There’s a common saying in Norway: “Nordmenn er født med ski på beina” — “Norwegians are born with skis on their feet.” While it may sound like folklore, it captures something real: skiing is deeply rooted in Norwegian culture, identity, and childhood.

A Nation of Skiers — From the Cradle

In the 1800s, foreign students and travelers in Norway were amazed to see young children skiing down snowy hills. While central Europeans struggled with clumsy snowshoes, Norwegian kids jumped, turned, and skated with ease.

Early ski education wasn’t just for fun — it was physical training, winter survival, and national pride all in one.

“In Telemark, even girls were expected to master ski turns and snowy descents before they finished school,” a teacher wrote in 1881.

The First Ski Schools

The first formal ski school was started in Christiania (now Oslo) in 1881, sparked by Sondre Norheim’s revolutionary technique. Boys — and soon, girls — lined up to learn how to control skis, turn sharply, and ski elegantly.

Ski training was serious business: pupils practiced jumping, turning, and even military-style drills. One of the first ski competitions near Huseby in 1881 attracted over 4000 spectators — a true national event.

How to Ski Like a Norwegian

Instructors began noting “typical Norwegian ski posture”: knees slightly bent, strong core, weight forward, and confident turns. Holding a small branch while jumping helped build balance — a trick still used by instructors today.

Young skiers practiced Telemark turns, slalom gates, and steep descents. The goal was not just speed, but smoothness, control, and flow — skiing like it was second nature.

Skis in the School Curriculum

By the early 1900s, ski training was included in Norwegian public schools. Children went on day trips with maps, compasses, and skis — learning geography and physical education at the same time.

Photographs from the 1930s show long lines of students in neat rows, skiing through mountain passes under the watchful eye of their teacher. A whole generation grew up with skis as their main form of transportation — and recreation.

Not Just a Sport — A Way of Life

What makes skiing so special in Norway is that it goes far beyond sport. It’s tradition, identity, freedom, and family. Whether it’s cross-country across a frozen fjell or a joyful school ski day — skiing connects Norwegians to their landscape and each other.