The ski kingdom
Cross-country skiing. Norway's king sport! There are countless champions and Olympic medallists. Bjorn Daehli (12 Olympic medals in the 1990s) has been a legend ever since his neck-and-neck battles and victories over Russia's Smirnov. Since then, Norway has won one international title after another. A nation that once again shone at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, with 8 medals, including 5 gold. It's worth pointing out that this sport is almost compulsory for children at school. The famous skidag (ski day) remains an institution where all the children in a school take part and spend a full day on cross-country skis. One of the duties of a good father is to teach his children the technique of this sport. Thousands of kilometers of trails await you all over the country. The area around Lillehammer, Oslo, Geilo, the Gudbrandsdal valley and the Lyngen Alps are all popular with winter sports enthusiasts.
Biathlon. Here too, Norway is a dominant nation, thanks first and foremost to the legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen in the 2000s and 2010s. A golden period in which he won a whopping 13 Olympic medals (including 8 gold), 20 World Championships and 6 crystal globes. The latest Norwegian star of the discipline is Johannes Thingnes Bø, who amassed 5 medals at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing (4 of them gold). A champion who nevertheless has to contend regularly with our French legends: Martin Fourcade yesterday and Quentin Fillon Maillet today. On the women's side, Marte Olsbu Røiseland has also been a powder keeper in recent years, becoming the first biathlete to win five medals at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games (3 of them gold).
Alpine skiing. Norway is home to some renowned alpine skiers. Recent years have been marked by the exploits of the versatile Aksel Lund Svindal, winner of two major crystal globes (2007, 2009) and nine minor ones in the downhill, super-G, giant slalom and combined events. A legend, and the worthy heir to the likes of Lasse Kjus, Kjetil André Aamodt and Leif Kristian Haugen. Today, Kjetil Jansrud (Olympic super-G champion in 2014 and world downhill champion in 2019) and Henrik Kristoffersen (world giant slalom champion in Åre in 2019) have taken over.
Ski jumping. Ski jumping is a traditional sport in Norway. After many years of inactivity, 58 years after the last Olympic title in the discipline, Marius Lindvik made an entire nation proud by winning gold in Beijing in February 2022.
Telemark skiing. Carried out with special skis, turns are made with one knee on the ground. This form of skiing is predominant in certain regions of Norway, particularly the... Telemark, where the sport originated. CQFD!
A hiking paradise
Whatever the season or location, Norwegian nature is exuberant, all-consuming, almost to a fault. For three-quarters of the country, there's not a sound to be heard, except that of the wind colliding with high mountains and gliding over lakes and glaciers. This "no man's land" of the Far North is complemented by the Norwegian forest, which covers one-fifth of the territory. In this vast green space, hiking is obviously king, with over 20,000 kilometers of marked trails throughout the country, including the emblematic Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), Besseggen Ridge, Romsdalseggen Ridge, Mount Hornelen, Hardangervidda Plateau and Trolltunga Rock. But there's something for walkers everywhere, mainly between May and September.
Mountain biking. Here again, there are countless roads and trails (and bike parks for mountain bikers). Fans will of course be familiar with the Arctic Race of Norway, the most northerly professional race on the planet. A particularly intense event, it takes place every year in mid-August.
Climbing and mountaineering. Here too, there's plenty of choice for climbing enthusiasts, from the Lyngen Alps to the fjords of the west coast and the Lofoten Islands.
To the happiness of the fishermen
Fishing enthusiasts are sure to find something to their liking in Norwegian waters. A number of holidays are organized around this hobby. There's sea fishing, river fishing and fishing in the fjords and mountain rivers. But there are a few rules that Norwegians (and tourists too!) respect. Sea fishing is free all year round, with three exceptions: salmon, trout and Arctic char. You'll have to pay a tax of NOK 272 (about €24, payable at the post office).
June to August is the ideal time to fish for salmon and salmon trout in inland rivers or close to the coast. You'll need to pay the tax and sometimes even a local or regional fishing license. Fishing permits can be purchased from sports stores, campsites or tourist offices.
Meeting the animals
Ornithology. For birdwatchers, the coast is a little paradise. The mountains along the Norwegian coast are home to many species of seabird. Hundreds of thousands of birds live on the mountains of the small islands along the coast, from Runde to Ekkerøy on the Russian border, and depend on fish. Since the late 1970s, bird species have been disappearing as a result of the over-exploitation of fish such as herring, capelin and mackerel. Birds to watch include gannets, cormorants, common and Arctic guillemots, sea eagles, razorbills, puffins and peregrine falcons..
Whale watching. The statement alone is fascinating. Every year during the summer breeding season, whales approach the coast. That's when you're most likely to catch a glimpse. North of the Lofoten Islands is where you'll find the most whales. This impressive and fascinating cetacean roams around the Vesterålen archipelago, awaiting the visit of orcas and humpback whales every winter. Various safaris are available to discover the wonders of the Norwegian coastline. Treat yourself to this childhood dream!
