Norefjell Ski Resort

Historie

Norefjell Ski Resort is a mountain ski resort located in Krødsherad, Norway, on the mountainside of Norefjell. The venue for four Olympic alpine skiing events in 1952, it is located northwest of Oslo, 90 minutes away by vehicle.HistoryProposals for downhill skiing in Norefjell were first launched in the 1930s by a group of ski enthusiasts led by Per Fossum. They brought the issue to the attention of the Norwegian Ski Federation, who started negotiations with the landowners. A lease was signed in 1938 as the first such agreement made by the federation. The property was cleared during the summer and grooming started after the first snowfall. The management of the course was organized by Krødsherad IL with assistance from IF Liv for larger championships. The course was renovated slightly in 1947, with the curves being widened.Oslo was awarded the 1952 Winter Olympics in June 1947, with Norefjell responsible for downhill and giant slalom. The last discipline, slalom, was held at Rødkleiva in Oslo. The Olympics led to a series of infrastructure upgrades, both to the venue and the community, which had a positive impact on local quality of life. Large parts of the investment costs were covered by Oslo Municipality. Major facilities included constructing a bridge in Noresund, a new road from Noresund to Fjellhvil, a telecommunications building on the hill that included 12 communications lines and facilities for the race director, 30 telephone lines along the course, and construction of the Norefjellstua hotel. The organizing committee originally planned to use military trucks or tracked vehicles, but this was protested against by the International Ski Federation (FIS), resulting in the construction of a ski lift. The power supply turned out to be insufficient, so a mobile generator was used to power the ski lift.