Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
3
The Active Vacation Planner
N
orway is the most sports-oriented
country in Europe. Nearly half of the
four million people of Norway are
members of the Norwegian Sports Fed-
eration, and three out of four Norwe-
gian children take part in sporting
activities. From dog-sled racing to
canoeing, from curling to speed skating
to skiing, the sports agenda is a full one.
Winter sports are dominated by ski-
ing, of course, along with ice hockey
and curling. In the too-short summer,
virtually all Norwegians head for the
outdoors while the sun shines. They
sail, swim, canoe, beach it, or what-
ever, and trails fill with hikers or
mountain bikers.
1 Skiing
Norway is the birthplace of skiing, predating the sport in Switzerland or Austria.
There are 30,000km (18,750 miles) of marked ski trails.
From November until the end of May, both cross-country and downhill ski-
ing are available, but don't expect the brilliant sun of the Alps. The days get long
just before Easter when skiing is best. Lights illuminate many of the tracks for
winter skiers, which proves especially helpful in January and February.
From December to April, daylight is limited, but it's still possible to have a
full day's skiing if you start early. The bigger resorts have at least one floodlit
downhill slope, and many towns and villages have a floodlit cross-country track
(lysløype).
The days lengthen rapidly in January and February. Mid-February is
the most popular period and accommodation prices are higher then. Early
March offers a combination of good skiing conditions, daylight, and low prices.
Easter and the week before are popular with Norwegians, and accommodation
prices are very high then. However, beginning Easter Monday low-season rates
apply again. Skiing in the higher elevations is possible until May, and you can
even ski all summer in a few places (see the last paragraph in this section).
Snowboard and skiing facilities in the country are excellent overall. Generally,
snow conditions in Norway are more reliable over a longer period than in south-
ern Europe. The bigger resorts in Norway have plenty to interest beginners and
intermediate skiers for a week or more, and there are many black-diamond runs
for the more experienced. Families can find free lift passes and helmets for the
under-7s, plus plenty of nursery slopes and day-care centers. Lift passes are rel-
atively inexpensive, rental equipment is often cheaper than in other ski coun-
tries, queues are usually short, and the slopes are uncrowded.
Norway is best known for its cross-country skiing, which is superb at ski resorts
everywhere. An endless network of marked trails
(skiløyper)
crosses rolling hills,
forests, frozen lakes, and mountains. Numerous small ski centers offer inexpensive
ski rentals and tuition. All the downhill resorts also have extensive trail networks.
Norwegian ski resorts are known for their informality, which is evident in the
schools and the atmosphere. The emphasis is on simple pleasures, not the
