Scandinavia’s Superb Ski Season

28th February 2024 | Jane Peel, Norway

Last modified on March 3rd, 2024

It’s been a great winter for skiing and snowboarding in Scandinavia so far and it’s looking good with March upon us. While the Alps has had an exceptionally mild winter, the opposite has been the case in the Nordic region. PlanetSKI reports from Norway.

I have never been disappointed with the snow conditions in Norway.

Each time I’ve visited – in winter or spring – the pistes have been in tip-top condition.

The snow dry, light, grippy.

Trysil, Norway, February 2024. Image © PlanetSKI

There is a good reason.

What this place lacks in altitude it makes up for in latitude.

I’m currently in Norway’s largest ski resort, Trysil, which is close to the Swedish border and just over 2hrs drive north-east from Oslo airport.

Its ski slopes range from just under 400m altitude up to a maximum of 1,100m.

But it’s further north than the northernmost point of Scotland.

And almost 1,500 miles north of the Alps.

To be precise it is is 61 degrees north of the equatorial plane.

For context, Courchevel in France is at 45 degrees and the North Pole is – obviously – at 90 degrees.

So the ski resorts of Norway, Sweden and Finland are cold – some more so than others.

Trysil, Norway, February 2024. Image © PlanetSKI

But while the ski areas of the Alps have suffered from a mild winter, Scandinavia has had a colder than average 2023/24 season so far.

I explain more in my latest snow report:

The season started perfectly.

Cold temperatures in November meant ideal conditions for snowmaking,

Then the natural snow came in December.

And the temperatures remained below average from November all the way through to mid-February.

Then slightly milder weather arrived, though nothing like as warm as the Alps has had.

Trysil, Norway. Image © PlanetSKI

“This winter has been great from the start with lots of snow early on and, as normal, world class conditions,” says Scott Hammond, a friend of PlanetSKI and a ski instructor in the Norwegian resort of Hafjell, north of Lillehammer.

“We had two very cold snaps which were a little below normal, but bearable.

“The snow has been excellent until the last few days where it has now warmed up and feels a bit more Easter-like.

“Though as we know up here in the north, temps will drop again and snow will come and bring back that winter wonderland that only a Scandinavian experience can provide.”

Scott Hammond in Hafjell, Norway. Image c/o Scott Hammond

Scott Hammond in Hafjell, Norway. Image © Sam Davies

As I mentioned in my video report, exceptionally cold temperatures often mean less snow falls.

But when it does, it stays around for longer.

A snowpack of more than a metre in these parts is a sign of a very good winter.

So the combination of low temperatures AND a decent snowfall have made the 2023/24 season rather good.

Trysil, Norway, February 2024. Image © PlanetSKI

Reported Maximum Snowpacks (Wednesday 28 February)

Myrkdalen, Norway – 160cm
Trysil (Skihytta), Norway – 154cm
Beitostølen, Norway – 120cm
Hafjell, Norway – 115cm
Hemsedal, Norway – 90cm
Åre, Sweden – 111cm
Sälen, Sweden – 125cm
Levi, Finland – 75cm

Hafjell, Norway. Image c/o Scott Hammond

Hafjell, Norway. Image © Scott Hammond

It is true that Scandinavian ski areas offer a wholly different experience to skiing in the Alps.

The resorts are not as extensive, on or off piste.

For example, Trysil may be Norway’s largest ski area but an advanced skier can easily cover its pistes in less than a day, lifts willing.

And it has only 6 chairlifts and 25 (yes, 25) drag lifts.

I am told a gondola from the main tourist centre may be coming in a couple of years, which will be a bonus, especially at busy times such as school holidays.

Busy lift queue in Trysil, Norway, February 2024. Image © PlanetSKI

But if your priority is pretty much guaranteed snow over a long season and a friendly welcome, you could do far worse than choose a Scandinavian ski resort for your next break.

PlanetSKI’s editor James Cove has been skiing in Norway every winter for the past dozen or so years.

It’s fair to say he’s a bit of a fan of skiing in Norway.

“The slopes are more hills than mountains and the resorts are tiny compared to the major resorts of the Alps, but there is just something unique about Norway,” said James.

“Maybe it’s the snow, maybe it’s the people, maybe it’s the scenery, maybe it’s the different winter experience, maybe it’s doing cross country skiing or husky rides, but most likely it is all of these and more.”

James was in Norefjell in December this season as Crystal Ski Holidays launched a new charter flight to meet the growing demand from the British for skiing in Norway:

New Charter Flight to Oslo

He has skied in Geilo, Hafjell, Trysil, Hemsedal, Voss, Kvitfjell, Narvik, Myrkdalen, Beitostølen and a handful of small cross-country areas.