When you clip into your skis and glide through the peaceful Arctic wilderness with SkiTromsø, you’re following in the tracks of some of Norway’s most legendary figures. Skiing in Norway isn’t just a modern sport, it’s a tradition that stretches back over 1,000 years, to the time of Viking warriors and Norse gods.

Skiing with the Gods and the Kings

According to the Icelandic saga writer Snorri Sturluson (1178/79–1241), even kings and noblemen used skis. As early as the 10th century, he wrote about the Sámi people's incredible ski skills, especially for hunting across snowy terrain.

Old Norse mythology also highlights skiing: the god Ull was described as both a skilled archer and a graceful skier, while the goddess Skadi, goddess of winter and the mountains, used skis for hunting in the forests.

Warriors on Skis

One of the most fascinating ski legends is about Arnjlot Gelline, who around the year 1000 reportedly skied with 11 men over the mountains of Jämtland to collect taxes for King Olaf the Holy. With his staff planted firmly in the snow, Arnjlot sped ahead so swiftly that no one could keep up.

He later fought alongside King Olaf in the famous Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, likely arriving on skis.

Skiing as a Mark of Skill and Strength

King Harald Hardrada, around 1040, listed skiing among the top eight noble skills a man should master alongside swordsmanship, wrestling, and horseback riding. It was not only about transportation, it was proof of strength, precision, and honor.

Even foreign visitors noted the Norwegians’ unique abilities. Around 1100, a Danish writer observed how Norwegians chased down elk on skis in deep snow. Skiing combined survival, sport, and skill into one.

Delivering Royal Mail on Skis

In 1201, a skier delivered a royal letter from Hamar to King Inge during a winter emergency. One of the earliest documented cases of skis being used for communication.

By 1250, skiing was so embedded in society that the King’s Mirror, a medieval Norwegian text, noted that “no one could ski so fast they could strike a reindeer with a spear unless they had trained for it since childhood.”

Skiing in Law and Legend

In 1274, skiing was even included in Norway’s oldest legal code, the Gulating Law, which outlined hunting rights and seasonal ski use. Skiing was not just common, it was official.

From Myth to Mountains: A Legacy on Skis

At SkiTromsø, we love sharing the stories that lie beneath the snow. When you explore the Arctic wilderness on skis with us, you’re stepping into a thousand-year-old legacy, following in the paths of hunters, warriors, kings, and messengers.

So next time you’re out on the trail, remember: you’re not just skiing, you’re participating in a royal Norwegian tradition.

Ready to ski like a Viking? Join us in Tromsø.