From a school hill in the 1970s to Kristiansand's only alpine facility.
From a school hill cleared by pupils to Kristiansand's only alpine facility – this is the story of Tveit Skisenter.
Pupils and teachers at Ve school clear the hill, led by teacher Svenn Johannessen with support from headmaster Øyvind Harket. The slope quickly becomes a meeting point for children and young people in Tveit – and eventually gets floodlights.
Together with Tveit IL, work begins on financing and building a ski lift, snow cannons and a warming hut to create a professional facility.
The ski centre is opened to the public by then-mayor Paul Otto Johnsen. Success follows quickly – the late 80s are good years for the slope.
A period of mild winters and little snow makes operations challenging. The slope survives thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts and the community spirit of the village.
Tveit IL takes full responsibility for the facility and is today the sole owner. Since then the club has run the ski centre on a volunteer basis.
The facility is upgraded with increased snow production capacity, so the slope can stay open even in mild winters – for new generations of skiers in Kristiansand.
Tveit Skisenter is still Kristiansand's only alpine facility: 450 metre slope, 80 metre vertical drop, snow cannons and floodlights – run 100 per cent by volunteers.
No volunteers – no ski slope. Every winter, parents, grandparents and ski-loving locals turn up as duty staff, in the kiosk and grooming the runs.
Want to join the team? We always need more hands, whether you can take a duty evening in season or help out before the season starts.
Tveit Skisenter