Kvitfjell
Encyclopedia
Kvitfjell is a ski resort
in the municipality of Ringebu
, Norway
. Kvitfjell is one of the most modern resorts in the world, with 85% of the alpine skiing
pistes covered in artificial snow. Based near the river Gudbrandsdalslågen
, the resort offers 23 pistes: 5 green (nursery), 9 blue (beginner), 6 red (intermediate), and 3 black (advanced). Kvitfjell is also home to a terrain park
and 120 km (75 mi.) of cross-country
pistes, with access to 480 km (300 mi.) extra in Skei and Gålå
.
and super G
) at the 1994 Winter Olympics
in nearby Lillehammer
. Tommy Moe
, an American of Norwegian descent, edged out home favorite Kjetil André Aamodt
of Norway by 0.04 seconds in the downhill, then was edged out by Markus Wasmeier
of Germany
by 0.09 seconds in the Super G. Katja Seizinger
of Germany won the women's downhill with Picabo Street
of the U.S.
a distant second; Diann Roffe
of the U.S. took gold in the Super G. The technical alpine events (giant slalom
and slalom
) were held at Hafjell
.
circuit, usually for the men in early March. The downhill course begins just below the summit and is slightly over 3 km (1.86 mi.) in length. Designed by Bernhard Russi
for the 1994 Olympics, the challenging Olympiabakken course is well regarded; after the Olympics, World Cup races have been held here every year since, beginning in 1995
.
Men's speed events are scheduled for Kvitfjell for March 2011
.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in the municipality of Ringebu
Ringebu
is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vålebru.The municipality of Ringebu was established on 1 January 1838...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Kvitfjell is one of the most modern resorts in the world, with 85% of the alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
pistes covered in artificial snow. Based near the river Gudbrandsdalslågen
Gudbrandsdalslågen
The Gudbrandsdalslågen river flows through the Gudbrandsdal of Norway.The Gudbrandsdalslågen begins in the lake Lesjaskogsvatnet , which lies in Lesja municipality in Oppland. Lesjavatn is the only lake in Norway which has two outlets; they flow into two of Norway’s more famous rivers...
, the resort offers 23 pistes: 5 green (nursery), 9 blue (beginner), 6 red (intermediate), and 3 black (advanced). Kvitfjell is also home to a terrain park
Terrain park
A terrain park is an outdoor area that contains terrain that allows skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks. Terrain parks have their roots in skateparks and many of the features are common to both. One of the first in-bounds terrain parks was the "Snowboard Park" built in 1990 at the Vail...
and 120 km (75 mi.) of cross-country
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
pistes, with access to 480 km (300 mi.) extra in Skei and Gålå
Gålå
Gålå is a Norwegian resort in the district of Gudbrandsdalen, catering for both winter and summer leisure activities. It is situated on the Peer Gynt trail, a ~100km cross-country touristroad.-The name:...
.
1994 Winter Olympics
Kvitfjell is probably best known for hosting the alpine speed events (downhillDownhill
Downhill is an alpine skiing discipline. The rules for the Downhill were originally developed by Sir Arnold Lunn for the 1921 British National Ski Championships....
and super G
Super Giant Slalom skiing
The Super Giant Slalom is an Alpine skiing discipline. It is usually referred to as Super G and is a "speed" event, along with the faster Downhill event; the Giant Slalom and Slalom events are known as the "technical" disciplines.-History:...
) at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Alpine skiing at the 1994 Winter Olympics consisted of ten events held near Lillehammer, Norway. The speed events were held at Kvitfjell and the technical events at Hafjell, from February 13-27, 1994.-Downhill:February 13, 1994-Super G:February 17, 1994...
in nearby Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
. Tommy Moe
Tommy Moe
Tommy Moe is a former alpine ski racer. He is now retired from international competition and lives in Wilson, Wyoming...
, an American of Norwegian descent, edged out home favorite Kjetil André Aamodt
Kjetil André Aamodt
Kjetil André Aamodt is a Norwegian former alpine ski racer, and is the most decorated in history....
of Norway by 0.04 seconds in the downhill, then was edged out by Markus Wasmeier
Markus Wasmeier
Markus Wasmeier is a former alpine ski racer.At the 1985 World Championships at Bormio, Italy, he surprisingly won the Giant Slalom at age 21, before recording a World Cup victory....
of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
by 0.09 seconds in the Super G. Katja Seizinger
Katja Seizinger
Katja Seizinger , a former alpine ski racer, is the most successful alpine skier from Germany. She won three Olympic gold and two bronze medals, and won the World Cup championship three times...
of Germany won the women's downhill with Picabo Street
Picabo Street
Picabo Street is a retired American alpine ski racer. She won gold medals in super G at the 1998 Winter Olympics and in downhill at 1996 World Championships, along with three other Olympic and World Championship medals. She also won World Cup downhill season titles in 1995 and 1996, the first...
of the U.S.
United States Ski Team
The United States Ski Team, operated under the auspices of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association , develops and supports men's and women's athletes in the sports of alpine skiing, adaptive alpine, freestyle skiing, cross country, adaptive cross country, ski jumping, and nordic combined....
a distant second; Diann Roffe
Diann Roffe
Diann Roffe, also known as Diann Roffe-Steinrotter is an American alpine skier who learned to ski at tiny Brantling Ski Center near Rochester, yet reached the pinnacle of her sport, winning an Olympic Gold Medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.-Career highlights:*1985 World Championships in...
of the U.S. took gold in the Super G. The technical alpine events (giant slalom
Giant Slalom skiing
Giant slalom is an alpine skiing discipline. It involves skiing between sets of poles spaced at a greater distance to each other than in slalom but less than in super G....
and slalom
Slalom skiing
Slalom is an alpine skiing discipline, involving skiing between poles spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, thereby causing quicker and shorter turns.- Origins :...
) were held at Hafjell
Hafjell
Hafjell is a village and a ski resort in Norway, in the Øyer municipality in the county of Oppland.Hafjell hosted the alpine skiing technical events at the 1994 Winter Olympics; the speed events were held at Kvitfjell, a regular stop on the World Cup tour for men's speed events in March...
.
World Cup
Kvitfjell is a regular stop on the World CupAlpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
circuit, usually for the men in early March. The downhill course begins just below the summit and is slightly over 3 km (1.86 mi.) in length. Designed by Bernhard Russi
Bernhard Russi
Bernhard Russi is a former alpine ski racer. He was an Olympic, World Cup, and World champion in the downhill event....
for the 1994 Olympics, the challenging Olympiabakken course is well regarded; after the Olympics, World Cup races have been held here every year since, beginning in 1995
1995 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 29th World Cup season began in December 1994 at Tignes, France, and concluded in March 1995 at the World Cup finals in Bormio, Italy. The overall champions were Alberto Tomba of Italy and Vreni Schneider of Switzerland...
.
Men's speed events are scheduled for Kvitfjell for March 2011
2011 Alpine Skiing World Cup
The 45th FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season began on 23 October 2010, in Sölden, Austria, and concluded on 20 March 2011, at the World Cup finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.Being an odd-numbered year, the biennial World Championships took place in February...
.
External links
- Kvitfjell.no - official site