Nordic Ski Center History

In the late 1960s, cross-country skiing was a little known activity and Johannes felt he would need some expert help in promoting the sport. He contacted his Norwegian college roommate, who offered to place an ad in the Oslo newspaper which read something like this: "Wanted: A cross-country ski instructor to go to America." There were hundreds of responses. Johannes flew to Oslo and he was so impressed with his first applicant that he hired him on the spot. That was when Per Sorlie came to America and the Trapp Family Lodge. Johannes says, "Per was a success from the beginning. He was very popular with our clientele. The success of the program I attribute largely to his energy and his charm in those early years."