It’s no secret that some of the best skiers today are coming from the other side of the pond. Europe is producing some of the most talented skiers in the game. Besides the fact that they are ridiculously good and think that Americans eat way too many hamburgers, they also have ridiculous names that we American folk can’t pronounce.
However, one fellow’s name we can pronounce is Elvis’. The remainder of his name proves difficult, but Elvis Eidsvold Harsheim is a Norwegian that you should know about. Harsheim spent last winter getting his feet wet with the big dogs on the Dew Tour and standing on multiple European podiums. This past week Harsheim took home third place in the Glacier 3000 Invitational in Switzerland.
Using his excellent English, Elvis chatted with us about his name, Norwegian women and his plans for this winter. Learn to pronounce it, Elvis Eidsvold Harsheim.
Vitals
Name: Elvis Eidsvold Harsheim
Age: 19
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
Sponsors: Sweet Protection, Oakley, Armada, Surefoot, New Era, Aerial 7 and Mokaii
Q&A with Elvis Eidsvold Harsheim
What do you think about having the same first name as American legend Elvis Presley?
[Laughs] Its cool, to be honest though I don’t like his music and neither do my parents, but the name is cool. That’s why I got the name. Plus, it’s a fun name and it’s easy to recognize. Also, not many skiers out there have that name.
That is true. Besides skiing, what is the coolest thing to do in Norway?
There is lots of cool things to do in Norway. I hang out with my friends a lot and we go to the swimming pool, skateboard and jump on trampolines.
That sounds fun. Are the girls pretty good looking in Norway? Can they ski?
The girls in Norway and Sweden are the most beautiful things on the planet! When me and my friends are out traveling its always great to get back home, because the girls in Norway just get “hotter†because of the girls in other countries. If you understand [Laughs].
Not all of them can ski though. There are some good alpine skiers but we also have the girls that dress up in the latest pants and jackets and just hang around, aka girls that like skiers…. you know.
Yea, we call them pro-hoes. Anyways, when did you start skiing? Were you a racer or mogul skier before you started to freestyle? How did it all start?
I started skiing twin-tip in 2004. I skied with my dad as soon as I learned to walk and after a while started snowboarding. I actually snowboarded until 2004 then I switched back to skiing because all of my friends at my home mountain were doing it.
Two of the people who got me back into skiing were my brother Dean Martin and of course Mungnuz Støre, and I’m glad they did. I’m not sure if I would have been able to reach the same level in snowboarding as I have with skiing. Also, I’ve met so many new people and really good friends along the way.
What gets you stoked on skiing?
My favorite part is that I enjoy doing it every day. There is always new stuff to learn, you hang out with your friends and enjoy life. Not to mention traveling the world with your best friends, that is awesome. I love everything about skiing.
What do you have planed for this season?
I got an invite a couple weeks ago to the DewTour, so I’ll be doing that and hopefully making it to all three stops. I’ll also hopefully get an invitation for some other stuff.
Next week, I’m going to SweetRumble, which should be fun, and I also want to film a lot and get a nice film part in the next Chaoz Productions movie.
Oh and I’m going to Breck for a month after Christmas which I am looking forward to.
European house music or American thug rap?
American thug rap, I’m not that into house. Plus, rap is way better to ski to.
What is your favorite skiing memory?
The Dew Tour, I didn’t think that I was good enough to do so well at such a high level of competition. But, when I got to the finals at the last stop I proved to myself that I was good enough to compete with the best. I also won three competitions this year on an international level and my results got me an invite to the European X-Games. Basically last year was my best season so far. Stoked to keep it going!
Where is your favorite place to ski?
I’d have to say Breckenridge, practicing stuff in the medium park lane and then taking it over to freeway is perfect. This will be my third year going to Breck and the park is always good.
I haven’t skied that much powder yet, but I have been to Japan once, and there was so much snow. So for powder skiing I would say Japan. I want to go back there so badly.
Those aren’t bad places. Speaking of Breckenridge, what do you really think of Americans?
[Laughs]I don’t know many yet, but they are nice, some like hamburgers, but I really like the Americans I’ve met so far. So I think Americans are nice people.
Good answer, otherwise I was going to have to tell my friend Obama not to let you back into the states. In a ski battle royal between Norway, Sweden and Finland who would win?
Oh that’s a hard one. But I actually think Sweden, Henrik Windstedt, Jon Olsson and Henrik Harlaut. Norway in second, with PK Hunder, Andreas Håtveit and Åsmund Thorsen. Don’t know that much about Finish skiing, but AJ and Pekka are some of the illest skiers I’ve met.
What is your favorite sport outside of skiing?
Skateboarding and surfing, they are both super fun.
Shout outs?
I’d would like to give a shout out to my family for being super supportive about what I’m doing, thank you. And thank you to Freeskier for interviewing me.
