Liker du å gå på ski? [LEEKer doo aw gaw paw SHEA] Do you like skiing? The winter season is here, and nordmenn i alle aldersgrupper (Norwegians of all ages) are enjoying the outdoor activities made possible by snøen (the snow) and the wild Norwegian landscapes. In the most famous skisportsteder (ski sport places), like Jotunheimen or Lillehammer (remember vinter-OL in 1994? 🙂 ), people enjoy themselves slaloming or snowboarding down the steep, broad slope of the alpinanlegg (alpine sports centre). If buying or renting a pair of slalomski [SLAHlom shea] or a snowboard seems to expensive to you, there’s no reason to fret. Langrennski (cross-country skis) or the simpler turski [TOOR shea] (”trip skis”) don’t cost that much, and there are plenty of nice and exciting løyper (ski runs) all over the country. It is a perfect way to be together with your venner (friends), watch the snow-clad rocks and trees and sky, and get your adrenaline high at the same time. Just ask for information at the local tourist office. If it’s closed (which is usually the case in bygder or ”villages” during winter), ask the locals, and they’ll be more than happy to share their local skiing paradise with you.

Skiing is an important part of life for many Norwegians. In fact, there is a joke saying that nordmenn er født med ski på beina (Norwegians are born with skis on their legs!) It should be no surprise that the English words ski and slalom were borrowed from Norwegian…

So, if you happen to be in a snowy part of Norway, find yourself a pair of ski and staver (ski sticks), and get out! Or if you really, really can’t leave sofaen (the couch), tune in on some sports channel and watch Petter Northug and the other Norwegian ski champs sweat on your behalf! 😉