– He is behind all the medals I have won, says Tarjei Bø. The recent silver medalist from the World Cup in Oberhof gives his regular skier Stein Erik Bredvold the biggest credit for his success as a biathlete. Bø is one of many, many biathletes who have been in the bow and had their own bow adapted to the stock he competes with. – Stein Erik Bredvold is behind most of the medals that we have delivered in Norwegian biathlon, says Bø. Tarjei Bø has shot with the shaft made by Bredvold for 12 years and uses it in the WC. – It has been with me all the way and is still just as accurate. Photo: Anders Boine Verstad / news Started in 1959 In the small Reodor Felgen workshop close to Flisa in Åsnes, Bredvold has made rifle stocks for the biathlon elite for over 60 years. – I have been standing on this square meter since 1959, so there will soon be holes in the floor, he laughs. The furniture workshop his father built in 1937 has not changed much in 85 years, he says. When he started there as a 14-year-old, they made everything from cart wheels to boats and kitchen fittings. The workshop of Stein Erik Bredvold in Åsnes is a journey back in time and place. Photo: Stein S Eide / news He became interested in slings after being on the Norwegian national shooting team. From the 60s, he made “sticks” for several generations of Norwegian and Swedish biathlon stars. That they appreciate him is shown by the start numbers nailed to the wall in his workshop at Kjellmyra in Åsnes. Over 300 World Cup winners – “All” have lain on the floor here, he says and rattles off: Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Emil Hegle Svendsen, Tarjei Bø, Johannes Thingnes Bø, Tora Berger, Liv Grete Skjelbreid, Tiril Eckhoff… Johannes Thingnes Bø, Tarjei Bø, Emil Hegle Svendsen and several others have hung up start numbers with greetings to shifter Stein Erik Bredvold in the workshop at Kjellmyra. Photo: Stein S Eide / news Why is it so important to have your own handle? To date, over 300 World Cup victories have been won with shafts from Bredvold. He has no count of how many podium places or championship medals there have been. – Big heart for the sport Former biathlete and expert commentator for news, Liv Grete Skjelbreid is impressed that Bredvold has been supplying the biathlon elite with handmade shafts for more than 60 years. Liv Grete Skjelbreid says the collaboration with Stein Erik Bredvold was very nice. She has eight World Cup golds, two Olympic silvers, one Olympic bronze and 22 World Cup victories. – It shows a big heart for people to succeed. She says a good stick, which is adapted to you personally, is incredibly important in biathlon to hit the mark and fight at the top. Still involved in the WC Stein Erik Bredvold is still working daily with new tasks at the workshop. Behind the planing bench at Kjellmyra, the 78-year-old is keeping a close eye on the Biathlon World Cup in Germany. So far, Tarjei Bø and Swedish Linn Persson have won medals there with his shafts. – I look on TV to see if there are any ideas to be gleaned from the foreigners, but they are lagging behind. They do, the seasoned craftsman grins confidently. Skjeftemakeren has many stories from Skjeftebua and loves to tell them in broad Sollung dialect. – This has been my life, says Stein Erik Bredvold after over 60 years as a tailor. Photo: Stein S Eide / news – The king was here in 2008 in connection with the battle at Trangen. He probably thought it was a bit funny because he had probably never been to such a root workshop before. He was really interested, he says. Bredvold has also been to the castle and received the King’s merit medal in silver. – Then I wanted to thank the King for the king’s trophy I received when I became “little king” in 1971. What kind of handle did you use then, asked the King. Bredvold thinks Kongen followed the lesson well. “Kongetreff i skeftebua” Stein Erik Bredvold is now being honored with a book. “Kongetreff i skeftebua” was written by Hans-Didrik Bakke. In the book, among others, Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Tora Berger, Emil Hegle Svendsen and the Bø brothers are interviewed about the connection they have had with Bredvold. After the end of the season in March, there will be a book launch at Idrettens Hus in Kjellmyra. – Bjørndalen and several of the other biathlon stars say they will pay tribute to Stein Erik Bredvold this day, says the former mayor of Åsnes. However, the jaw-dropper himself has no intention of giving up. – If I can be in order, going here to the workshop and doing something is the big thing for me, says Stein Erik Bredvold. Stein Erik Bredvold (78) has worked in the tiny 35 square meter red house by the road at Kjellmyra in Åsnes since he was 14 years old. Photo: Stein S Eide / news
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Stein Erik Bredvold has made stocks for the best biathletes for over 60 years – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
