Tomm Murstad

Tomm Murstad (2 July 1915 – 19 January 2001) was a Norwegian skier, coach and businessperson.

He was born in Fredrikstad as a son of physician Hjalmar Murstad (1883–1940) and Elisabeth Korneliussen (1887–1968). He grew up at Vinderen. He was married to Nathalia "Oja" Mustad, daughter of Hans Clarin Hovind Mustad and granddaughter of Hans Mustad, from 1941 to 1969, and then to Nena Gretta Godfrey from 1970.[1]

Murstad began skiing as a youngster, with emphasis on alpine skiing and ski jumping. He learnt to become an alpine skiing instructor in France, and he spent summers at the Riviera where he held water skiing shows. He started a skiing school in Marka, Oslo in late 1934. He eventually started travelling between Norway, the French Alps, and the United States to stage various shows, go on PR tours and run the skiing school. In the United States he visited New York City, Boston and Chicago, and reportedly, 100,000 people saw his indoor ski jumping hill shows.[1]

During the World War II his skiing school was suspended, but after the war he started kindergartens near Tryvann. The children were brought there from downtown Oslo in a separate tram car, embarking from Majorstua station. Ahead of the 1952 Winter Olympics he was Norway's national team coach in alpine skiing, a team with Stein Eriksen among others. Eriksen would later join Murstad in summertime water skiing shows. Murstad also ran a sports clothing store.[1] In 1960 he started an eponymous summer camp for youths, with emphasis on water sports and maritime safety.[2] He used the moniker "Onkel Tomm", a direct translation of Uncle Tom.[1]

In 1980 he was decorated with the HM The King's Medal of Merit in gold. He died in January 2001 in Oslo.[1] His ventures are now run by Tomm Murstad, Jr.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ringnes, Tove. "Tomm Murstad". In Helle, Knut. Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Henriksen, Petter, ed. (2007). "Tomm Murstad". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
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