The Best Sushi in Scandinavia?

Tor Kjølberg
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The Best Sushi in Scandinavia?

Norway is the largest producer of Atlantic salmon in the world. The salmon producer Nova Sea has bought into the sushi restaurant Alex Sushi in Oslo. Together, the raw material producer from the Helgeland coast and the sushi chefs at Alex Sushi are creating the perfect sushi salmon. Perhaps the best sushi in Scandinavia?

Nova Sea wishes to teach people about the farming industry. It is in fact possible to visit the producer’s many aquaculture facilities along the coast and that’s why the company wanted to have a ‘showroom’ in the capital of Norway. Inhabitants of Oslo as well as tourists and students can now learn about the salmon and the industry there.

The Best Sushi in Scandinavia?
Sushi chef Alex Cabiao was for a long time looking for exactly the salmon that works best for sushi. Photo: Alex Sushi

City gourmets have been a large part of Alex Sushi’s clientele since the restaurant opened in 2001. The restaurant was soon talked about in the media both in Norway and internationally as one of the best sushi restaurants in the world outside Japan. Ever since the startup, Alex Sushi has garnered great praise for its unique Japanese delicacies.

Related: The Norwegian Queen of Salmon Rivers

The Best Sushi in Scandinavia?
For the salmon producer pioneer and Nova Sea’s founder, Steinar OIaisen, the startup was extremely challenging.

Sushi chef Alex Cabiao was for a long time looking for exactly the salmon that works best for sushi. There are great variations in salmon, both in terms of size, fleshiness, color and marbling of fat. Now, Alex Sushi has farming facilities along the Helgeland coast, surrounded by cold, fresh water and wild beautiful nature. A taste of Helgeland and Japan is now possible in the heart of Oslo.

For the salmon producer pioneer and Nova Sea’s founder, Steinar OIaisen, the startup was extremely challenging. Only 174 of the original 1,200 salmon smolt survived. With focus on quality and sustainability, Nova Sea is now seeing the fruits of many years of hard work.

The Best Sushi in Scandinavia?
Salmon vessel Steinar Olaisen. Photo: Harald M. Valderhaug

Related: Positive Trend for Norwegian Salmon

Alex Sushi currently consists of two restaurants in Oslo. One at Solli Plass and another which opened in 2012 in gorgeous surroundings, right up to the water’s edge at Tjuvholmen. Inside, the walls are decorated with large modern paintings, created by Scandinavian artists. The artwork is handpicked by the owners of the restaurant, but the real artwork is made right in front of your eyes, behind the bar that surrounds the food preparation area. With Alex Cabiao in front, the experienced chef team serves fresh, delicate pieces of sashimi, nigiri and maki that melts on your tongue. You can choose from three menus in different price ranges, where the chefs have combined the freshest ingredients for a dining experience you will not forget.

The Best Sushi in Scandinavia?
Nova Sea in Helgeland wishes to teach people about the farming industry.

It was of course no coincidence that Nova Sea bought into Alex Sushi. Figures from Norway’s Maritime Council showed that turnover in the commodity market increased by 34 per cent ten years ago. Nova Sea has an annual turnover of one billion kroner and produces 230n tons of salmon every day!

City gourmets have been a large part of Alex Sushi’s clientele since the restaurant opened in 2001. The sushi at Alex Sushi is made with exclusive ingredients of everything from Norwegian salmon and halibut, to tuna, soft-shell crab and lobster. If you are experienced in the sushi world, you may want to order the more challenging dishes like gunkan maki and fried salmon skin – and the most daring moves onto both whale and sea urchins.

The Best Sushi in Scandinavia?
Nova Sea main office based in Lovund, on an island at the edge of the Norwegian Sea

Related: Smoked Fish From Scandinavia

The chefs at Alex Sushi are professionals who know the ingredients. However, many of them have never seen fish in a facility. But the knowledge of the cooperating parties literally provides an ocean of possibilities.

The Best Sushi in Scandinavia? written by Tor Kjolberg

6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events

Tor Kjølberg
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6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events

There are so many eCommerce events that you can attend virtually or in person, and if you aren’t already taking advantage of these opportunities, consider doing so. Learn more about 6 reasons to attend eCommerce industry events.

The following are some of the specific reasons you should think about attending at least one event this year if you’re in the eCommerce industry.

1. Hear from Experts and Thought Leaders
You can gain eCommerce inspiration from the experts when you attend events. These events will often include workshops and talks from industry thought leaders. When you learn from experts, you aren’t just winging it. There are very few people who know a lot about a specific area, and it’s easy as an eCommerce entrepreneur to think you know it all, but experts and thought leaders bring undeniable knowledge to the table.

6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events
Entrepreneurial experts have done things that you probably haven’t, and they can share not just their successes but, sometimes, more importantly, their failures.

Entrepreneurial experts have done things that you probably haven’t, and they can share not just their successes but, sometimes, more importantly, their failures. Then, you can learn from those failures and avoid them in your own business experiences.

Attending events, even if you just get one nugget of wisdom, can then be well worth it because that can completely change your perspective or your business.

There are generally things you have to realize about experts when you run a business. First, it took them a long time to become recognized as experts. You don’t necessarily have the luxury of all of that time, so why not have them condense what they’ve learned and share it with you in a much briefer window of time?

They’re also going to have a unique perspective. They can often anticipate trends before others can, simply because of how much experience they have. You can gain access to potential upcoming trends, but you can adapt them to suit your company and needs.

Related: Important Issues in the Booming Scandinavian E-Commerce Market

2. It’s An Investment
One of the best investments you can make is in yourself, and the second is in your business. eCommerce industry events help you achieve both.

Unfortunately, people will worry about the investment of time, money, or both that events can carry with them. Then, they forego potentially powerful benefits.

You aren’t spending the time or money in these events—you’re investing it.

6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events
You aren’t spending the time or money in these events—you’re investing it.

3. Identify Solutions
You might be at a place in your eCommerce business where you’re dealing with a hurdle or problem that you can’t come up with a solution to on your own. When you’re introduced to experts and vendors in your industry, you can tap into more efficient, effective ways of doing things.

If you’re facing frustration with one particular part of your business, and a solution is elusive no matter what you try, an industry event might point you in the direction of solving it. There are probably others in your industry who have experienced something similar to what you’re going through, and you can learn from them.

Related: Scandinavian E-Commerce Trends 2022

6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events
You can find information for so many different things you might want to do in your business if you attend an event.

4. Find Inspiration
eCommerce can be an incredibly creative industry if you want it to be. You can find information for so many different things you might want to do in your business if you attend an event. For example, you could be inspired by products you offer your customers, or you might be interested in a bit of technology, like a new type of shipping technology that makes things faster for your customers and easier for you.

You might simply be feeling a little stale in your business, and attending an event can spark that sense of creativity once again that you might have had when you first started.

5. Connect with Suppliers
In eCommerce, your business is often only as good as your suppliers. Suppliers tend to attend industry events, and you may be able to find not only the newest products but you could find people to work with who are a better fit for your needs.

Related: The Scandinavian E-Commerce Market

6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events
When you attend industry events in any capacity, it can legitimize your eCommerce business.

6. Legitimize Your Business
When you attend industry events in any capacity, it can legitimize your eCommerce business. You can demonstrate that you’re engaged in what you’re doing, you’re willing to learn from the best in the business, and you’re always striving to excel.

You can also put yourself in front of other people in your industry and network. You’re generally gaining exposure.

Finally, if you’re attending events, learning from the best, and you’re legitimizing your business, you might be able to attract the best talent to your business.  People are going to want to work for you if you’re finding fresh ways of doing things and you’re highly active.

6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events
Susan Melony

6 Reasons to Attend eCommerce Industry Events, written dedicatedly for Daily Scandinavian by Susan Malloy. “Susan is an avid writer, traveler, and overall enthusiast.” https://twitter.com/sumelony

Popular Loan Types in Norway

Tor Kjølberg
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Popular Loan Types in Norway

Taking out a loan is something many people do at one time or another during their lives. There can be many reasons for this, but among the most common are home loans, car loans and smaller loans such as unsecured loans for life’s many small unforeseen expenses that you may not have saved up for. In this article, we will go into a little more detail about some of the different types of loans that are popular in Norway, and not least why. Learn more about loan types in Norway.

Refinancing
There can be many reasons why you choose to take out an unsecured loan, and these are loans that can work as a nice tool if you pay back the money on time and otherwise know how to take advantage of this without paying too much in interest. . But if you don’t pay on time, or take out many small loans which mean that some may be forgotten, this can become a big financial burden instead. Refinancing is therefore a good tool. There you collect all small loans under one loan – much easier to remember to pay! Apply for refinancing if this sounds like you.

Popular loan types in Norway
Refinancing might be a good tool. Photo: Towfiqu/Unsplash

Related:What You Need To Know About Consumer Loans in Norway

Green loans
Can loans be sustainable? This title almost makes it sound like that, and it almost does. Green loans are primarily loans that are used to create a greener, or more sustainable, home, for example. This is something that we see gaining increasing popularity in Norway, especially as this turns out to be something that you can save a lot of money on, in the long term.

There are many things that are smart to think about before taking out a loan, and one of them is whether you can afford it, regardless of whether it is an investment in something that will save you money in the long term. So think about this and get financial guidance that can help you make the right choice.

Popular loan types in Norway
Before jumping into refinancing, or another loan, it is very smart to set up a budget. Photo: Tim Gouw/Unsplash

The importance of budget
Before jumping into refinancing, or another loan, it is very smart to set up a budget. There are many people who think they are setting up a good budget, but who actually do not have an overview of their actual consumption. This is something that causes problems in the long run, so here you will get some tips on how to budget for your actual consumption.

Check your online bank, not your memory. It says what you actually use – in black and white.

Make room in your budget for things you like to do or enjoy. This makes it much easier to actually stick to your budget.

Related: How a Loan Intermediary in Scandinavia Can Help You Find the Best Offer

Popular loan types in Norway
Unexpected things happen more often than you think. Photo: Konstantin Evdokimov/Unsplash

Remember unforeseen expenses.
This is something that many people forget. Because although each thing happens rarely, unexpected things happen more often than you think.

Set aside money for savings, even if you have a loan (unless the interest rates here are very high, then you should prioritize extra repayments on the loan).

Think long term, not short term. Many people fall into the trap of thinking in the short term, but having long-term financial goals helps you make good choices.

Popular loan types in Norway is a promotional article from Lånepenger.no

Feature image (on top): Photo (c) Ibrahim Boran / Unsplash

Explore the Freedom to Live Anywhere in the World With the Danish Relocation Platform MoveNation

Tor Kjølberg
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0
Explore the Freedom to Live Anywhere in the World With the Danish Relocation Platform MoveNation

The freedom to move across countries and geographies is a given in our modern world.  Globalization and digitalization are two forces that actively and sustainably contribute to the reconfiguration of today’s economies and societies.
Explore the freedom to live anywhere in the world with the Danish relocation platform MoveNation.

People are constantly looking for better places to live because, as time goes by, preferences and living styles change and the joy of living in the same place for the entire life fades gradually. Explore the freedom to live anywhere in the world with the Danish relocation platform MoveNation.

That’s why the citizens of Sweden, for example, might be looking for the excitement of Thai landscapes, traditional Asian cuisine and the immersion into an entirely new culture. Explore the freedom to live anywhere in the world with the Danish relocation platform MoveNation.

Innovating the relocation sector
At the moment, it is as easy to move to a new country as it is to book a plane ticket. This is made possible by a platform called MoveNation developed in Denmark.

Explore the Freedom to Live Anywhere in the World With the Danish Relocation Platform MoveNation
At the moment, it is as easy to move to a new country as it is to book a plane ticket. Photo: International Needpix

Related: 8 Things to Know Before Moving To Denmark

In Scandinavia, people are trained from infancy to think big and tackle the big problems of humanity in a way that is measurable, efficient and contributing to societal improvement. This innovative way of thinking will contribute to the reconfiguration of societies and a fairer distribution of resources. MoveNation plans to help move 1 million people in the next ten years. The company appeared as a partial solution to the $400 trillion dollar pension crisis.

Explore the Freedom to Live Anywhere in the World With the Danish Relocation Platform MoveNation
MoveNation plans to help move 1 million people in the next ten years. Illustration: Dreamtime.com

Related: Common Expenses When Moving to Scandinavia

About MoveNation

Move Nation is a powerful search engine that can process massive amounts of data that are relevant to deciding where to live and match it to each person’s lifestyle preferences and financial situation. It helps users search city data from 100.000 cities in 10 seconds and advises and helps people move abroad 50% cheaper than the market price.

Related: Is Dual Citizenship in Scandinavia Right for You? The Challenges of Being Multinational 

Explore the Freedom to Live Anywhere in the World With the Danish Relocation Platform MoveNation
Move Nation is a powerful search engine that can process massive amounts of data that are relevant to deciding where to live and match it to each person’s lifestyle preferences and financial situation. Photo: Dreamtime.com

The platform informs users if it makes sense to move abroad vs. guessing or paying 10K EUR for advice. Also, MoveNation informs users what their total savings are in cash and years saved from working (they can often inform users of savings of $100K + millions which is difficult to get similar returns elsewhere).

​​The company MoveNation was launched in 2021, in Denmark, and is supported by Antler, a venture capital fund with investor Eduardo Saverin (ex-Facebook co-founder).

Explore the Freedom to Live Anywhere in the World With the Danish Relocation Platform MoveNation, based on a press release from MoveNation.

Feature image (on top): Illustration by Depositphotos.

In the Heart of Norway’s Largest Lake

Tor Kjølberg
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In the Heart of Norway’s Largest Lake

Short food supply, romantic farm stays and historic gardens. The Helgøya peninsula in the heart of Norway’s largest lake is a summer idyll.

Nes and Helgøya is the heart of Mjøsa’s discovery route. Surrounded by the beautiful lake Mjøsa, the road meanders through a lush, rolling cultural landscape and past large and small farms, beautiful gardens, welcoming restaurants, outlets selling local products, and more. There is always something to see or do – whether you drive, explore by bicycle, arrive by boat, or go by foot.

Related: The Inland Counties in Eastern Norway

In the Heart of Norway’s Largest Lake
Hovelsrud farm. Photo Hovelsrud

Helgøya is an 18.3-square-kilometer (7.1 sq mi) island in the lake Mjøsa, located in Ringsaker Municipality. The island is the largest freshwater island in Norway and has been connected to the mainland by the Nessundet Bridge since 1957.

On a late summer day, the smell of flowers and chlorophyll hangs over Helgøya like a sweet perfume. But it’s not just wild plants that thrive here. First-class solar conditions and a mineral-rich soil have made the area one of Norway’s most productive food bowls since the early Iron Age.

In the Heart of Norway’s Largest Lake
Wood hotel, Brumunddal. Photo: Visit Innlandet.

Attractions within easy reach
Attractions are varied and within easy reach of each other. Accommodation is available at campsites, manor farms, or in welcoming private holiday homes. The renowned Wood hotel, the world’s tallest timber building, is not far away either. In short, the perfect holiday destination – for a day or a whole week!

The island consists of 32 farms. The most notable of these are the old manor Hovinsholm which had its own church until 1612. Another old farm is Eik (‘oak’) which is the source of the name of the tallest hill on the island: Eksberget. Another farm is Høvelsrud with its 17th century gardens. The island is generally rich in traces of medieval history.

In the Heart of Norway’s Largest Lake
Some call Helgøya Norway’s Toascana. Photo: Visit Innlandet.

Norway’s Toscana
Some call it Norway’s Toascana. Flowers, bees and tourists in beautiful harmony. Between June and September, the otherwise sleepy Helgøya bustles with activity. Shouts of joy can be heard through the forest from the inland’s largest climbing park. Tent pitches fill up at Skurven bathing area, while small boats from Gjøvik and Hamar dock to eat baked potatoes at Nessundet bridge.

In the Heart of Norway’s Largest Lake, written by Tor Kjolberg

Feature image (on top): Helgøya. Photo: Statsforvalteren

Russian Gas Will be Replaced by Joint German-Danish Offshore Wind Hub

Tor Kjølberg
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0
Russian Gas Will be Replaced by Joint German-Danish Offshore Wind Hub

The Port of Rønne in Denmark has announced a new study investigating the possibility of using renewable energy from a so-called Bornholm Energy Island in the Baltic Sea. In this way, Russian gas will be replaced by joint German-Danish offshore wind hub.

To strengthen energy security in Europe, Northern European countries are discussing plans, but the ambitious proposal faces financing and regulatory challenges. According to German and Danish governments, A 9 billion-euro ($9 billion) offshore wind power hub in the Baltic Sea will mark a significant step in the process of weaning Europe off its reliance on Russian gas.

Related: The Danish Energy Island

Russian Gas Will be Replaced by Joint German-Danish Offshore Wind Hub
German and Danish TSOs form Bornholm Energy Island.

As a starting point, the parties will examine a number of aspects of Power-to-X production from manufacturing and economics to possibilities for connection of electrical systems and district heating systems on Bornholm and across the Baltic Sea.

“The more interdependent we become in Europe, the more independent we will become from Russia,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters during a visit in May to the Danish port of Esbjerg.

The so-called Bornholm Energy Island will link several wind parks and distribute the energy they produce between the two countries. The project will have capacity of more than 3 gigawatts — enough power for as many as 4.5 million households – after it begins operation in 2030.

Russian Gas Will be Replaced by Joint German-Danish Offshore Wind Hub
Port of Rønne.

Production of Power-to-X green fuels is a completely new type of industry that has not been previously studied on Bornholm. Therefore, part of the study will focus on investigating where on the island a plant and warehouse could be constructed.

“We all know green power generation is great. But if you really want to use it, you need a grid and there, we have to step up,” said von der Leyen.

Russian Gas Will be Replaced by Joint German-Danish Offshore Wind Hub
“The more interdependent we become in Europe, the more independent we will become from Russia,” says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Offshore Wind

Related: New Wind Energy Record Set by Denmark

“It’s the first time in Europe that two countries cooperate on such a project,” German Energy Minister Robert Habeck said in a phone interview with Bloomberg.

The Power-to-X survey is expected to be completed within a year and will culminate in a business case. It’s, however, unclear how huge amounts of green power can be exchanged across borders without overloading already strained onshore grids or creating a spaghetti bowl of cables on the seabed.

The Power-to-X study is a natural extension of the work on the Bornholm Bunker Hub and as such will investigate how large amounts of green fuel can be sold on Bornholm and whether some fuels can be sold for heavy land transport and industry on the island.

Russian Gas Will be Replaced by Joint German-Danish Offshore Wind Hub
Danes mimick nature to create Energy Island.

“There are also talks with Norway, the Netherlands and Germany about future projects,” said Hanne Storm Edlefsen, who is in charge of developing energy islands at Energinet.

The Energy Island, located on the island of Bornholm, some 15 kilometers offshore, will connect Germany and Denmark to an offshore hub with around 2 GW of offshore wind power capacity and will need 3 billion euros of investment for infrastructure and 6 billion euros for the offshore wind park, according to the Danish government.

Related: Denmark – The World’s Leading Wind Power Nation

“What is completely new is that we see the build-out of renewables as something which is done best jointly,” Danish Climate and Energy Minister Dan Jorgensen told Reuters.

The German network operator 50Hertz and its Danish counterpart Energinet, which will build the energy hub and the connection to the mainland, will share both the costs and profits of the project.

Denmark approved the development of the Baltic Sea and North Sea energy islands back in June 2020, and Energinet was given the task of conducting feasibility studies for both projects.

The European Commission aims to increase Europe’s offshore wind capacity from its current level of 12 gigawatts to 300 gigawatts by 2050.

Russian Gas Will be Replaced by Joint German-Danish Offshore Wind Hub, written by Tor Kjolberg

United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide

Tor Kjølberg
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0
United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide

Nordic Sport and Norges Hopplandslaget, Norway’s national governing body for ski jumping, have announced a formal partnership to advance the sport worldwide that will see both organizations working together and coaching athletes at training camps in both nations. Learn more about United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide.

USA Nordic Sport and Norges Hopplandslaget announced last month that their national ski jumping teams will share coaches, training facilities, sports science data and efforts to attract sponsors as part of a four-year agreement.

 

United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide
At the Beijing Games in February, Marius Lindvik of Norway won Olympic gold in ski jumping on the large hill. Photo: Olympics

The partnership has been approved by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and is designed to elevate training, coaching and athlete performance in the discipline of Ski Jumping, which has been included in the Winter Olympic Games since 1924 and the annual FIS Ski Jumping World Cup since 1979. Norway has won more Olympic ski jumping medals and gold medals than any country while the United States has won one medal all-time in the Games. Norway is leading the world with 12 Olympic golds and 36 medals overall. At the Beijing Games in February, Marius Lindvik of Norway won Olympic gold in ski jumping on the large hill.

Related: Norwegian Ski-jumps

The combined team will be led by Norwegian Clas Brede Bråthen.

United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide
The combined team will be led by Norwegian Clas Brede Bråthen
United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide
Tom Bickner, USA Nordic Sport board chair. Photo: USA Nordic Sport

“Norwegian ski jumping has been recognized as one of the best in the world since the first world record in ski jumping was set in 1808 by Olaf Rye,“ said Tom Bickner, USA Nordic Sport board chair. “Our organizations are partnering for athlete development, coaches’ education, national team training, sport science and sponsorship efforts because it is the best way to transform the sport of ski jumping. Our mutual goal is to make our sport more relevant and exciting for young women and men around the world.”

Under terms of the partnership, the staff of both organizations will work in collaboration to coach athletes from the United States and Norway in training camps that will be held at world class ski jumping facilities in both nations. The U.S. and Norwegian national teams will share sport science and work together to establish and secure global sponsors to back the unified teams as they train to compete for FIS Championships and the Winter Olympic games medals. The agreement spans up to four years and will be governed by a formal charter and an oversight committee.

United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide
The agreement spans up to four years and will be governed by a formal charter and an oversight committee. Photo: Wikipedia

“When it comes to the discipline of competitive ski jumping, our goal is to solidify Norway’s position as the most important ski jumping nation in the world,” said Clas Brede Bråthen. “Combining the resources of the U.S. and Norway will help fulfill our intense desire to be a leader pushing the sport of ski jumping to the highest possible level worldwide.”

Related: 4,000 Years of Skiing in Norway

United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide
“FIS applauds the unprecedented agreement between Norway and the United States to collaborate toward achieving athletic greatness,” said Sandro Pertile, FIS Race Director for Ski Jumping. Photo: interia.pl

“FIS applauds the unprecedented agreement between Norway and the United States to collaborate toward achieving athletic greatness,” said Sandro Pertile, FIS Race Director for Ski Jumping. “Both organizations are committed to setting new standards, processes and approaches that can be shared with other ski jumping teams worldwide. Our organizations and athletes are proudly showing our children and the world how we can work together to achieve greatness.”

Related: The Scandinavian Ski Directory

About USA Nordic Sport
USA Nordic Sport (USANS) is the National Leadership Organization for the original Olympic disciplines of Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined in the United States. Founded in 2007, USANS is a 501 (c)(3) committed to ensuring the survival and success of Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined throughout the country. Built by alumni and driven by former athletes, we are focused on growing and promoting our sports while operating international elite team programs with the goal to be the best in the world. USA Nordic “Elite Athletes” represent the best in the country in their sports and compete as a team at the national and international levels. More information on USA Nordic can be found at usanordic.org or its social media channels @usanordic.

About Norges Hopplandslaget
Hopplandslaget represents Norway’s National Ski Jumping Team. The male and female athletes came together as one team in 2021, The Norwegian Ski Association (NSF) dates back to 1908. Our goal is to be “the most important Ski Jumping nation in the world,” by always prioritizing the development of the sport. We do this through our core values, “Respect, Humbleness and Joy.” Hopplandslaget consists of athletes who have won the World Cup, the World Championship, Olympic Champions and Ski Flying Champions. Please visit skiforbundet.no or our social media @hopplandslaget for further information.

About FIS
FIS is the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding, founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIS manages the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules. Through its 132 member nations, more than 500 FIS ski and snowboard competitions are staged annually. Specific initiatives are undertaken by FIS to promote snow activities as a healthy leisure recreation, notably for the young. For more information, please visit www.fis-ski.com.

United States and Norway in Partnership to Advance Ski Jumping Worldwide, written by Tor Kjolberg.

Feature image (on top): Photo by U. S. Ski Team

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation

Tor Kjølberg
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Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation

If you’ve taken the time to plan a dream Scandinavian vacation, the last thing you want is to get sick while you’re away. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t take health and safety precautions lightly. It doesn’t take much for a virus to pass from one person to another, especially now that many COVID safety precautions have been lifted. That’s why prioritizing health and safety on your next Scandinavian vacation is important.

So, it’s important to remember you’re in good health before you leave. Not only will prioritizing your health and safety for your vacation keep you feeling better, but it will help to protect those around you on your travels.

Thankfully, it’s easier than you might think to stay safe and healthy before and during a vacation. Let’s cover a few tips you can use to prioritize your health before you go, so you can make the most of your trip.

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation
Do you have any signs or symptoms of a cold or flu? Photo: Towfigu Barbhulya/Unsplash

Take Stock of Your Health
Airlines don’t require you to do health screenings before hopping on board, and most aren’t even requiring temperature checks anymore. However, it’s a good idea to “check in” with yourself in the days before you leave. How are you feeling? Do you have any signs or symptoms of a cold or flu? Some of the common early signs include:

  • Stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Low-grade fever
  • Body aches

Even if these symptoms aren’t bothering you too much, they could become worse on your trip, and you’ll run the risk of infecting others. Think that risk is low? Keep this in mind – people are more likely to spread diseases via air travel than mosquitoes!

When you look at it from that perspective, you begin to see how important it is to be healthy before you step on a plane. If you’re worried that you might be getting sick and you absolutely have to go, take extra precautions. Consider wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, and steering clear of others as much as possible.

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation
Scandinavian countriues take recommendations from the WHO. Photo: CDC/Unsplash

Get the Proper Vaccinations
Certain countries recommend (and sometimes require) that visitors receive specific vaccinations before entering. Norway, for example, doesn’t have any vaccine requirements (including COVID-19). However, they take recommendations from the WHO and suggest that people visiting the country have the following vaccinations:

  • Hepatitis A & B
  • Rabies
  • Meningitis
  • Polio
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Tdap
  • Chickenpox
  • Shingles
  • Pneumonia
  • Influenza

It’s a good rule of thumb to look at the general health advice of the country you’re visiting before you go. Take a look at their recommendations or requirements and get to know their healthcare systems so you won’t be confused or overwhelmed if you need any kind of medical care or attention during your vacation. As another example, Sweden has dropped all COVID-19-related travel restrictions. You don’t need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test before entering the country. However, that doesn’t mean those things aren’t still good! You might consider testing yourself before you go, just in case, and having your vaccination card in case any private businesses in the country still require it.

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation
It’s also important to prepare with any toiletries, medications, and skincare you’ll need. Photo: Cheyenne Doug/Unsplash

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation – read on…..

Prepare Your Body
If you’re heading to Scandinavia from the U.S., you already likely know there are going to be some cultural differences. However, fewer people think about the environmental differences, and how they might impact your health.

For example, the weather throughout Scandinavia can be pretty unpredictable, especially during certain seasons. Make sure you’re doing your research ahead of time to know what type of gear to pack, and how to protect yourself.

It’s also important to prepare with any toiletries, medications, and skincare you’ll need. Did you know that “quarantine skin” is an actual thing? Throughout the pandemic, things like spending too much time indoors and excess stress contributed to a host of skin issues for many people. From acne to eczema, these conditions have become more prominent, and heading to a new environment/climate can irritate your skin even more. Make sure you have the right creams and medications to keep your skin healthy and protected. Consider visiting some relaxing spots on your vacation, like a sauna or spa, to reduce stress and manage both your mental and physical well-being.

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation
Consider visiting some relaxing spots on your vacation, like a sauna or spa, to reduce stress and manage both your mental and physical well-being. Photo: Etienne Girardet/Unsplash

It’s also important to consider what you’ll be doing on your vacation. Do you plan to be very active, hiking every day to view some of the area’s incredible views? Make sure you’re physically capable of that kind of activity and strain. It might seem like a small thing to consider, but getting yourself in shape will make a big difference in how good you’ll feel on your trip.

You should never pass up a trip to Scandinavia, no matter the type of year. However, it’s more important than ever to prioritize health and safety, and that starts with you planning and preparing ahead of time. Keep these ideas in mind as you’re putting together your perfect vacation, and you’ll be able to enjoy it peacefully and in good health.

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation
Ainsley Lawrence

Prioritizing Health and Safety on Your Next Scandinavian Vacation, written dedicately for Daily Scandinavian by Ainsley Lawrence. Ainsley is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She is interested in better living through technology and education. She is frequently lost in a good book.

Also written by Ainsley Lawrence:
Tips for Achieving a Sustainable Scandinavian-Inspired Home

Feature image (on top): Photo © rminedaisy / Unsplash

Scandinavian Pear

Tor Kjølberg
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Scandinavian Pear

Pears are popular as a dessert fruit in Scandinavia. We love eating ripe pears with delicious matured cheese, including blue cheese and crispbread. This is way better than eating cheese with the ubiquitous grapes, which can make cheese taste like soap. Learn more about Scandinavian pear.

There is no real tradition of using pears in the kitchen, except for a few highlights. Pears will grow only in southern Scandinavia. In general, the pears we grow are the same as the rest of Europe, but we have a few very old cultivars, including the gråpære (‘grey pear) pyrus communis, a small wonderfully perfumed, juicy pear which is perfect for pickling.

, the pears we grow are the same as the rest of Europe
The pears we grow in Scandinavia are the same as the rest of Europe. Photo: coop.no

Related: Fruit from Scandinavia

Pears in elderberry syrup
This is a very Nordic take on the French or Italian recipe for pears in red wine. It has a beautiful autumnal feel to it and a surprising rich flavor. The elderberry cordial can be replaced with other strongly colored/flavored fruit-juices such as cherry, blackberry, lingonberry or blackcurrant, just remember to adjust the sweetening.

4 large or 8 small slightly underripe pears
½ liter unsweetened elderberry cordial
200g sugar
1 cinnamon stick
Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Serves 4

Scandinavian pear
Pears in elderberry syrup.

Peal the pears, keeping them whole and leaving the stalks on. Place in a deep, heavy-based pan, then add the rest of the ingredients. Heat gently and let the fruit simmer over a low heat until the pears are tender; turning them gently once in a while. The cooking time will vary a lot depending on the cultivar and ripeness of the fruit.

Take the pears out with a slotted spoon, then reduce the liquid to a thick syrup. Taste it for sweetness and add more sugar if required; this needs to be a sweet dessert, but not too sweet. Once it has cooled, pour the syrup over the pears in a pretty deep serving dish. Serve them cold as they are, or with cardamom ice cream.

You might also like to read:
Scandinavian Crab Apple

Scandinavian Pear, written by Tor Kjolberg

Hafjell Bike Park in Lillehammer, Norway

Tor Kjølberg
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Hafjell Bike Park in Lillehammer, Norway

When Hafjell was awarded the World Cup final in downhill biking in 2012, it was confirmation of what many visitors had claimed for many years – that the facility is on par with the very best in the world. Hafjell is often compared to what is considered to be the world’s best place for mountain biking – the alpine resort of Whistler in Canada. Whistler is considerably larger, but with the same focus on man-made trails and obstacles. Learn more about Hafjell Bike Park in Lillehammer, Norway.

Hafjell Bike Park is known for its nice atmosphere and the variety of amazing trails suiting every kind of rider. Regardless if you are a freerider, racehead, weekend warrior or a curios beginner, you will find what your biking heart desires here. Hafjell offers 14 trails, covering 25 km in total, with a level of difficulty ranging from green to black spread over an elevation of 790 meters. It is one of the most progressive bike parks in Europe and keeps expanding at a high pace to keep the position as an ultimate mountain bike playground. Common for the trails in Hafjell Bike Park is that they never fail to deliver some massive grins.

Related: Sweet and Safe World-Class Biking on the Norwegian Western Coast

Hafjell Bike Park is the biggest lift-accessed bike park in Norway. The concept is to use the ski lifts for transport up, and then cycle down the slopes in the same way as when skiing or snowboarding in the winter. The 19 specially built trails wind down the forest that surrounds the alpine slopes, and have a lot of fun elements adapted to all skill levels.

Mountain Bike UK reported that Hafjell Bike Park was “one of the best places in the world to roll your wheels”.

Hafjell Bike Park in Lillehammer, Norway
Hafjell Bike Park is known for its nice atmosphere and the variety of amazing trails suiting every kind of rider.

Related: High Mountain Biking in Northern Norway

Hafjell Bike Park is a hectic place during the summer and have been hosting a wide range of events through the years such as several Norwegian cup`s, 2 Norwegian Championships, Nordic and Scandinavian Championships, 2010 European Championship, the legendary ANTI Days of Thunder invitational events. In 2012, the Rocky Roads UCI Mountain Bike Downhill world cup presented by Shimano made its first appearance here in Hafjell. This event was a huge success and has given Hafjell Bike Park the opportunity to do world cup in 2013 and the UCI MTB World Championship in 2014.

The downhill trails are ranked from green to black, where green is the easiest, and black is for the more experienced cyclists. It’s recommended to use a downhill bike, full protection and full helmet, but all mountain bikes with suspension and good hydraulic disc brakes can be used on the trails. Children should be 8 years old to cycle downhill. The youngest children can instead bike in the pumptrack, walk our diamond hunt circuit and play in the climbing park at Mosetertoppen.

Downhill bikes were mass produced from the 1990s, with disc brakes and specially adapted frame design and damper suspension systems. The first downhill competition was held in California in 1976.

As well as offering some of the best downhill riding around, there is also an endless network of flowing single track and gravel roads to explore in the surrounding area.  The gondola gives you access to all this as well as the family area at Mosetertoppen. Here you will find a variety of activities and the chance to enjoy a delicious lunch with spectacular views from restaurant Skavlen.

Hafjell Bike Park in Lillehammer, Norway
Hafjell Bike Park is the biggest lift-accessed bike park in Norway.

Related: Five Child Friendly Biking Routes in Oslo

Some Hafjell bike facts

  • 17 DH Trails, easy to expert • Gondola and Chairlift

  • 25 km of downhill adrenaline

  • 100 Downhill rental bikes • 20 XC rental bikes

  • Endless Singletrack and XC trails

  • Workshop servicing all major brands

  • Host for the 2010 European Championship

  • Home of “Anti Days Of Thunder”

  • Host of the 2012 UCI MTB DH World Cup Finals

  • Host of the 2013 UCI MTB World Cup #5, September 12 – 15th

  • Host of the 2014 UCI MTB World Championship

The completion of the massive Rollercoaster trail, building it all the way up to the top of the chairlift, giving it a total of 50 jumps.

Hafjell Bike Park in Lillehammer, Norway compiled by Tor Kjolberg

All images © Hafjell Bike Park, except feature image (on top) showing Rémy Métailler in Hafjell © Pinkbike

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