Podcast Episode 01:
Simon: Here we are recording the episode for the introduction to the snow business course. I’m your host Simon Westgarth and here in the room with me we have:
Elena: Elena
Simon: Where are you from?
Elena: From Germany.
Carmen: Carmen from the Netherlands.
Nina: Nina, also from the Netherlands.
Emilia: And Emilia from Sweden.
Simon: And this is our opening episode for the long series we will run with, on the snow business course here in Lillehammer. And this first course is really about, how the people in the room decided to come here what would they expectations were, how it's going with their winter sports experience. They're all volunteers for different sports events. Some of the same here in the room and then we're gonna wind it up towards the end of what they hope to get out of this exchange student experience. So, I will start always politely to my left with Elena and what brought you here to INN Lillehammer?
Elena: I always wanted to make an exchange here since I'm studying tourism management in Germany. I think it's really important to get international experience, and I chose Lillehammer mainly because I love winter sports. I knew the city from the Olympic games and also from different World cups and ski jumping. Um yeah, and then I had the chance to go to Norway to Lillehammer and yeah, here I am.
Simon: Great, and unlike the others here, you've already been here since August.
Elena: Yeah, exactly.
Simon: And what did you do in your first semester?
Elena: I had different courses. I had event management. There we created an event in Lillehammer called the generation games, exactly. Um, and I also had other courses like Introduction to management science and a Norwegian course, which helped me to get a bit into the Norwegian language. Um and then I also had Strategy.
Simon: Excellent. And why did you choose snow business?
Elena: Um, honestly, I don't have a choice, because I do a double degree. So, the courses from my university, they say to me, which courses I have to take, so I take them. But snow business was definitely the course I think I like the most, because I'm just completely into winter sports. So yeah.
Simon: Well, you have certainly come to the right place, there's plenty of different winter sports here in Lillehammer and wider area. Carmen, you're from Holland and tell us why you came to Lillehammer.
Carmen: Well, since the first year of my degree, I always wanted to go abroad, but I just wasn't sure where I wanted to go. I was a bit up between England or Norway and then I have a choice of Barney universities that has the connection with Fontes, which is my home university. And the only one in Norway was Lillehammer. And I knew someone who was here last year, also this semester, so I just um sent him a message like, how was it in Lillehammer? And with his words and his positivity, he kind of occurred to me and inspired me to go here, um because I really wanted to go somewhere with nature and also wanted to learn to ski, so it was a bit of a combination of things that well, made me go here.
Simon: So, the best marketing, word of mouth.
Carmen: Yeah.
Simon: Very good, very good. And um, is that why you chose snow business? You wanted to try some winter sports?
Carmen: Yeah, and also the friend recommended it, he said one thing I can, like, um say you should do is to take snow business. And I also study business at the Fontes, so it was a bit of a easy choice to make.
Simon: Excellent, excellent. And also from Holland, we have Nina.
Nina: Yes. I wanted to have an international like experience and I looked at a lot of countries like America, England, France, Spain, and also Finland and Norway then, but uh I texted like a lot of people that went to all the different countries and um then I chose Norway because I really wanted to also learn how to ski and I really love the winter, so I thought Norway is the best. And then, I had a choice between Finland and Norway, but Norway seemed like more, I don't know, it spoke more to me, so I chose Norway.
Simon: Wonderful. And, particular why snow business?
Nina: Back at home I study law, so I really wanted to do something else and then snow business I thought I'm in a country with a lot of snow, why not learn about like the business behind it.
Simon: Okay, excellent. And we have a Swede in the room who would be no stranger for real winter. So, Emilia.
Emilia: Yeah, so, I chose Norway because I'm also very into winters sports and especially skiing, and back home where I live, the winter's like turning more shorter, and I really wanted to extend the winter because I love it. And also, my grandma actually grew up here in Lillehammer, so when I told her my choices, uh she was really recommending me Lillehammer, so that's kind of why I'm here.
Simon: And again, to you, why snow business?
Emilia: Um, yeah, I'm just like everyone else here really into winter sports and um it's a really interesting subject to learn about and also very different from what I'm studying at home, I think. Like I study economics, so yeah, it’s fun to try something new.
Simon: And so, I put it to the room. What were your expectations in coming?
Carmen: Nature for me is the first one, because in the Netherlands, there's not much to see. And when I got here like just the train ride here, I was just like, it's so different and my expectations were like already like fulfilled, because I really wanted to see like some pretty nature like mountains and everything.
Simon: From the train window, it can be a feast for the eyes, that's for sure.
Nina: I have the same, my only expectation was snow and cold and that's what I saw the first day when I came here, so and for uh, I don't know, really, I just wanted to see the nature and like, because in the Netherlands everything is flat, and when I came here, I only saw mountains with snow, so it was really beautiful.
Simon: So completely different type of environment you wanted to come to?
Nina: Yes.
Simon: Okay.
Elena: Just having a good time and ski a lot and experience a real winter again.
Simon: And you would have been here from August, so the autumn often feels very long and dark.
Elena: It wasn’t. Honestly the weather was so good and we were so surprised how good it was, so still in October we had really warm days.
Simon: Coming great hiking then and mountain biking before the snow arrives. Is really good.
Emilia: Yeah. Like, you can think that Sweden might be like from people who may have not been in Sweden, you can think that it's pretty similar, like the nature and stuff like that, but it's actually not, like it's a lot more difference. It's like much more mountains and stuff like that from compared to from where I live. So yeah.
Simon: Yeah, Sweden, most of its hilly mountainous parts are right up against the Norwegian border. And kind of start only halfway up Sweden.
Emilia: Exactly.
Simon: And continue all the way up to the border with Finland, but all on the east side, it's relatively flat and the south has a lot more lakes and flat.
Emilia: Yeah, so I really hope to like, yeah, extend the winter season, actually, yeah.
Simon: Okay. And so, big question is how is it going so far? You've been here, we're on third or fourth week lectures now, so how is it going?
Nina: I really enjoy it. I thought maybe the lectures were hard to follow, because I don't do anything with business or economics, but it's for me, it's pretty good, so I really like it and to learn other things.
Emilia: Yeah.
Elena: I also really like it. I’m glad that the snow is finally here, because the snow last semester was really late. And, so I’m really glad and happy to go skiing a lot but also to have great lectures and I’m happy here.
Simon: Yeah, the winter was um late to arrive. This is so you, your previous comment you reveled in the excellent October, but that meant that uh definitely it felt everything was late this year. And even when the snow did arrive, it wasn't in abundance unlike now.
Emilia: Yeah, so like the lectures so far, I find them very interesting because it's a good mix of everything. I think like it's kind of geographic, it's business, and also the tourism part. And I also think it's nice because I feel like you have a lot of experience in this subject. So, I find it really interesting to listen and participate.
Simon: Yeah, maybe. My background is I've been a tourist a lot. So, I know with my eyes open, so it allows me to have lots of examples to underpin the free article side of tourism. I understand you, how's your winter sport going? Who's doing what?
Nina: I'm skiing and I've been like four times now. But it's going pretty good. It's the first time I've skied.
Simon: Four times as a beginner?
Nina: Yeah.
Simon: Okay.
Nina: But it is going very good, so I'm happy.
Simon: No, nothing bad to report?
Nina: No, didn't fall yet, so that's a big win.
Carmen: Yeah, I did fall a few times the first time, but the last few times after that, I just started with the green, yeah and took it from there and now it’s a lot better.
Simon: So in Holland did you try on the like a artificial grass slope?
Carmen: Yeah, sort of I guess.
Simon: Okay. It's like a matting it's made of hexagonal matin. These can be quite common. What winter sports are you participating in?
Elena: Mostly on alpine skiing. I already have now more days on skis since I don't know. I never had so many days on skis than this year, and I also tried cross-country skiing once. We booked our course together with friends, um and it was pretty funny, but I have to say it's so different to alpine skiing and I crashed uh, so yeah, I'm not sure. It's so funny to see all the Norwegians um who can ski so good.
Simon: It's not uncommon your experience, I would say. Now, classically, the Norwegians would refer to uh downhill skiing as Alpine or Slalom skiing, and then uh cross country is langrenn or Nordic skiing as we would call perhaps call it in English, but that's langrenn here and uh most Norwegians definitely do it from when they're kids onwards. So, they uh they learn the technique and there's a lot of technique in it. And if you're coming from a downhill skiing background, it can be a challenge to think that I'm quite confident on my downhill skis it should be straightforward. Well, it's not really, but um it’s fun, it's a lot of fun. I enjoy doing it a lot.
Emilia: I'm also doing Alpine skiing, but I've done some cross country also, mostly when I was younger because we were forced in school in Sweden also. Um, but um I much more prefer alpine skiing.
Simon: And to be honest it is quite a common picture. My kids definitely will push back against going out on the cross country skis. They'd rather not do it. Now I even have a dog to help them push them along, but now they fight over who gets the dog. Anyway, okay. Um you all mentioned that you're all volunteering. Um, so in around here, uh the main ski hills are very close. Hafjell, it is a 15 minute bus ride away, and then another 40 minutes on is Kvitfjell. And this coming uh winter, they are hosting the FIS World Cups, both in the women and men's downhill and then the men's technical classifications at Hafjell as well. One of the attractions of the coming here is that volunteering is possible for many of the students. So, I understand everyone in the room is gonna be volunteering for the World Cups to come. Um, tell me which, what you're doing.
Elena: I will work on the slopes during the World Cup. Um, I'm not sure yet how it will work, but yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. And it's something totally different. So, yeah, let's see how it will go.
Simon: And you working on the slopes on all three at the competitions?
Elena: Yeah, exactly. In the speed disciplines, but also in the technical ones.
Simon: Also, many weekends, free weekends in a row, huh? It's pretty good. And for yourself?
Carmen: I'm doing both in Hafjell and Kvitfjell. And um I'm doing VIP and side events and environmental that's the two big parts and also some days on other um departments.
Simon: So of the hospitality side of it?
Carmen: Yeah, not the slope crew.
Simon: Okay.
Nina: I'm also doing the hospitality side with VIP and side events, catering and event office, that kind of stuff.
Simon: So, one of the very cool things, um at Kvitfjell is that before the races even start, there's like a mini party at the finish area going on, but there's lots of things, there's a concert and all kinds of stuff to warm the crowd up before the racing happens. So, it's pretty popular and a lot of brands give away a lot of stuff. And so, the kids are there in armies trying to get some of it, but it's it more like a party atmosphere. And for yourself?
Emilia: I’m doing the same as Elena, so the slope crew.
Simon: And you been told of what that is?
Emilia: Kind of not really. I think we're waiting a little bit on information every one of us. So we'll see, but I'm very excited.
Simon: Have you ever skied an alpine prep slope before racing?
Emilia: No.
Simon: Well, it's brutal. There are already prepping Hafjell on the Olympic slope and today at the ski school meeting, they were told, do not take any guests on this slope. And all they do is they're watering it so to make it really, really hard. So, the skis for the alpine racers bite and they can go even faster. But for regular skiers, this is a pretty uh it's like the sheet ice in many ways. And I remember on the television NRK, which is the national television channel here, one presenter a few years ago, he was talking to the camera quite close and he goes, yeah, yeah, we're gonna try this slope on Kvitfjell on one of their steepest pitches. And he turned and he went straight down the hill, but he was wearing ice skates, straight down and he stopped at the end of the shot. And I know it is quite funny seeing, but that's kind of literally how uh brutally hard it is. So great that you're all volunteering that's a really good aspect of what's on offer here. There's other things you can do. Sometimes we have ski jumping and they also ask for volunteering. This year that happened before Christmas, there was uh World Cup uh Nordic racing, that again, normally happens before Christmas. Sometimes we have a world championships after or some form of after Christmas. And then there's a very famous long distance cross country race and that is Birkebeineren, which they often ask for volunteers if they cannot get them from the associated clubs which run the event. But I think you all guys have got the winning ticket for the volunteering and I hope it's super sunny and excellent conditions. I mean, that’s a feast for your eyes, that's for sure. Have any of you gone to the sliding competitions this weekend?
Nina: Yes.
Simon: And how was that?
Nina: It was really nice to see because I've never saw it before, but it was like a nice experience. There was like the bobsledding, but also with a skeleton, so yeah.
Simon: It's like sliding down on the tray head first, yeah?
Nina: Yeah.
Simon: It looks pretty uh.
Nina: The first one came by and I was like what.
Carmen: If you blink, they’re gone. It's crazy goes like 120 kilometers per hour, I think. It goes like very quick and you can stand like so close to the course. I didn't know what to expect, but it was I think it was amazing, especially at the top, where you can see like the run and then they jump in and everyone is shouting. Yeah, it was very cool to see.
Simon: So we're very lucky this past weekend and the next weekend are the World Cup for the Bob and skeleton at the sliding center, which is very close to Hafjell on the other side of the river. Also, we're lucky this week, we had the CEO of the Olympic park coming in to lecture for us and we have a tour of the facilities here, which is part of the legacy of the Winter Olympics and how the transition has gone from state funded who subsidized facility into kind of standing on their own two feet and I'm really glad some of you got to see the events at the sliding center. I was chatting to some Canadians in the grocery store earlier who are here for that, and it was great to speak with them. And people are definitely enjoying their time here and during week seven now the weather is perfect for everyone I think. Yeah, it's great. Um and then as we move towards the end of our discussion here, um what do you hope to get out of the experience of coming here? How's this gonna underpin your studies and the finishing of your degrees?
Carmen: So far, I think it’s been like a very great experience because you stand, you're really get out of your comfort zone because um you follow like for me, it's like three years of the same things. You have an internship, and now it was really time to sort of spread over your wings and just go somewhere by yourself. And I think for everyone, it's a very big step to just go here alone, meet new people and do like stuff you normally never do. Um, but I think that, it’s been good so far, I think that’s how it will continue, like, do more fun stuff, meet more people.
Nina: I just want to do a lot of fun things, meet new people and get to know a bit more about business and tourism, so I can expand my knowledge.
Simon: And the international department certainly helped with the induction and finding accommodation and everything.
Nina: Yeah, we had an introduction week with a few activities and in the beginning of November, I think you could sign up for the accommodations, so they really helped.
Carmen: Yeah, everything is very clear on the website of SINN, which is in the housing they provide. Um, it's all very clear, you knew the contact for the international office. I think every day really help with the transition from going home, like to here. So it's very easy. Yeah.
Emilia: Yeah, like I said, I study economics at home, so I really hope for like this semester to make a like touch of the tourist part to maybe go that way after this, since I'm finished after this semester. So, yeah, I really hope to get good knowledges in this subject.
Simon: Yeah, I mean, the course we looked to apply for ethical tourism and underpinning with economics and the alike to lots of examples. So here for winter sports, we have lots of different destinations, different examples of things going on, and it's big enough to it's not too complex and small enough to you can comprehend what's going on. So, if we went to some of Alpine valley like Val d’Isere and looked there, it would be pretty complex picture of different economic actors and forces and trends going on that will be quite complicated to underpick, so we're lucky here. It's big enough that it's exists and yet not too small as well.
Elena: I also wanna have some fun and also, I'm happy to have this chance to get a focus on winter sports since this is not possible at my home university, so, yeah. I'm really happy to learn here new things and then go back home.
Simon: Okay, and this to wind up then? What's the one thing you’re really looking forward to in the rest of the semester here?
Elena: Volunteering.
Carmen: Yeah, I think more skiing and the volunteering as well.
Nina: For me also, more skiing and the volunteering.
Emilia: The same for me.
Simon: Oh, what a full house fantastic. So, a full house, so volunteering is I would expect that almost everyone on the snow business course gets involved with that in some format. And then, of course, if you've never learned to ski, it’s the ideal place, especially Hafjell, it's geared up for kind of beginner and lowly intermediates, but of course, there's sport to be had if you already experienced gear and you can go to Kvitfjell and on into Espedalen, if you like to do top touring and the nearlike and one year we had a guy on the course who was a really experienced cross country skier and he raced Birkebeineren and did really well. So, you know, all sorts come and it's really nice that what's on offer is lots of winter sports and then trying to understand how it all works within in tourism. So, thank you very much for coming for our first episode. I hope you've enjoyed it and uh we'll see you in the next one.