski jumping and powder snow come to life in this eighteen minute snapshot of skiing pioneer, Alf Engen. Narrated by his son, Alan Engen, this presentation shows Alf, America's 20th century "Renaissance Skier" as: Former World Ski Jumping Champion, winner of 16 U.S National Skiing Championship Titles, U.S. Olympic Team Coach, "Father of the powder skiing technique", Ski Area designer, and instructor to hundreds of thousands of skiers.

Special Collections holds limited edition #1/100 of this movie as well as autographed 3/4" videocassettes and 16mm films.

 Alta photo and video: Alf Engen Ski School awards, Alta Peruvian Lodge banquet 1994 April 17 VHS 39

Emeritus awards: Wally Mears and Bob "Pepi" Smith

Hall of fame: Evelyn Engen.

 Construction of the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center and Alf Engen Ski Museum undated VHS 40 Wolfgang Lert ski memories undated VHS 41 Rasmussen art unveiling 2004 January 23 VHS 42 Park City, Ski undated Betacam (TM) 43

The Park City film contains footage of old Park City and various interviews pertaining to the future development of the area.

The Ski film contains footage of early development of Park City Ski Area. It also contains footage of ski racing.