Hviid grew up in Riga, and played on the Latvia men's national ice hockey team as a teenager.

He later moved to Denmark, and joined the Danish resistance movement at the onset of World War II, and began a military career.

[6] Hviid's father moved the family business from Moscow due to the Russian Revolution, and fled to Denmark.

The family moved again to Riga in 1921, but later returned to Denmark in 1934, due to the changing political situation in Latvia.

[2][3] Hviid attended school in Riga,[6] and participated in ice boat races on lakes in Latvia.

[7] Later in Denmark he practiced speed skating on the Peblingesøen in Copenhagen,[7] and became the Danish champion in barrel jumping.

[9] At the time, newspapers in Denmark did not mention the first attempt by a Danish national team at the world championships.

[6] After the war ended he was in charge of minesweepers and reconnaissance, then held defence posts at the Holmen Naval Base, Langeland, Bornholm, Stockholm and Helsinki.