NORDIC TREK

Niclas Haslum joins Olympic skiing champion Aksel Lund Svindal on a figure-of-eight loop around Oslo to see what the city has to offer

- Words Niclas Haslum

Norway and my homeland Sweden share a long history. Not only due to their close geographical proximity, but also because, until 1905, the two countries were united in a political union, before Norway broke away. My own connection to our westerly neighbour also has deep roots, because my great-grandfather and his family were from Norway, specifically from Haslum - a small village just west of Oslo's city centre, and the origin of my last name.

It’s been over 25 years since I last visited Oslo, and as I board my plane at Stockholm Arlanda, I feel both excited and curious to return and see what the city now has to offer for the travelling cyclist. This bustling metropolitan hub surrounded by fjords and stunning forests should offer countless opportunities for outdoor activities.

My guide for my trip is Aksel Lund Svindal, widely regarded as Norway's greatest alpine skier. Aksel has won two Olympic golds (Vancouver 2010 and PyeongChang 2018) and is a five-time world champion. He’s also a two-time World Cup overall winner. Since hanging up his skis in 2019, the 42-year-old has continued with an active lifestyle, while becoming an entrepreneur and investor. He lectures regularly on topics such as winning culture, leadership and high-performance environments, and has recently entered a new chapter in his life by becoming a father.

During the planning stages of this trip with photographer Chris, I was told that Aksel isn’t only a really nice guy, but also quite a fast rider. So, I'm both a little nervous and really excited about exploring the roads around Oslo with him. After all, it’s not every day that you get to share a couple of hours on the bike with a former Olympic champion. We'll be riding his local training routes, which he knows like the back of his hand.