Trysil-Knut

Trysil-Knut is a legend in Norwegian skiing history. The poem about him was written by Bernt Lund, and it was published in 1861. The story of the Tryslingen who traveled around Norway on skis became a national epic about the joy of skiing and skiing skills. Today, Trysil Knut lives on, not only in Trysil, but all over the country. 

Ved Østerdalske skiløberkor

der hørtes engang så stort et ord

om Trysil-Knud, som sto på ski

i Bratbergkampen og Glommelid.

Ved præmieløb og ved exercis,

da var det Knud, som vandt første pris;

han gik i spidsen, hvorhelst det gjaldt

og stod, hvor ellers den bedste faldt.

The Tryslings skied far

In the 1800s, everyone in Trysil used long skis and andor (one long and one short ski). It was equipment adapted to the landscape where people had to walk far – over rock after rock. At this time, alpine skiing exercises were something that belonged to other parts of the country, the Tryslings both had to and wanted to go far on skis.

When Elling Rønes won Holmenkollen's 50-kilometre race in 1906, he skied the 95 kilometres from the timber forest in Nord-Trysil to the railway station in Elverum. He took the train to Oslo, where he started last, but did not finish until the five-mile race. Then it was the same route home again. Rønes won this event four times. The arm strength and the ability to move quickly in hilly terrain were typical of the skiing skills in Trysil. In the 1930s, Gjermund Muruåsen and Sigurd Vestad won the five-mile in Kollen, and in the 1950s, Hallgeir Brenden dominated Norwegian cross-country skiing. Brenden won gold in the Olympics in both 1952 and 1956, and the statue of Hallgeir is today centrally located in front of the municipal hall in Innbygda.

Medals from the Olympics and World Championships

Trysil has had several skiers who have asserted themselves both nationally and internationally. Anita Moen participated in the World Cup in cross-country skiing from 1987 to 2003 and helped take seven relay medals for Norway in the World Championships and Olympics. She also has two individual bronze medals from the Olympics. Anita has been important for Trysil today to have a wide range of cross-country skiing trails, both around Trysil-Knut Arena and in and around Trysilfjellet. 

Den svære bakke, man så sig ud,

var dog for liden for Trysil-Knud;

han midt i bakken fik gjort et hop;

derunder stilledes tolv mand op.

Og Knud fløi over, mens hurra lød,

idet han muntert en salve skjød.

Det var et sprang, som var værdt et ord

selv indene dette skiløberkor.