They say Norwegians are born with skis on their legs. Any skeptic just have to look at the medal tally of the Winter Olympics. Norway has topped the medal tally for nine consecutive times. The nearest competitor, the United States, is far behind.
Norway’s fascination with skiing as a leisure activity is quite recent though. It was more of a mode of transport in a country crisscrossed by snowy mountain ranges. That also explains why Norwegians came up with a unique sporting item as the cross-country skiing.
Skiing has always been a part of life in the Nordics. One of the curious museums in Norway is dedicated to skiing. The Holmenkollen museum has a pair of wooden skis that goes all the way back to AD 600, preceding any historical mention about any of the Vikings. The museum itself is gearing up to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.
