City, Country, Fjord. In Oslo with Aksel Lund Svindal

But first Svindal wants to show us his favorite spots in the city. He usually starts his day at Åpent Bakeri, a small cafe in the old part of town, with its beautiful, late-19th-century facades. Emmanuel, the manager, knows exactly what to prepare when Svindal enters the cafe: a cappuccino and a roll with jam. The skiing legend is not a superstar here, but rather a welcome old acquaintance. “When I was still competing, I lived around the corner – in an expanded apartment on the top floor,” he explains. It was close to the Airport Express train station, which was an absolute must. “As a ski racer, I was always on the move.”

One of the charming characteristics of the Norwegian city, with its population just under 700,000, is that you can explore it by foot or on a Bysykkel city bike. In fact, the most important attractions are located within a radius of just a few kilometers. Our route takes us to the Royal Palace just around the corner. The park is open all year, while the palace itself is only accessible with tours in the summer.

The changing of the guards is one of the fundamental traditions of a monarchy, which even in the 21st century is quite popular among the people of Norway. As one of Scandinavia’s most successful athletes, Svindal has already had the privilege of attending receptions in the spacious ballroom. He and Crown Prince Haakon, a big fan of alpine sports, have always had a relationship based on mutual respect.

Though Oslo can look back on a thousand years of history, we find ourselves entering the youngest city district, the hypermodern Oslo with its spectacular residential and commercial facades, shops, and restaurants. The Aker Brygge district surrounding the marina and ferry port was built on former docklands and now attracts twelve million visitors annually.

Svindal has an office here for his many activities. What he likes most about it is the fact that he can get there by boat from his house in the summer.

He then leads us through Mathallen, a market inside an old industrial building with shops, cafes, and restaurants. After a brief espresso break, we continue in the direction of the opera house, an architectural masterpiece that opened its doors in 2008. The roof provides a breathtaking view of the water, the city, and the surrounding mountains. “Where else would you see something like this?” asks Svindal. “A fjord on one side and a forest on the other.”

Another spectacular new building is the museum dedicated to the great painter Edvard Munch, which opened in late 2021 and is located just around the corner. But it’s another venerable institution that draws us in. Located at Karl Johans gate, the Grand Café in the hotel of the same name serves up traditional Scandinavian specialties. One of the tables there is permanently reserved for a regular guest – Henrik Ibsen. Because the Norwegian national poet died in 1906, a mannequin has been seated in his place ever since. “That just goes to show that we do things a little differently here,” says Svindal with a wink.

Oslo’s charm is unique – and as if we needed proof, we approach the highlight of the day, at least geographically speaking. The drive from the city up to the Oslo Vinterpark on Holmenkollen mountain takes a good quarter of an hour. Svindal takes his Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo, which he views as the perfect companion for his free time activities. “Ready for adventure,” he says. “The car is a lot of fun to drive. And I can bring the stuff I need to have fun.” That’s because the variable cargo space of the all-electric sports sedan offers plenty of room for all of his ski equipment, including a new pair of skis of the Head brand, which was developed in collaboration with Porsche.

The ski lifts on the 371-meter mountain stay open until Easter in the winter season and are even busy during the week. For the people of Oslo, heading up to the slopes after a day at the office, with its view of the water, has become a popular pastime. “I prefer to ski at night,” says Svindal. “Fortunately, the slopes are illuminated with floodlights. And there’s almost no one else up there.”

Days near the water, evenings in the mountains – now we understand how Svindal’s old and new life mesh together. He pushes off with his poles and elegantly glides back and forth down the mountain. He takes his time, as it no longer comes down to hundredths of a second.