TAC and Terje history
Terje Håkonsen
Being born in a taxi on the way to the hospital seems to have had no negative effect on his physical abilities. Terje learned all the fun of sports fast: Soccer, ski jumping, athletics, alpine skiing and won them all. Competing on regional teams in both soccer and alpine skiing.
Green pitch or white powder fields?
Discovering snowboarding at 14 meant leaving a potentially prosperous future as soccer pro, not a too popular choice with the family, but if thats what the kid wanted, who´s to deny. 2 months after getting his first board he won his first competition. Then life changes when the great superstar of snowboard comes to Norway on promo tour: Craig Kelly. Someone told him about the talent from Telemark (Terje actually is raised in the neighbour village of Morgedal, the birthplace of modern ski sport and Sondre Nordheim). Soon Terje found himself at Burton’s snowboard camp in Austria in the fall of 1989.
Unrivaled Winning Streak.
In 1989 he got his first sponsor deal. A couple of free boards from the Norwegian Burton dealer. No cash, but everybody is stoked. 15 years old and still striving on 9th grade, Terje makes his way into Burton’s Global Team. He debuts in World Cup in St. Moritz. Hits the 5th place in halfpipe to everybody’s surprise. Craig Kelly win and best buddy Reto Lamm comes in 3rd.
The Undisputed Champion takes shape and in 1991 with his first European Championship halfpipe title he starts a winning streak still unrivaled. He wins everything: European Championship, US Open, World Cup Champion and 14 World Cups in a row. It keeps going in 1993 with World Championship, European Championship, European Championship and US Open again.
In total he got 3 US Open victories, 5 European Championships and 3 World Championships plus endless first spots in World Cups and Invitationals.
The Legendary Mt.Baker Banked Slalom.
Terje recently won his favorite competition for the 5th time, the legendary Mt. Baker Banked Slalom. In the qualification rounds in Baker some years ago, Terje shocked everyone by making it to the finals by riding fakie. It was a solid document of his total board control. This year he beat the second guy, the fresh winner of X Games boardercross, by almost 3 seconds. Danny Kass, USA’s silver medallist from the Olympics, came in 10 seconds after Terje.
The Complete Rider Plants the TTR Seed.
Terje is the complete snowboarder; controlling all categories of riding: Freestyle Champion in halfpipe, quarterpipe and jumps, freeride master coming down the mountains and using the terrain, and king of speed.
He quit counting World Cup points after the 94 season as he thought the system was rigid and not progressive for the sport. Who is the best snowboarder in the world? The guy who goes to all contests with mediocre results and ends up with most points? Probably not. The core and origin of the current TTR philosophy can be traced back to this moment in Terje’s life and snowboarding history.
Still progressing.
From 95 and further on he focus on filming and selected competitions. He has made two films: "Subject Haakonsen" and "Factor Haakonsen" and many groundbreaking parts in several other films. He still wins competitions, even if snowboarding has reach a critical mass of talents that can challenge him. In December 2005 he took home his most recent major trophy by winning the Nissan X Trail Jam in the Tokyo Dome.
The Olympic Controversy.
In 1998 he says no to Samaranch’ Olympic party; stating that old, corrupt men could not bring any value to the progression of snowboarding. Its all about reaching the young TV viewers and getting the money. It was not a boycott, but a personal attitude. Terje was right, the 1998 Nagano Olympics was far from a milestone of progression for snowboarding.
The Arctic Challenge.
Instead Terje establishes his own alternative in 1999; The Arctic Challenge. An undisputed pillar in the history of snowboard progression. 1 week totally dedicated to the riders. Snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing in stunning arctic surroundings. Having fun with friends in beautiful nature as well as beyond olympic level competition. He wins the 2000 halfpipe and quarterpipe title and comes second in 2001 halfpipe – after wonderboy Shaun White making his breakthrough in International competition.
ISF/FIS... TTR (Ticket To Ride).
In the winter of 2002 the International Snowboard Federation goes bankrupt after fighting the FIS for 6 years. Several players from the snowboard scene approaches Terje to join new forces. Terje is reluctant; knowing the value of total independency of The Arctic Challenge. But the coalition of TTR reaches him with a solid philosophy: Rider driven, genuine snowboard values and focus on progression. Terje and TAC is placed at center stage by TTR: 9 great snowboard events around the world gets Tickets To Ride the Arctic Challenge.
Terje and the riders around gets a powerful say in the philosophy and progression of the sport.
