Skiing, skating and curling for kids in Oslo

Ti steder på hverdager, seks i helgene, Sentrum

The Norwegian Ski Association's ski school for children aged 3 to 12, where four-year-olds and up learn basic skiing technique through play. Weekday courses run at ten different ski school locations around the city, and at weekends there are courses for families and individuals at six locations. The classic first encounter with skis for Oslo children.

ages 3-12

Sonja Henie ishall og Frogner stadion, Frogner

Figure skating courses for children and young people in the Sonja Henie ice hall and at Frogner stadium. The club is one of Norway's oldest, founded in 1864, and welcomes beginners who have barely stood on skates. Figure skating is spins, jumps and edge work on ice, and asks more of technique than of speed. The club usually lends out skates for the first few sessions.

ages 5-18

Voksen skole og Voksenjordet, Vestre Aker

Cross-country skiing for primary school age children, with its own group for each birth year, in a club that began as a pure ski club in 1907. Which birth years apply this season is listed on the club's own season page. In autumn there is dry-land training on Tuesdays at 18:00, meeting in the large schoolyard at Voksen school. Once the snow arrives, training moves to Voksenjordet by Bogstad, same day and time. Training is parent-run, and each year group has its own head coach who keeps the group updated week by week. The club covers entry fees for relays, the club championships are free, and it recommends Naborunden, three low-threshold ski races for children in years three to seven run together with neighbouring clubs.

ages 8-13

Holmenkollen, Vestre Aker

A ski club in Holmenkollen where the point is to have fun on skis together. Children learn to ski as a group rather than to compete, and the Marka terrain is right outside.

ages 5-18

Idrettens Hus Nordbyen, Stovner

The alpine skiing group at Høybråten og Stovner IL, with groups for children and youth. The club sits next to Lillomarka, and alpine skiing is one of five sports the district itself highlights in its overview of what is on offer for children.

ages 6-18

Oslo Skisenter, Grefsenkleiva, Nordre Aker

Oslo's second largest alpine club with around 250 members, offering training from year one to year ten. The youngest train once a week on the slope and once in the gym at Grefsen stadium. From year five it rises to two or three sessions a week in season, with dry-land training the rest of the year.

ages 6-16

Kollbanen, Nordberg, Nordre Aker

The cross country section of IL Koll, with training groups from age 5-6 upwards, organised by school year. The club is based at Kollbanen behind Nordberg church, with the Nordmarka forest as its nearest neighbour, and also has ski jumping hills at the same grounds. A natural pick for families in Tåsen, Nordberg and Korsvoll who want ski training within walking distance of the forest.

ages 5-16

Slemdal, Vestre Aker

Heming is one of the country's largest alpine skiing communities for children and youth, with ski school and training groups from around age five. The club is based at Slemdal with a short trip to the slopes in Oslo's winter park, welcoming both those who want winter fun and those who want to commit. Alpine skiing brings speed, mastery and plenty of fresh air.

ages 5-18

Lillomarka arena, Grorud

Cross-country skiing club with training groups all the way from first grade to junior level, split by school year: Arenagruppa for years 1 and 2, Lillosetergruppa for 3 and 4, Sinobergruppa for 5 to 7, and HL-gruppa for the oldest. Children starting school are welcome from January of the year they begin, and the training fee is waived for first-graders. The oldest can also train with Team GLA, a joint effort between the clubs in Groruddalen.

ages 6-18

Valle Hovin, Gamle Oslo

A speed-skating club with its home base at the new rink at Valle Hovin, and its own skating school for children aged 6-12. Here the youngest learn to stand and glide on long blades in a safe setting, with mastery and fun at the centre. Speed skating is a rare niche sport with long traditions in Oslo.

ages 6-18

Tøyen Arena, Gamle Oslo

Alpine skiing and snowboarding in season, for children who rarely get to the slopes otherwise. Tøyen Sportsklubb is a neighbourhood club in Gamle Oslo where membership costs 100 kroner for the whole calendar year, and that covers everything the club runs for your age group. Activities take place at Tøyen Arena and Gamle Munch, and the club also runs free holiday activities during school breaks.

ages 6-18

Slemdal, Vestre Aker

The cross-country skiing group at Heming is one of the city's largest ski communities for children and youth, with ski school from around age six and a short trip to the trails in Nordmarka from Slemdal. From ski play for the youngest to training for those who want to compete. Skiing is winter joy, mastery and plenty of fresh air.

ages 6-18

Grefsen stadion, Nordre Aker

The cross-country skiing group at Kjelsås IL gives children and youth the joy of skiing with Lillomarka and Grefsenkollen as the nearest training grounds. From ski play for the youngest to training for those who want to compete, with floodlit trails right outside. A winter niche in a district a short step from the forest.

ages 6-18

Røa, Ullern

The cross-country skiing section of Røa IL, a grassroots club with over a hundred years of history and a large programme for children and young people. The club states explicitly that its activities are meant to be open regardless of level, background or ability. Note that Røa is an alliance club, so each sport is its own club with its own fees.

ages 6-18

Gressbanen, Vestre Aker

The alpine skiing section at Ready, with training groups for children and teenagers organised around how much each skier wants to commit rather than a single shared level. The club has its own ParaAlpint programme. Ready also runs a ski market for second-hand equipment and publishes a sizing guide for anyone buying alpine gear for a child for the first time. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Frogner stadion og Sonja Henie ishall, Frogner

A skating school for children and youth at Frogner stadium and in the new Sonja Henie ice hall, with programmes in both short-track speed skating and figure skating. The skating school welcomes beginners who have barely stood on skates before, and the club usually lends out skates for the first sessions. Two disciplines in one club let children try both.

ages 5-18

Huken skianlegg, Romsås, Grorud

The city's only biathlon club, with a biathlon school for children from eight. Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with target shooting, and the club lends out both skis and rifles, so no equipment of your own is needed to try.

ages 8-18

Bygdøy, Frogner

Oslo's only curling hall, on Bygdøy, with its own junior programme for players from around age twelve. Curling is a tactical team sport on ice - a bit like chess with stones and brooms - where precision and cooperation matter more than pure speed. An unusual niche that almost no one has tried.

ages 12-18

Jordal idrettspark, Gamle Oslo

A figure-skating club running a skating school at Jordal, in the heart of the district. The youngest (from age 3) get a play-based introduction to skating and figure skating, while older children can move on to the groups for ages 9 to 15. The club also runs a group for beginners and experienced skaters from age 16, so young people who start late can still join. A rare niche sport that's easy to try.

ages 3-18

Idrettens Hus Nordbyen, Stovner

The cross-country skiing group at Høybråten og Stovner IL gives children and youth the joy of skiing right by Lillomarka, based at Idrettens Hus Nordbyen. From ski play for the youngest to training for those who want to compete, with floodlit trails and terrain just outside the door. A lovely winter niche in a district a short step from the forest.

ages 6-18

Njårdhallen, Vestre Aker

Njård has an active alpine skiing group that takes children and youth to the slopes, with ski school for the youngest from around age five. Children learn to turn safely on skis in a social setting, with a short trip to the forest and the slopes on the west side. Alpine skiing is winter joy and mastery at speed.

ages 5-18