Norway is truly the Cradle of Skiing. What we today know as a sport, skiing developed in Norway as a means of getting around. Furthermore, Norwegians invented ski waxing, the modern binding, and the laminated ski. Norway has long been famous for cross country skiing, but more recently, skiers eager for new challenges and adventures have turned their attention to our many fine alpine resorts. As the 1994 Winter Olympic Games so clearly showed, Norway offers great facilities for all winter sports; good snow conditions, clean fresh air, a healthy lifestyle, inexpensive accommodation and lots of after-ski activities. There are numerous other ways of having an exciting winter holiday in Norway if skiing is not for you. What about a snowmobile trip to the North Cape? Or reindeer safari and a dog sled race overthe plane of Finnmarksvidda? Perhaps a horse-drawn sleigh ride, with burning torches in your hand and warm toddy under the sheep skin rug will tempt you. Why not try ice-fishing, paragliding, snowboarding, or the ice rink while you are here? And when the bracing outdoor air has made you ready for a rest, take a train journey through winter Norway, or gain a memory for life with a coastal express trip over seas as black as ink, and under snow-covered peaks. SUMMER SKIING If a winter holiday is inconvenient for you, do not despair. The Norwegian summer skiing season lasts - as a general rule - from June to September. The sight of people swooping down the slopes in bikinis or trunks is not uncommon. Contact the tour operators - the three largest centres are: OPPLAND: Galdhøpiggen Sommerskisenter N-2687 Bøverdalen (June-October) Tel: +47 61 21 17 50 Mobile: +47 94 36 89 58 Fax +47 61 21 21 72 SOGN & FJORDANE: Stryn Sommerskisenter N-6880 Stryn Tel: +47 57 87 23 33 Tel: +47 94 55 61 09 (May-Sept) Sognefjellet Sommarskisenter Sognefjellsvegen (June-October) Tel: +47 Mobile: +47 Fax +47 HORDALAND: Folgefonn Sommerskisenter N-5627 Jondal (June-Sept) Tel/Fax: +47 53 66 80 28 Mobile: +47 94 67 99 70 BUSKERUD COUNTY Norefjell, Geilo, Gol and Hemsedal are 4 of the finest and longest established winter sports resorts in Norway, and the pleasures of skiing entice the whole family. There are enormous plateaux and peaks for cross-country skiing, alpine-skiing as well: you can enjoy slalom, Telemark skiing, monoskiing, halfpipe snowboarding and regular snowboarding, moguls and to boggan runs. There are also first class ski centres at Kongsberg, Uvdal and elsewhere. When the evening draws in you can settle down snugly under the sheepskin rugs for a sleigh ride under the starry sky . . . If you are looking for a peaceful winter landscape with perfect snow conditions and magnificent scenery, you could find no better place than Uvdal, the gateway to the Hardangervidda plateau. But we should add that you will find miles and miles of marked and prepared cross country ski trails wherever you go in Buskerud, the county of magnificent forests and mountains. Vikersund has the only "Ski-flying" slope in all of northern Europe. The record jump here is 194 metres! TELEMARK COUNTY The ski happy young people of Morgedal developed a new binding that fastened around the heel, making skis much easier to steer. Such heel-bindings, a Norwegian invention, have since won worldwide recognition. Skis were also improved by being made narrower in the middle - a model that has set trends in ski making to this day. Telemarks-skis, the Telemark swing (or "christie") and slalom are all elements native to Telemark. These show that Morgedal in Telemark can indeed call itself The cradle of modern ski sports. And that again is why Morgedal was chosen as the site for lighting the Olympic Flame for the Winter Games in Oslo 1952, (Stein Eriksen was the big winner), in Squaw Valley 1960 and in Lillehammer 1994. Sondre Norheim from Morgedal and Snowshoe Thompson from Rjukan became the legendary pioneers of ski sports in 19th-century North America. Olav Bjaaland and Hjalmar Johansen were both excellent skiers from Telemark who accompanied the Norwegian Polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen on daring expeditions. And in our day Telemark continues to foster talented, world-class skiers who complete in sports and entertainment. The best places are Mount Gausta in Rjukan, Blefjell and Bolkesjø. OPPPLAND COUNTY Lillehammer was the arena for the 1994 Winter Olympics. Lillehammer is the gateway to Gudbrandsdalen Valley. A charming small town on the shores of Lake Mjøsa. Due to the XVII Olympic Winter Games in 1994, the town now can offer a number of unique facilities spanning from sports facilities, cultural institutions, restaurants etc. and accommodation. In addition to the many cultural activities, you can visit the Olympic arenas, take walks, boat trips, shop and attend a number of local events. Hafjell Alpine Centre Olympic arena during the 1994 Winter Olympics, are situated here. Hafjell was the site of the men´s and women´s slalom and giant slalom events. Øyerfjellet mountain offers many touring opportunities on foot, by car or by bike on a number of charming country roads. Beitostølen is primarily a perfect resort for the whole family. The slopes are just right to learn the basics as well as the new techniques. The high altitude and the proximity of the great Jotunheimen mountain range ensures early snow to Beitostølen. The skiing season starts on silky natural snow mid November and lasts until the end of April. The varied skiing installations at Beitostølen offer you opportunities for snowboard, telemark, alpine and even for our new activity, luge. NORDLAND COUNTY Many tourists come to Nordland to cross the Arctic Circle. Visitors from all over the world have been photographed by the monument that marks this magic line at the Arctic Circle Centre at Saltfjellet. The Arctic Circle crosses the large glacier, Svartisen, and is also marked for Hurtigruta passengers to see. The skiing season is a long one in Narvik. It starts in October / November with floodlit runs during the dark winter months, and lasts until May. Just over the border into Sweden, the ski season lasts even longer until Midsummer Day. From the top, you can follow precipitous slopes almost down to the water´s edge you can sit down and eat with a spectacular view freom the Fjellheisen restaurant. It takes only 7 minutes to climb 670 metres up to the on Fagernesfjellet mountain, 5 ski lifts take you up to heights of 1003 metres above sea level. Over recent years, Narvik has become increasingly popular with snowboarders from all over the world. You´ll also see a growing number of Telemark skiers on the slopes. Narvik´s high mountains and fjord make it the perfect skiing destination, with plenty of downhill excitement. The cross-country runs are also excellent, even during the summer. The city of Mosjøen is situated at the end of Vefsnafjord surrounded of great nature, and just outside the town you can find a slalomslope. Stamsund Sports Club runs the best alpine skiing resort in the Lofoten Islands. Every year the norwegian´s Terje Håkonsen and Daniel Franck inviting some friends to a competition in Lofoten. Their friends happened to be the best in the world. The have built the worlds biggest Quarter-Pipe and the worlds biggest Half-Pipe. MØRE & ROMSDAL COUNTY It is a great pleasure for us to welcome you to our "kingdom" - in the centre of Northern Europe´s fjord and alpine country. The region is spectacular, stretching from deep-blue fjords, via verdant valleys with emerald-green slopes way up to the highest wild peaks with their white glaciers. This is not just a picture, but reality, a landscape which you can become fond of. The Sunnmørs Alps stretch from Nordfjord in the south to Storfjord in the north. The variety of scenery between peak and fjord reflects a Norway in miniatyre, and has something to offer at every season! We invite you on an open-air holiday - you can choose one full of activity or simply relax in the peace and quiet among our mountains and fjords. Majestic peaks and a rugged alpine massif distinguish the Sunnmørs Alps from other mountain areas. Mountains plunge vertically into the fjord from a height of 1.500 - 1.600 metres and from the summit of Jakta at 1.588 metres, ther is a perpendicular fall of 1.821 metres to the bottom of the fjord. This will give you some idea of the enormous dimensions between the summits and the seabed below the waters of the fjords. Trollveggen and Romsdalshorn attract climbers from all over the world. The rest of us can content ourselves with watching them, adventure enough for ordinary mortals! Besides, there are plenty of other excursions to choose from in the area. SOME SLOPES BUSKERUD Dagali Skisenter Drammen Slalåmklubb Drammen Skicenter Fagerfjell Fritid Geilo Fjellandsby Geilo Taubane Geilolia Skisenter Gol Skisenter Haglebu Skisenter Hallingskarvet Skisenter Hemsedal Skisenter Hvittingfoss Alpinklubb Kongsberg Skisenter Lia Fjellstue Nesbyen Alpinsenter Norefjell Skisenter Nystølen Skitrekk Ranten Skitrekk Skarslia Ski og Akesenter Slaatta Skisenter Storefjell Høyfjellshotel Tempelseter Skiheis Uvdal Alpin Park Vegglifjell Skisenter Vikersund Alpin Ål Skisenter TELEMARK Gaustablikk Skisenter Gautefall Alpinsenter Haukelifjell Skisenter Idrettslaget Skades Lifjell Skisenter Morgedal Hotel Rauland Skisenter Raulandsfjell Alpinsenter Rjukan Skisenter Siljan Skisenter Skien Fritidspark Storeskar Skisenter Vierli Ski Vrådal Skisenter Svanstul Skisenter HEDMARK Brumunddal Alpin Engerdal-Østfjell Fjellsyn Skitrekk Fulufjellet Alpinsenter Hummelfjell Renåfjellet Savalen Aktiv Sjusjøen Skisenter Trysilfjellet Alpin Østerdalen Skisenter Øvernløypa OPPLAND Beitostølen Skiheiser Bislingen Fjellstue Bjorli Skisenter Brattstølheisen Dalseter Skiservice Dombås Skiheiser Fefor Skisenter Filefjell Skisenter Grotli Skiheiser Gålå Skiarena Hafjell Alpinsenter Jomfruslettheisen Kvitfjell Alpinanlegg Lemonsjø Alpinsenter Lillehammer Olympia Park Mysusæter Skianlegg Ringebufjellet Skisenter Skeikampen Alpinsenter Stavadalen Skisenter Valdres Alpinsenter Venabu Fjellhotel Wadahl Skiheiser Gjøvik Skiklubb Vaset Skiheiser OSLO Grefsenkollen Skisenter Jerikobakken Lerskallen Skisenter Linderudkollen Tryvann Skisenter Varingskollen Alpinsenter AKERSHUS Dikemark Idrettsforening Gjerdrum Idrettslag Hurdal Skisenter Ingierkollen Slalåmsenter Kirkerudbakken Skisenter Kolsåsheiser Lommedalen Skisenter Rælingen Skiklubb Marikollen Vardåsen Skisenter HORDALAND Aktiven Skiheis Blefjellheisen Eikedalen Skisenter Fjellhaugen Skisenter Folgefonn SommerSkisenter Furedalen Alpin Granvin IL Internationalen Myrkdalen Fjellheisar Oppheimsheisen Røldal Skisenter Voss Fjellheisar Vetlebakken Skitrekk Stordalen Skitrekk NORTH TRØNDELAG Blakkhaugen Alpinsenter Børgefjellsenteret Grong Skisenter Hjelpdalskleiva Lierne Skisenter Meråker Alpinsenter Torsbustaden Alpinsenter Vinterlandet Namsskogan SOUTH TRØNDELAG Granåsen Skisenter Haugsdalen Skisenter Knyken Skisenterrkdal Nerskogen Skisenter Oppdal Skisenter Røros Løypeforening Steinan Skitrekk Saaslia Skisenter Tydal Skisenter Vassfjellet Skiheiser AUST AGDER Brokke Alpinsenter Vegårshei Skicenter Hovden Skisenter VEST AGDER Bjørnestad Skisenter Eikerapen Alpinsenter Knaben SkiCenter Krågeland Alpinsenter Ljosland Skisenter Sirdal Alpin Tveit Skisenter Ådneram Skitrekk Ålsheia Skisenter ROGALAND Egersund Skiforening Fidjeland Skitrekk Gilja Skiheis Gullingen Turistsenter Sauda Skitrekk MØRE & ROMSDAL Solbjøra Skileikanlegg Freikollheisen Rauma Skisenter Spjelkavikheis Stordal Alpinsenter Strandafjellet Skisenter Sunndal Fjellheis Sæterlia Alpinsenter Tusten Skiheiser Volda Skisenter Ørskogfjell Skisenter Ørsta Skisenter Sunnmørsalpane Skiarena SOGN & FJORDANE Breimsbygda Skisenter Hodlekve Skisenter Jølster Skisenter Kleppa Skisenter Nordfjord Skisenter Siplo Skisenter Sogn Skisenter Stryn Skisenter Sunnfjord Skisenter Vangen Skitau ØSTFOLD Kjerringåsen Alpinsenter VESTFOLD Høgås Alpinsenter Svarstad Skisenter NORDLAND Ankenes Alpinanlegg Flakstad Skialegg Hilstad Idrettslag Lofoten Alpinsenter Misvær Idrettslag Mosjøen Slalåmklubb Narvikfjellet Skillevollen Alpinsenter Steinmoen Alpinsenter Holtanlia Alpinsenter Nye Junkerdal Turistsenter TROMS Finnsnes Skiklubb Målselv Fjellandsby Sollifjellet Alpinsenter Steilia Alpinsenter Tromsø Alpinsenter FINNMARK Alta Ski-og Alpinsenter Sandnes Idrettslag Skaidi skiheiser