“Oddvar Bra, I love you!”

February 12, 2018 2:38 PM

The Ski Pole That Norway Will Never Forget "It seems an unlikely event to be emblazoned in a nation’s collective memory. But if you’re from Norway, and you’re over 50, you almost certainly have a vivid recollection of this: A man named Oddvar Bra is skiing the final segment of the men’s 4x10-kilometer cross-country relay at the 1982 world championships in Oslo. Surging up a hill, he passes and sideswipes the only person ahead of him, Alexander Savyalov of the Soviet Union. Immediately, Bra realizes that the impact has had a terrible consequence. His right pole has snapped in two."
posted by ocherdraco (15 comments total)

That was great!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 3:30 PM on February 12, 2018

"millenniums"?
posted by larrybob at 3:34 PM on February 12, 2018 [4 favorites]

Did you all see the race the other day, where there was a fall and tangle within seconds of the start, and a Norwegian skier fought his way back into the lead (after breaking a pole!) to win the race? It was a great race.

First link to an article. There's a racap/replay at NBC, but it's not freely available.
posted by Orlop at 3:41 PM on February 12, 2018 [2 favorites]

Also “humbleness.” But look past these quibbles!
posted by ocherdraco at 3:42 PM on February 12, 2018

Also, that was a really interesting article, and I thank you for sharing it.
posted by Orlop at 3:42 PM on February 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

Might have been a good read. Unfortunately it's locked behind a pay wall...
posted by uncle_charlie51 at 3:59 PM on February 12, 2018

I watched a few times and I’d say Oddvar came from behind and accidentally hooked arms with the other skier, causing him to fall. Just sayin’.

YouTube link
posted by ecorrocio at 4:09 PM on February 12, 2018

What a great story! And yes, as someone half of whose family is Norsk, I can assure you that everyone they say about Norwegians is true.

> "millenniums"?

> Also “humbleness.”

There is nothing wrong with either word. Come on, people, leave the peevery at home.
posted by languagehat at 5:36 PM on February 12, 2018 [9 favorites]

they're all perfectly cromulent words.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 8:23 PM on February 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

“Hvor var du da Oddvar Brå brakk staven?” (“Where were you when Oddvar Bra broke his pole?”)

Hmmm, I think that's "broke THE pole." It would be "brakk hans stav" for HIS pole.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:43 PM on February 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

I always tear up at a good sports anecdote or story. This is great.
posted by cendawanita at 9:21 PM on February 12, 2018

Either the statue of him is huge or that fence is really ineffective.
posted by Mitheral at 9:55 PM on February 12, 2018

What a great article, thanks for sharing!
posted by smoke at 10:02 PM on February 12, 2018

The nicest thing you can say about a Norwegian hero, Gotaas explained, is “He’s like everybody else.”
posted by chavenet at 1:52 AM on February 13, 2018 [2 favorites]

So I've watched the end of the race a dozen times now. It's strange how Brå slips and goes down right at the finish line. It really looks like he tried to kick Savyalov at the last minute.
posted by hydrophonic at 7:22 PM on February 13, 2018