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Hemsedal - Norway
- Thread starter Bumblebee
- Start date
astridhj
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
The norwegian diva has to be me. I start the season in Hemsedal, until we get enough snow on the west coast to ski there. Only 1.5 hours driving in comparison to 4 hours.
When are you planning to go to Hemsedal?
I heard today that they plan on opening Nov 14th. I plan on being there if they open that weekend. I am so looking forward to having snow under my skis again.
PM me or ask me questions in this thread. I am looking forward to telling you everything I know about Hemsedal.
When are you planning to go to Hemsedal?
I heard today that they plan on opening Nov 14th. I plan on being there if they open that weekend. I am so looking forward to having snow under my skis again.
PM me or ask me questions in this thread. I am looking forward to telling you everything I know about Hemsedal.
Bumblebee
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
hi Astrid. 
I'm planning to come out late january - probably around the 18th. I normally go to Canada but just can't face the flight this year so want to be closer to home - but at the same time can't face France/Austria. I considered Italy but as my bf is a newbie he needs GOOD instruction in GOOD english - something we can be guaranteed in Norway.
I've never been to Norway before but it seems to me like a magical place - we're both Scots so miss the motherland and of course we live in the flattest country on earth! ;)
I'm currently looking at the Fossheim hotel which doesn't seem to be too bank-breaking - but do you have any personal recommendations?
I'd love to hear anything you can tell me about the area.
I'm planning to come out late january - probably around the 18th. I normally go to Canada but just can't face the flight this year so want to be closer to home - but at the same time can't face France/Austria. I considered Italy but as my bf is a newbie he needs GOOD instruction in GOOD english - something we can be guaranteed in Norway.
I've never been to Norway before but it seems to me like a magical place - we're both Scots so miss the motherland and of course we live in the flattest country on earth! ;)
I'm currently looking at the Fossheim hotel which doesn't seem to be too bank-breaking - but do you have any personal recommendations?
I'd love to hear anything you can tell me about the area.
astridhj
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
hi Astrid.
I'm planning to come out late january - probably around the 18th. I normally go to Canada but just can't face the flight this year so want to be closer to home - but at the same time can't face France/Austria. I considered Italy but as my bf is a newbie he needs GOOD instruction in GOOD english - something we can be guaranteed in Norway.
I've never been to Norway before but it seems to me like a magical place - we're both Scots so miss the motherland and of course we live in the flattest country on earth! ;)
I'm currently looking at the Fossheim hotel which doesn't seem to be too bank-breaking - but do you have any personal recommendations?
I'd love to hear anything you can tell me about the area.
Sorry about the late reply, work has been crazy.
Hemsedal is a very small town in the middle of Norway. It is a 4 hours drive from Bergen on the west coast, and about 3 hours from Oslo on the East coast of Norway. The skiing is very good, and is also called the Scandinavian alps. They have some small newbie hills, and then it gets more and more advanced. The offpiste skiing there is great, especially if you get some locals to show you around.
The slopes aren't too long, not like in the Alps when you go on skiing forever when you finally make it to the top. I have never stayed at the Hotel, I only rent cabins when I am there. We try to make it ski in - ski out, and spend the weekends playing around in the snow. We drive from Bergen Friday afternoon, and drive back home again Sunday afternoon, and we manage to get two days of good skiing in.
Hemsedal is quite popular both for Norwegians and foreigners, and the skiing instructors should be very used to instruct in English. Last year I ran into a scottish ski instructor there, so you might be lucky getting someone talking "proper English".
Have you thought about how you want to get to and from Hemsedal?
-Astrid
Bumblebee
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Thank you Astrid - it all sounds wonderful. I like to get off piste and yes, the Alps are very very beautiful - but woe betide anyone who *dares* venture half an inch outside the piste boundary! 
We will be flying from Amsterdam to Oslo and then either bus or train up to Hemsedal - which as you say, about 3/4 hours and hopefully we'll have a bit of daylight and get to see some stuff. Because the flight will only be a touch over an hour it'll still be a very short day.
I'm hoping that late January will be a quiet time to go but even so - it's not going to be like France on a weekend! The only bad thing I've heard about Norway is the price of alcohol but we're not big drinkers anyway so it's not going to have an enormous effect.
What's the snow like? Is it powder or "sculpted" pistes? I know there is no guarantee either way of course, but what's your experience?
We will be flying from Amsterdam to Oslo and then either bus or train up to Hemsedal - which as you say, about 3/4 hours and hopefully we'll have a bit of daylight and get to see some stuff. Because the flight will only be a touch over an hour it'll still be a very short day.
I'm hoping that late January will be a quiet time to go but even so - it's not going to be like France on a weekend! The only bad thing I've heard about Norway is the price of alcohol but we're not big drinkers anyway so it's not going to have an enormous effect.
What's the snow like? Is it powder or "sculpted" pistes? I know there is no guarantee either way of course, but what's your experience?
astridhj
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
The alcohol is expensive yes, but you are on holiday.
January should not be too busy, except for the weekends. But the resort is big, so it should give you somewhere to ski. They have express chair lifts, so they can handle a lot of people at the same time.
I have skied there one weekend pre season and that was mostly hardpack. But after that I have been really lucky and always had lots of powder. Digging out cars on Sundays so we could drive home. It all depends on the season...
Good luck
January should not be too busy, except for the weekends. But the resort is big, so it should give you somewhere to ski. They have express chair lifts, so they can handle a lot of people at the same time.
I have skied there one weekend pre season and that was mostly hardpack. But after that I have been really lucky and always had lots of powder. Digging out cars on Sundays so we could drive home. It all depends on the season...
Good luck
Bumblebee
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
A quick update: I'm arriving on 25th jan and staying for 2 weeks. I contacted the tourist office at the hill but the apartments didn't work out such great value just for two people - great if you're a group of course.
Last night I was watching Hemsedal videos on youtube and getting myself over-excited!
Last night I was watching Hemsedal videos on youtube and getting myself over-excited!
