Skiing starts in Scandinavia

24th September 2015

Last modified on August 31st, 2021

The Norwegian resort of Geilo has brought out some stored snow from last year and has been making it furiously over the past few days. On Saturday the resort opened for skiing.

This weekend the first skiing of the approaching winter in Norway started.

Many turned out to enjoy their first turns of the winter.

The slope available is 400m long and 30m wide.

The resort has been planning ahead (as Norwegians like to do).

Last year it stockpiled 30,000 cubic metres of snow with a view to having a spot of Autumn skiing.

10,000 cubic metres of the snow melted over the summer months, but that still left Geilo with 20,000 cubic metres,

The as the temperatures dropped recently it turned on its snow cannons.

And they are not just anyone snow cannons.

They are state of the art and use a new geo-thermal technique that pulls the heat out of the water and means the snow stays for longer.

The part of the resort open is the Havsdalen area.

So, is it just a PR and marketing exercise or the real deal?

The Norwegians are passionate about their skiing and the resort hopes it will bring in the visitors ahead of the winter.

“This project represents a significant investment for Geilo Ski Center. We have received the necessary support from Innovation Norway, but we must naturally bear most of the costs. This is something we are convinced will give us the increased profitability in the long term, ” said the Managing Director of Geilo Holidays, Henning Solhaug.

The opening on Saturday is aimed at those that want to train ahead of the winter and get some early snowsports in.

The slopes open at 11.00 and will be open to the public until 15.00.

After that it is reserved for training.

Here is the schedule for the next week.

Saturday 26. September: open to all from at 11-15. FREE

Sunday 27. September: only training

Monday 28. September: open to all from at 11-15.

Tuesday, 29. September: open to all from at 11-15.

Wednesday, 30. September: only training

Thursday, 1. October: only training

Friday 2. October: only training

Saturday 3 October: more info coming soon