[2] His father was a Supreme Court judge, a mountaineering pioneer, and a leader of the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II.

In 1948 he also won bronze medals at the national championships and Winter Olympics and graduated in law from the Oslo University.

[3] Besides ski jumping Schjelderup was known as an author, photographer and environmentalist who traveled around the country to promote outdoor activities.

He published 10 books, mostly about ski jumping and nature, including the first Norwegian textbook on environmentalism for the elementary school in 1973.

[2] After their separation in 1969 he lived with the musical actress and singer Ranveig Eckhoff until 1985, and for several years they stayed in Stockholm.