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Curler Eigil Ramsfjell was a Norwegian national champion, world champion and Olympic champion in the '80s. Source: https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/100334 (May be subject to copyright) |
His name is Magnus Ramsfjell, but I instantly knew he was the son of another curler with that name from that country. He was a curler who did his nation proud on the international stage, and became my favourite curler who was not Canadian.
It was 40 years ago, and I still remember Eigil Ramsfjell very well, for a number of victories he recorded in international play.
The years before
The first time I ever saw Eigil Ramsfjell curl was in 1984, and he made quite the mark. Back then there wasn’t a lot of information available, so I had no real idea of his background except what I heard on TV during that world curling championship.
The first time I ever saw Eigil Ramsfjell curl was in 1984, and he made quite the mark. Back then there wasn’t a lot of information available, so I had no real idea of his background except what I heard on TV during that world curling championship.
It turns out by then, Ramsfjell already had quite a lot of experience. He had represented Norway at the world championship in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1983. He won the world championship in 1979 in Berne, Switzerland as part of the Kristian Sørum rink. He took silver in the world championship in 1978 in Winnipeg, playing with Sørum; and took silver in 1980 in Moncton, again playing with Sørum.
He also represented Norway in the European championship in 1979, where he took bronze, and 1980 where he took silver.
The 1984 World Men’s Curling Championship, called the Air Canada Silver Broom back then, was held in Duluth, Minnesota, and it was an entertaining affair.
1984 world championship
As always, Canada was one of the favourites in the 1984 world curling championship, held April 2 to 8. The country would be represented by the Mike Riley rink from Manitoba. They had won the Canadian men’s championship, the Labatt Brier, a few weeks earlier, defeating defending Canadian and World Champion Ed Werenich in the final.
As always, Canada was one of the favourites in the 1984 world curling championship, held April 2 to 8. The country would be represented by the Mike Riley rink from Manitoba. They had won the Canadian men’s championship, the Labatt Brier, a few weeks earlier, defeating defending Canadian and World Champion Ed Werenich in the final.
I really liked Mike Riley, especially because he beat Ed Werenich at the Brier, so I cheered for him at the Silver Broom.
Riley had his difficulties in the Round Robin, finishing with a 6-3 record and tied for third with Ramsfjell. However, Riley was awarded third on a tiebreaker. Sweden, skipped by Connie Ostlund finished first, and Switzerland, skipped by Peter Attinger, finished second.
The playoff match-ups were Sweden versus Norway and Canada versus Switzerland.
Ramsfjell upset Ostliund by a score of 5-3. Riley was in tough with Attinger, as they went back and forth before Attinger won by a score of 9-8. Riley would go on to win bronze.
Meanwhile, I turned my attaention to the final and cheered for Ramsfjell, in large part, because Attinger had beaten Canada.
Norway took control early, scoring two in the first end, forcing Switzerland to take one in the second end, trading points in the third and fourth ends, and scoring two more in the fifth end to lead 5-2 at the break. Attinger scored once in the sixth end, Ramsfjell responded with two in the seventh, but Attinger countered with two in the eighth to make the score 7-5. However, when Ramsfjell scored once in the ninth end to make the score 8-5, Attinger shook hands.
Eigil Ramsfjell had won his first world championship as a skip, and second overall. It was also Norway’s second world championship overall.
Post script
I was in Grade 9 at the time. The next day at school, the Silver Broom came up and I said the team I cheered for had won. My teacher, Mr. C, said he bet I couldn’t name one person from that team.
I was in Grade 9 at the time. The next day at school, the Silver Broom came up and I said the team I cheered for had won. My teacher, Mr. C, said he bet I couldn’t name one person from that team.
“Eigil Ramsfjell, Sjur Loen, Gunnar Meland, and Bo Bakke,” I responded. My teacher had no answer for me.
The next years
Eigil Ramsfjell continued curling. He was back at the world championship in 1987 in Vancouver, where he finished first in the round robin, but lost 6-5 to Roger Schmidt of West Germany in the semi-final. Ramsfjell rebounded to defeat Gert Larsen of Denmark by a score of 11-6 to win the bronze medal.
Eigil Ramsfjell continued curling. He was back at the world championship in 1987 in Vancouver, where he finished first in the round robin, but lost 6-5 to Roger Schmidt of West Germany in the semi-final. Ramsfjell rebounded to defeat Gert Larsen of Denmark by a score of 11-6 to win the bronze medal.
He also competed in the European championship, winning bronze in 1985 and silver in 1987.
The 1988 curling season, would prove to be the best for Eigil Ramsfjell.
Olympics
When Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics in 1988, one of the benefits was choosing the demonstration sports. One of the sports they chose was curling.
When Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics in 1988, one of the benefits was choosing the demonstration sports. One of the sports they chose was curling.
Ramsfjell represented Norway in that first Olympic curling bonspiel. He finished third in the round robin with a record of 4-3. That put him in third place, behind Ed Lukowich of Canada who was second. Hans-Jürg Lips of Switzerland was first, earning a bye to the final. Ramsfjell defeated Lukowich by a score of 8-5 then blew out Lips by a score of 10-2 to win the gold medal.
Encore
A few months later, Ramsfjell was back on the international stage, representing Norway at the 1988 world championship in Lausanne, Switzerland. Ramsfjell finished in a tie for second with David Smith of Scotland with 7-2 records. Pat Ryan of Canada was first with a perfect 9-0 record. Smith took second on a tie breaker, but still faced Ramsfjell in one semi-final. Ramsfjell won that semi-final by a score of 7-2, then defeated Ryan in the final by a score of 5-4, to win his third world championship and second as skip.
A few months later, Ramsfjell was back on the international stage, representing Norway at the 1988 world championship in Lausanne, Switzerland. Ramsfjell finished in a tie for second with David Smith of Scotland with 7-2 records. Pat Ryan of Canada was first with a perfect 9-0 record. Smith took second on a tie breaker, but still faced Ramsfjell in one semi-final. Ramsfjell won that semi-final by a score of 7-2, then defeated Ryan in the final by a score of 5-4, to win his third world championship and second as skip.
By then, I was in my first year of university, and got busy with life, so I only kept track of the Olympics and world championship curling through the “Edmonton Journal.”
End of the decade
Eigil Ramsfjell wrapped up the decade by representing Norway again at the 1989 world championship in Milwaukee. He finished first in the round robin with a record of 7-2, tied with Sweden but taking first on a tie breaker. He faced Patrick Hürlimann of Switzerland in one semi-final, losing by a score of 4-2. Pat Ryan of Canada defeated Thomas Norgren of Sweden in the other semi-final then beat Hürlimann in the final to capture his first world championship. Meanwhile Ramsfjell, would take bronze. By then, there was no longer a bronze medal game. Instead the two semi-final losing teams were each awarded bronze medals.
Eigil Ramsfjell wrapped up the decade by representing Norway again at the 1989 world championship in Milwaukee. He finished first in the round robin with a record of 7-2, tied with Sweden but taking first on a tie breaker. He faced Patrick Hürlimann of Switzerland in one semi-final, losing by a score of 4-2. Pat Ryan of Canada defeated Thomas Norgren of Sweden in the other semi-final then beat Hürlimann in the final to capture his first world championship. Meanwhile Ramsfjell, would take bronze. By then, there was no longer a bronze medal game. Instead the two semi-final losing teams were each awarded bronze medals.
Ramsfjell also took silver at the 1988 and 1989 European championships.
The years after
Eigil Ramsfjell kept on curling. He was back at the world championships in 1990, finishing fifth; 1991 where he took bronze; 1995 where he finished fifth; and 1996 where he finished fourth after losing the bronze medal game, which was back on, to Switzerland.
Eigil Ramsfjell kept on curling. He was back at the world championships in 1990, finishing fifth; 1991 where he took bronze; 1995 where he finished fifth; and 1996 where he finished fourth after losing the bronze medal game, which was back on, to Switzerland.
He competed at the European championship in 1990, winning bronze; 1992 where he did not medal; 1993, winning gold; 1994, finishing fourth; and in 1995, winning bronze.
Ramsfjell also competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan when curling was a full medal sport, and won the bronze medal. He finished second in the round robin, but lost to Switzerland in the semi-final before rebounding to defeat the United States in the bronze medal game.
He was inducted into the World Curling Federation Hall of Fame in 2014.
Now, his son Magnus has taken up the mantle.
Parting thoughts
It always seemed Eigil Ramsfjell playe better coming from behind. He usually won after finishing third or fourth in the round robin. He didn’t fare so well if he finished first or second in the round robin.
It always seemed Eigil Ramsfjell playe better coming from behind. He usually won after finishing third or fourth in the round robin. He didn’t fare so well if he finished first or second in the round robin.
What I will always like about him, beyond his name which is one of my all-time favourites, is how cool he seemed under pressure.
He also looked more like an accountant out there than an athlete. Maybe that illustrates the analytical mind that helped him see angles and shots many others couldn’t see.
Whatever it was, Eigil Ramsfjell, national, world and Olympic champion, is one of the greatest curlers of all time.
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