posted on 15th March 2010 under Habits, Sports, Tradition, Winter
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 will be in Oslo, Norway at Holmenkollen Ski Jump – the fifth time these championships have been hosted in Oslo (prev.: in 1930, the 1952 Winter Olympics, 1966, and 1982). The games will coincide with the Holmenkollen Ski Festival which for 2010 took place last weekend. I was there with my wife, DianeCA and we gladly take you along:
Holmenkollen Ski Jump is the oldest in the world, built in 1892 and expanded 18 times since then. Recently the jump was demolished and totally rebuilt for the OSL2011 (taking place 22 February – 6 March, 2011), having a less steep in-run, artificial refrigeration of the in-run, a reconstructed lower part of the jump to the end of the outrun, lights for evening jumps, a new elevator for the jumpers, and wind protection measures for the jumpers. These modifications included new spectator grand stands, an improved loudspeaker system, and a new scoreboard – even free WiFi, so I uploaded a couple of pics that day from my mobile phone to my Flickr account!
Holmenkollen Ski Festival:
Foremost this is a Folk Festival. At the Olympics in 1952 there were 120 000 spectators – last weekend it was 25 000 and at OSL2011 there will for sure be more than the double that. Norwegians love to be outdoors in the winter time you know and with the right clothes and equipment, they have a blast of a party together with foreign spectators – cheering the ski jumpers and making a magical winter sport atmosphere (click all pics to bigify & enjoy):
Spectators enjoying the nature as well as the sun, the company and competition 
A cultural high point:
Holmenkollen Ski Jump is just a 25 minute spectacular ride by public transportations from down town up in the Oslo Mountains (417 metres above sea level). You don’t use a car, as building up the atmosphere in anticipation, starts with the trolley or bus ride in itself. Besides for such a special day the roads are closed to all but public transportation to hinder traffic problems. The last hundred meters from the end stop to the ski jump, spectators were welcomed with an artistic presentation of mythical folklore:
Some cultural adventures along the way
The Ski Jump competition:
Of course I have not forgotten the sport in this brand new ski jump with a spectacular construction. In a competition, almost 200 architecture firms from about 30 different countries have placed bids on the new hill. The project was estimated to cost NOK 1000 mill (125 Mill € or 170 Mill $) and the winner with the concept named “The New Holmenkollen Lighthouse” was JDS Architects (Danish/Belgian architects firm). I took quite a lot of photos from the competition trying to show you the construction and the jumpers (hope you can spot them) from full zoom to full view:
Enjoy the architecture and the ski jump!
Explore yourself at the Oslo Blog Gathering:
Holmenkollen Ski Jump is the most visited tourist attraction in Norway with about 1 Mill visitors in August last year. The construction is impressive all year round (click to see it all from my summer post: Holmenkollen a cultural high point! Beside the jump at the top of the hill is the national ski museum (admission is free with the OsloPass). Holmenkollen is included on the Oslo Bus tour. So if you are joining us for the Oslo Blog Gathering you can start looking forward to this already as you will see it from all angles, and from the bottom to the top! So hop on board (click for the Official Program site!!!
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posted on 3rd March 2010 under Nature, OsloBG, Sports, Winter
Holmenkollen Ski Jump arena in Oslo is Norway’s most visited tourist attractions and has been the centre of Norwegian ski sports for more than 100 years. The first ski event took place in January 1892 with a hill record of 21.5 meters. Since then, there have been 18 reconstructions. It was for the Winter Olympics in 1952 that the ski jumping hill got a modern look and during the last two years it has gone through a significant facelift; rebuilt and upgraded to host the 2011 Nordic World ski Championships:
The most spectacular about the new Holmenkollen, is the jump tower. The silhouette of the new tower has a sharp and simple cut. The profile follows the jumper’s descent and is offset to create necessary wind protection:
Today was the official opening and Norway’s best woman ski jumper was given the honour to be the first. Norwegians think it’s a shame that women aren’t treated equally to men in participating in the Olympics and World Championship so to prove their support, our Anette Sagen was the first out:
I know it’s hard to spot, but the Norwegian Eagle is flying here -click to enlarge!
Would you like to try to fly yourself in the New Holmenkollen – to feel free like a bird and experience a ski jump (with no risk) – just for the fun of it? VisitOslo has made it possible for you so click and give yourself a thrill money can’t buy!
Like I said; Holmenkollen Mountain is Norway’s most visited tourist attractions and no wonder. It proves Oslo’s advantage of being the world’s most compact capital with the city, the fjord and this mountain only 20 minutes with public transportation from down town. From there, like today, you have a breath taking view of the city and the fjord with its tempting islands:
This afternoon before the ski jump – sunset around 6PM – it called for a photo session!
At the Oslo Blog Gathering in August this year, you are invited to meet up with bloggers from all over the world! Then you can experience and explore this beauty of nature in and around Oslo. The only difference, is that in August there will be nice and warm summer, no snow and even more: The sun won’t go down till after 9PM so a late romantic sunset is readily available. Go check the OsloBG official Program Site and book to get on board!
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posted on 28th February 2010 under Habits, Nature, Sports, Winter
Girls and boys playing in the snow in Norway is no sensation of course – rather a habit The Winter Olympics in Vancouver proves it gives result. We enjoy being outdoors in the snow with the cold, fresh and crisp air. It makes you feel alive, surrounded by the beauty of the nature. We’ve had the greatest, good old winter this season: around -10C (10F), lots of snow and quite a lot of sunshine. Today was a snowy day and even more the reason to be outdoors:
We’ve had winter vacation this week and a little visitor is staying with us while her Mom takes a break. Today she could chose from all the options; swimming at the indoor pool, going to the movies, going to the library or a trip into the neighbouring village but she was determined: her choice, play in the snow! Sometimes we adults try to plan too much, the simplest is often best. No objections from my wife DianeCA and I so we dressed for the weather and went out in the yard – and I grabbed my cam to share with you:
Playful girls in Snowy Norway
After a couple of feet of snow last night, calls for shovelling and since I had the cam:
Still as a photographer, I tried to capture the snowy atmosphere in the neighbourhood:
Left: Dogs dressed appropriate too – Right: Snowy fairytale
This play and fun in the snow always takes me down the memory lane; I loved making snow forts and having a friendly snowball battle with my friends – I loved skating and of course skiing – but most of all, I loved ski jumping:
Me after a ski jump at 5 years of ages – Yes, I fell, but who cares after a personal record of 10 meter (33 feet)
Extra: This might explain why the Norwegians do so well in the Vancouver Winter Olympics – here is an up to date medals’ table:
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posted on 21st February 2010 under Culture, Nature, OsloBG, Sports, Winter
The Canadian Winter Olympics symbol of the Vancouver games is well known for Norwegians: The inuksuk is to be seen in Oslo by the Maritime Museum at Bygdøy island:
An
inuksuk (plural
inuksuit) is a stone landmark or cairn, used by the Inuit, Inupiat, Kalaallit, Yupik, and other peoples of the Arctic region of North America, from Alaska to Greenland. The inuksuk may have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for hunting grounds, or as a food cache. The Inupiat in northern Alaska used inuksuit to assist in the herding of caribou into contained areas for slaughter. There are four authentic inuksuit around the world donated by the government of Canada: in Monterrey, Mexico – Washington, D.C. – Guatemala City and
Oslo, Norway:
In 2005, The Canadian Ambassador to Norway unveiled an inuksuk at
Bygdøy Maritime Museum in Oslo to celebrate Norway’s centennial (100 years since end to the Union between Sweden and Norway, 1814 – 1905). It was of course also recognizing the fondness our people have for each other and given as a symbol of the special relationship there exists between our two countries of the North.
The strong ties between
Norway & Canada started with the Viking visits to Newfoundland, their brief settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, and continue through
Roald Amundsen‘s successful exploration through the
Northwest Passage one hundred years ago. (1903-1906) During World War II Norwegian pilots trained at Little Norway, a training camp in southern Ontario. Today, our two countries share common visions on the international scene; we cooperate in fields such as Arctic Council, human security, the UN reform among others.
It is especially poignant that the inuksuk is created by Joseph Suqslak, a resident of Gjoa Haven in Nunavut. Amundsen spent three winters in Gjoa Haven before his successful attempt at sailing the Northwest Passage. The name of the community bears witness of the visiting ship. Without the willingness of the Inuit to share their knowledge and skills of survival in the arctic winter it is questionable whether Amundsen would have succeeded in his attempt:
Left: Amundsen’s boat Gjøa to the right – Right: Opposite side with Gjøa in front of The Fram and Maritime Museum.
The inuksuk next to the
boat Gjøa was installed by Mr. Mattiusi Iyaituk, and artist and President of the Board of Directors of the Inuit Art Foundation in Canada.
The Olympics
logo has become more and more a national symbol of the hosting county and showing some typical or genuine part of the countries roots or nature. Vancouver’s is a great example and here is the similar for the two games in Norway:
Left: In the centre the Olympic rings with the silhouette of the New Town Hall of Oslo. On the outside border the inscription “The VI Olympics Winter Games Oslo 1952″.
Right: A stylized aurora borealis (Northern lights) and snow crystals, the Olympic rings.
Since the start of the Vancouver games, the inuksuk in Oslo has been a very popular photo object. When my wife DianeCA and I were there today to shoot the pics for this post, we met people from all over the world – even China! Two girls where swarming around this strange stone statue. When I told them what it was and the purpose of my visit, they willingly posed – even if it was freezing cold
It is always fun for me to meet new people from around the world and I am hoping this summer to meet many more friends! Remember the museums on
Bygdøy Island will be available to participants at the
Oslo Blog Gathering in August and I am really looking forward to guiding you around this beautiful place. So do another local gathering host, posting about the same:
TorAa.
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posted on 18th February 2010 under Habits, Sports, Tradition, Winter
Winter Olympics in Norway is culture, traditions and even good habits – just like the theme of my blog. In Vancouver, Canada there was a blast of a medal party today, so excuse me for being a bit patriotic, but not to blog (brag 
) about it would be a shame.
Left: Tora Berger & Right: Emil Hegle Svendsen – both gold medal! (Photo: ScanPix)
My regular readers know I’ve said it before:
Norwegians are born with skies on – read one of my posts about it:
Ski Museum Proves:
Norwegians are born with skis on. For a nation with not more that 4.9 mill inhabitants, it’s not bad to be on the all time top list of medals in the Winter Olympics. Here is the statistics before it started in Vancouver:
Norway: 280 –
US: 216 –
SovietUnion: 194 –
Austria: 185 –
Germany: 158 –
Finland: 151 –
Canada: 119 –
Sweden: 118 –
Switzerland: 118 –
German Dem Republic: 110 –
Italy: 101.
Before Vancouver games, Norway had totally 98 gold medals! Today, both for women (
Tora Berger) and men (Emil Hegle Svendsen) in Biathlon, we won gold – and even more; a sliver medal (
Ole Einar Bjørndalen) too
Update: Up to date medals’ table:
The best Winter Game ever for Norway was at
Lillehammer in 1994: Best nation with 26 medals – so you can tell, we have way to go
I know I’m crazy about winter sports, so bare with me this kind of untraditional post. How about you: Do you follow the Winter Olympics in Canada and what is you’re favourite sport?
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