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OSL2010 at Oslo Holmenkollen Ski Jump preparing for OSL2011

RennyBA — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:25:14 +0000

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!!!

Anette Sagen first ski jump in Oslo new Holmenkollen Norway

RennyBA — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:51:15 +0000

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!

Playful girls and boys in snowy Norway

RennyBA — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:36:45 +0000

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:

View the vancouver2010.com medals’ table

Winter Olympics 2010 Inuksuk from Canada in Norway

RennyBA — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:50:56 +0000

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.

Norway on medal top in Winter Olympics

RennyBA — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:57:30 +0000

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:

View the vancouver2010.com 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?

Sunny winter Sunday in Oslo Norway

RennyBA — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:25:28 +0000

A sunny winter day with fresh, crisp air and lots of snow just calls for outdoors activities. In Norway the whole family, dressed for the weather, loves to go out and have fun. Today was a day like that: -5C (23F), blue sky and we’ve had quite a lot of snow in January – so all was perfect for another quality time with my wife DianeCA. I had my camera on hand of course and gladly take you along. Let’s start with the beaches at Kalvøya (Calf Island), where we go swimming and tanning in the summer time – and today:

_{Look at the row of people in the middle walking on the ice of Oslo Fjord.}

I’m often talking about the significant four seasons in Norway, so let me show you photos at the same beach from today and last summer:

_{From tiny bikinis to solid winter clothes but still recreational}

Her are some more photos from our recreational days at the beach:

I talked about the whole family having fun and then there is much more to do than walking of course. Since in Norway, let’s start with our national winter sport and our saying about Norwegians born with skis on their feet:

_{Okay, these too boys are not new born, but still}

_{Family ski fun on a hill in our local neighbourhood.}

Then of course and other fun winter sport is skating of all kinds. I so much remember how much fun my sister and I had together with Mom and Dad on a sunny winter day like this:

With all this talk – almost bragging maybe? – about families going outdoors on a cold winter day like this, I have saved the best for last: While at the local neighbourhood hill, I spotted this nice family: Mom, Dad and their young boy enjoying a winter picnic and hot cocoa of course. I showed them my “blogcard” (I have a business card for my blog) and explained that I was photo hunting for a post about how Norwegians enjoy the winter time and they were more than willing to pose for us:

_{Proper dressed – In front: thermos and waist pack – Right: sled}

Although this has been an especially cold winter many places with lots and lots of snow, it is important to remember that snow means more than delays in reaching your destination on the highways, snow and winter also mean exercise, fun, fresh air, childish memories, and even water reserves for the summer season. Today was just a wonderful day to be outside, and I am happy to have the opportunity to share it with you.

However those coming to the Oslo Blog Gathering 2010 – I can almost promise you that you will not have to worry about ice and snow, unless you are visiting the Ice Bar of course! I have added some summer beach pictures so you can get more of an idea of what to expect in the lovely summer time!

From frozen winter to sunny summer mini golf in Mariestad Sweden

RennyBA — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:51:09 +0000

Blogging about Norway and the Nordic countries; our culture, traditions and habits of course includes our significant four seasons. Sometimes I see a place in the winter time and am thinking; I have to show the same spot in the summer, to show the difference. Here is one from our favourite mini golf courses. I take it you see which season is which

Bäcken mini golf course in Mariestad, Sweden.

My regular readers know I love winter and snow with all the great outdoors activities it allows. However, miniature golf is best played in the summertime I admit

Bäcken Summer House:
While I’m at it, lets take a look at this summer attraction, which is walking distance from our vacation home; Mariestad Missionary Church Summer Activity Centre, with generous lawns and views of Lake Vänern attracts both locals and tourists for long coffee breaks. A very nice café plus lots of attractions and outdoors activities: The unique miniature golf course, a child friendly play area, courts for beach volleyball, Frisbee, Boule (= Boccia) and even canoes for rent.

The Mini Golf course:
Its very special as each and every hole symbolises a building, construction or attraction from Mariestad city or surroundings. Here you see one:

^{Mariestad Cathedral (tower in the center)}

If you like to see and learn more about this very special course, you are welcome to read my post: Golfing in the streets of Mariestad.

There is a great difference between the summer time and winter time in Scandinavia as you can well see. All of the seasons are wonderful of course, however it is much easier to hit a hole in one in the summer season, and enjoy your sled in the winter!

Social Golf Club Host at Mariestad in Sweden

RennyBA — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:44:53 +0000

Golf is a social game and for me as a Network Evangelist, a great way to connect with other golfers. Today I had a unique opportunity to explore that part of the game as my wife, DianeCA, and I were recruited as hosts at our home club in Mariestad, Sweden.
Since I am a Norwegian, maybe I should explain: Our vacation home is in Mariestad on the shores of Northern Europe’s biggest lake: Vänern. We spend a lot of our free time here, especially in the summer months. That is why we have chosen to be members here instead of in Norway.

Recruited Golf Club Host:
I like the system; every member is recruited to hosts one weekend (4 hours on Saturday or Sunday) about once every 3 years. This makes it a bit cheaper to run the club and gives us an opportunity once in a while to focus on service and get to meet and greet other members and guest players. So for me this enhances the social side of the game and it’s always a good start to the course, to meet new hosts each weekends:

Welcoming golfers and giving them a good start at first tee. This couple was Danish, so it was quite an international experience. We had no problem understanding each other and they often visit Norwegian ski resorts in the winter time .

Golf Host’s obligations and advantages:
First of all, the duty is to give the players a good golf experience. Then you see to that the flights starts at the right time – that they have the required equipment (green fork and rule book etc.) – know the local rules and have paid the green fee. The fee for one round is €30, but free for full members (one year membership is €360).

There are other obligations and advantages too of course. Let me explain with some photos (I had my Nokia N82 at hand of course):

Checking and emptying the garbage at the outdoor containers; well I look at it as an advantage, as I got to drive a golf cart. You see in Scandinavia, only handicapped are allowed to use golf cars. I like that too, as it gives us more exercise, it’s much more social to walk and talk and it gives you a better understanding of distance in the game.

Let’s go one with the duties + +:

Tidy and clean up a bit at the rest table and club café.

Free snack at the club café; that’s what I call real advantage

Recognitions from the friendly receptionist, Elisabeth (sorry, the photographer had a shaky hand when taking this shot ). That’s an advantage too, as you get the best service if you give and extra helping hand. So this is just like Networking in itself: A Givers Gain – the more you give, the more you receive.

That’s why I like this recruiting host system and as you may have noticed; we had a jolly good time!

I don’t think I’d be a very good caddy – I talk too much and am more into the social part than the technique of the game itself. But: if anyone needs a host; we are available, for any games – as long as we get a free snack and I can drive a golf cart .

Here is a collection of my golf posts from Mariestad. You don’t need to like the game, to enjoy these posts :

Opening of the Golf Season at Spring in the Nordic
Nordic Golf in the Golden Autumn Beauty
The beauty of Golf, a nature experience
RennyBA made Hole in One

Play at work with Lego and then Golf

RennyBA — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:55:38 +0000

This post is actually a contribution to my beloved wife, Diane and of course I’ll get back to that – because she is worth it! Besides, this is to be an easy and carefree post without a lot of facts and history, just playful and fun:

Let’s start with a glimpse into my professional life; not that it happens that often, but I had a meeting with daVinci, a consulting company and part of the international Devoteam consulting group. What I like best about them, is that they challenge their customers perception of what is possible, to let creativity flow, spread enthusiasm, and generate activity, while at the same time taking responsibility for the change process.
We met Alex Kielland who is their CKO (can you figure out what that title mean?) and Catherine Janson who is an excellent work group facilitator and calls herself an enthusiasm-evangelist. Typical for daVinci; in front of their conference room, they have a table full of Legos and I was thinking: I just have to share this with my blog friends:

_{RennyBA warming up with Lego before a meeting.}

Then back to Diane; you see she has something to celebrate and I called it a week a bit early this afternoon to share some quality time at the local golf course. You know I love my wife and I love being out in the nature – as well as sharing some precious moments and views with you. So at some of the tee’s I grabbed my Nokia N82 mobile phone to share it with you:

^{At Haga golf course in Bærum, close to Oslo, Norway.}

Whether you like golf or not: admit that this course out in the forests gives a recreational atmosphere. Its just 10 minutes drive from our house and these wonderful hills is a great ski trails in the winter time.

Last evening, we had a champagne celebration. You see what we are celebrating is that Diane has delivered her master thesis which she has been working on for about a year! So please click; go visit her and congratulate her with achieving an important goal in her life!

There are more celebrations to come. Sunday is the 17th of May and that’s not just an ordinary date in Norway: It’s our constitutional or National Day. My regular readers know I have posted about it for four years. So those who want to recall – or those who want to read how we celebrate this day the Norwegian way – read my last posts:

17th of May Parade in Norway
17th of May – Norway’s National Day in Oslo
17th of May – Norwegian Constitution Day

So stay tuned: There will be a new 17th of May post and this time from Oslo, our capital. I know King Harald and Queen Sonja will be there too!

Opening of the Golf Season at Spring in the Nordic

RennyBA — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:14:36 +0000

Opening of the golf season in Norway and Sweden is another of our spring rituals. From my last posts, you’ve seen spring is in the air in Oslo city as well as on the countryside. Since its the Easter season, we are at our vacation home in Sweden and here spring is a couple of weeks ahead of Oslo. The snow has gone, snow bells, crocus and daffodils have start blooming and today we’ve had 18C (65F) and sunshine. It was a perfect day to add a milestone to this years calendar; the opening of the golf season – so when a friend asked if I would play, I was thrilled. To me the weather condition was perfect and no problem playing, as long as you know how to dress right (click all pics – taken with my Nokia mob phone – to bigify and enjoy):

You may notice that the tee, fairway or even green, isn’t exactly green yet and the trees have only a few buds. Still, after months of winter, snow and ice, not even wild horses could keep us away. To me it’s another proof of the beauty in the significant four seasons and makes you enjoy each and one of them even more – like being able to start playing golf again.

Another reason for wanting to play again is that it is very social and recreational. To go out in the nature – so beautiful – fresh, quiet and far from urban stress is a perfect way to charge your batteries. If I told you we also saw some foxes in the woods, you probably get the idea. Adding to that, we had a nice chat about all and nothing – about how much we enjoy life and family and our loved ones – about our summer and vacation plans – and a lot more. So let me introduce you to my friend and his perfect swing:

My friend even wore shorts – but then again he is even more of a Viking than me

Some think golf is all about clubs, strokes, score cards and the competition. If so, you have to think again, or at least to me it’s much more. It’s all about relaxation, about enjoying nature and life – about making friends and developing friendships – or to make it short; A thrill money can’t buy. So if you ask who won, I can’t tell you. I made a couple of holes on par and some on a new record of amount of strokes and my partner put up a big smile each time he hit the ball. Other than that, we both won – We won the opening of this years golf season in Sweden – and that’s not bad, since we both are Norwegians

Btw: My regular visitors know I’ve been to Brussels together with my wife and she even met our blog friend Gattina in Waterloo. Don’t worry; I will post about this wonderful weekend in the days to come and you can already read some about it at Diane’s and Gattina’s.