“Norway is a once-in-a-lifetime destination and the essence of its appeal is remarkably simple: this is one of the most beautiful countries on earth.” - Lonely Planet
Text by Jaakko Posti of SGIA
Norway comprises the western part of Scandinavia in Northern Europe. The largest part of the country is formed by the rugged coastline, broken by huge fjords and thousands of islands. The country is the best known for its Viking history, beautiful landscape and profitable oil business, but it also happens to have some of the best terrain in the world for outdoor sports. Norway has a vibrant backcountry skiing scene and hiking in the mountains is a hobby for the entire nation.
Fjords glimpse around every corner, ptarmigans fly up once in a while and usually, there are reindeer walking in the mountains.
I have visited the area many, many times but usually during the winter and with skis as my weapon to tackle the terrain. On those skiing trips, I always wondered “what would the mountain biking be like here? Would there be any rideable trails?”.
Late in the summer of 2016, together with a friend of mine, Jaakko Sorvisto, we gathered our riding gear and headed to Tromsø in in North Norway. Our aim was to ride the new trails in the area.
The surrounding and the geographical location is what makes the trails here in Tromsø so unique. Flowy, natural trails that can be ridden all night in the summer time. The trails in the area have no restrictions for a cyclist, and there are no bike specific trails, so it's important to have respect for other trail users.
What makes these trails so unique isn't the trails themselves, but their surroundings. Behind every turn, you can find an epic waterfall or a cliff that drops straight down to the fjord.
