This resort is by no means a Norwegian Whistler, the town is not centred around bikes and you won’t be finding titty bars and the such, but what you will find is a tranquil area with an awe inspiring landscape. The tracks are in constant development and what is already here is fun and challenging. The lifts are open from June 18th until the last weekend in September. This is only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays except in July and August when this is extended to include Thursdays.

If you’re looking for continual lift access this will obviously limit any trip, but if you’re keen for some Enduro riding and have a disposition and bike capable of some uphills then you’re opening up a load of opportunities. Norway has an incredible attitude towards this, bike riders are free to go anywhere in Norway, no sticking to bridleways or angry walkers shouting, not that you’re likely to bump into many people in this vast landscape, but you can simply see something and ride it. From everything I have heard, it is well worth checking out, I unfortunately didn’t have the right bike or the time to head off into the wilderness but ask at the Vertical Playground (VPG) Bike Shop and they will point you in the right direction.

The other option to make this trip worthwhile if you want to go for more than four days riding is to tie it into a Scandinavian road trip. Oppdal lies almost exactly half way between Hafjell to the south and Åre to the north east in Sweden, four hours from each, it makes the perfect stop off point between two of the most developed riding spots in Scandinavia. I intend to return and ride all three on a couple of weeks road trip very soon.

There are so many special things about this place that makes me want to return. The ambient glow that fills the room at night, like sleeping with the TV on but playing nothing but pale blue. The attitude towards speed limits and ‘Ze Germans’, a reference to the strict traffic cops and the German occupation during the second world war.

How every local knows about the weather in detail, predicting rain in millimetres and understanding how the topography will affect it, which goes to show how in touch with the land these people are. And good job too, as I’ve never seen clouds like it. Dark impending ones with doom written all over their billowing dresses. But fighting them off are massive patches of blue sky and the sun burning away at the cloud edges and lighting a mountain here and there like spotlights on a stage coming in from very low angles. I was hit with heavy rain one day and gorgeous sun the next, it feels very raw and real in how it can change.

It’s great to see these resorts emerging and creating something in this beautiful and unique landscape. Hopefully it will continue to expand even more, but there is enough here already to keep you entertained for a few days and even more if you’re prepared to explore. There is a feeling in me that I only touched the tip of what is here.

INFORMATION

www.oppdalbikepark.no
www.visitnorway.co.uk

www.oppdalbooking.no is a great start to look for accommodation and most things about the resort.

I stayed at Hotel Nor, which is central in the town and they were really good with having bikes. There’s Peppes Pizza restaurant in the same building. A couple of other places worth checking out for food are the Åss Tållås Café and the Spisbar, both just round the corner.

There are a few bike shops in the town, Vertical Playgrund (VPG) is probably the best one, having a great selection of parts, some cool clothes and friendly staff who have good knowledge of the local riding. There is also G–Sport, Intersport and Auna Sport.

Norwegian Airlines have direct flights from Gatwick to Trondheim, a couple of hours drive from Oppdal. There are regular departures, and they’re happy with bikes and also fly from Edinburgh, www.norwegian.com

The train service from Trondheim to Oppdal is very easy, with the station right in the town: www.nsb.no. Although having a car does make getting to the lift stations easier, as they’re a short ride from the town otherwise, although easily manageable.

Norway can be a little expensive with a pint costing approximately £6, but direct flights don’t take too long and aren’t that expensive, so a well planned trip can be well worthwhile even just to see the beautiful landscape.