Jump and freestyle

Did you know that Norway's national sport is skiing? Skiing was invented by the Norwegians - the first prehistoric traces of skiing are found in Norway, and they're damned proud of it.

Holmenkollen Ski Jump is a professional-only jump - so apologies to you if you as a tourist wanted to come skiing here like we did! In the spring to autumn it's a bare slope with a 36-degree inclination at its steepest point with lots of rope and netting, probably to catch the snow when it falls. Although there's no skiing going on from spring to autumn, the sheer size of the jump is enough to impress you.

Imagine professional skiiers going down this at crazy speeds ;)

There's a museum of skiing located in the main building of the ski jump, which is pretty cool. I never knew that skiing had such a long history and that there's so many steps and factors to take note of when building a set of skis; the amount of effort put into making a good pair is impressive.





Norwegians ski so much - apparently one baby even had skis on at 9 months old! Learning to ski before he could walk, it seems Norwegians are born with skis on :p

After the ski museum you can visit the top platform of Holmenkollen ski jump, where a diagonal lift takes you to a gorgeous 360-degree view and you can see the whole of Oslo - waters, buildings and all.

I love how you can see the whole city!

I think it's great that a country both has a sport as cool as this and that they're proud of it. I have to admit - I never quite understood the whole national sport thing, like cricket for India Sri Lanka and Pakistan; football or rugby for Britain; American football in the USA. I never got it because Singapore doesn't have a national sport, although lots of guys still love football and would rather be asleep at work than miss the FIFA world cup final.

The presentation podium for ski competitors.

I'm really not a sporting person except for perhaps tennis and figure-skating. I'm rubbish with stamina and I've got awful muscle coordination. But somehow there's something about sport which seems to draw magic into the air for spectators, isn't there?

Maybe it's the common sharing of highs and lows, the empathy - the athlete's emotions projected onto the crowd, the way in which everyone seems to feel the same way and be joined in the effort of cheering a fellow human being on for being able to perform feats we never ourselves would.



It was freezing at the top - so, so cold, with the wind blowing in your face and messing your hair up and making you feel like at any moment you could be blown off balance. But the scenery was beautiful, Oslo was all around and the sunlight was bright, so it was worth it.



You know what, next time I think about going skiing I'll probably head to a slope a bit less steep than this.

Opening hours:
June - August: 9 AM - 8 PM
May and September: 10 AM - 5 PM
October - April: 10 AM - 4 PM

Admission for the Jump tower and the Ski Museum (joint ticket): adult 110 NOK, children 55 NOK, family 260 NOK

How to get here:
In order get to Holmenkollen you can take Metro 1 towards Frognerseteren. Stop: Holmenkollen. Follow the signs to the Ski Museum and Ski Jump. This is a ca. 10 minute walk from the station.