In the ski resort town of Geilo, southern Norway

 “Sometimes it’s all about the win, sometimes it’s all about the skiing.”

– Bode Miller
===================================================================
(in the municipality of Hol in Viken county, Norway). Geilo is mainly a ski resort town, with some 2,500 inhabitants. It is in the valley of Hallingdal, 250 km (400 mi.) from Oslo and 260 km from Bergen. It is one of the most famous ski towns in Norway. The establishment of the Bergen Railway is what led to Geilo becoming the first ski resort in Norway, and it is still one of the largest. It also has some of the most luxurious and expensive cabins in all of Norway. The center of the town lies at 800 meters above sea level, and its highest point is 1178 meters above sea level.

+ Halfway between Oslo and Bergen, Geilo, is made up of two resorts. It has 20 ski lifts for 39 alpine slopes of varying length and difficulty. The Geilolia center generally offers visitors easier green and blue slopes, while the Slaatta center mainly offers blue and red slopes. They also boast 135 miles (~84 mi.) of Nordic ski slopes. (The ski season in Geilo is from late October until late April.) Geilo has many small ski centers that make up one resort, which goes by the name Geilo Skiheiser. This includes slopes on the town side of the valley, Havsdalen over the back side of the mountain, and across the valley at Geilolia. Geilo Skiheiser has 39 slopes accessed by 20 lifts. Geilolia skisenter tends to have the easier green and blue runs; it is where the major ski school that operates in Geilo takes place, whereas Slaatta Skisenter has the blue and red runs. There is also a cross country system in Geilo, offering tracks, including some under floodlight. Skiing options include alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, toboggan, and evening skiing (most evenings). Another activity that has become very popular of late is "kiting" (skiing or snowboarding while attached to a "kite" or parasail). Paragliders float down from the top of the slopes with courses run in the area occasionally, mostly in the summer months. Both sides offer a "big air bag" where all with twin-tip skis or snowboards can jump onto an air bag.

+ The town of Geilo has a few shops and entertainment spots. The centrum mainly consists of four large wooden buildings, much like a shopping center/mall. In one is a tourist information service, Co-op supermarket, café Capri restaurant, newsagents, undercover parking, and a police station. In the other is an Intersport, supermarket, news agent, and a special Turkish-Balcan restaurant (Trakia). Down the road there is a cinema, library, and school. There is also a large sports hall (Geilohallen), which is also the local sports club. Behind the building is a (floodlit) prepared cross country track and a biathlon shooting range. The tourist Center is located next to Sport 1 and has information about the various group outings and experiences, especially in regards to experiencing the Hardangervidda National Park area, including the glacier at Finse.