Project Title:  Holmenkollen Venturer - Ski Simulator 

Museum/ Institution: Holmenkollen Ski Museum - Oslo, Norway  

Program Created:  unknown 

Program URL:  

Holmenkollen Ski Museum Webite:

http://www.skiforeningen.no/english/the_ski_museum

For More Information about Holmenkollen Ski Jump:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmenkollbakken

Project Image(s) and/or Video:

From the inside (first part only):

From the outside:

Media Source(s)/Credit(s):

First two images - by Krista Menacher, 2010 - for non-commercial use only

Last image - taken 2/3/2011 from http://www.besportier.com/archives/ski-jumping-ramp---holmenkollen-ski-jump-2011.html

Video 1 - taken 2/3/2011 from user sultanfahad   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3qFy8BBtCQ

Video 2 - taken 2/3/2011 from user andreutzac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pifMDdpax-U&feature=related

Program Description:

The Holmenkollen Venturer Ski Simulator is a part of the Holmenkollen Ski Museum. The museum is situated in the shadow of the massive Holmenkollen Ski Jump (see third picture). The simulator is designed to give visitors a high-speed skiing experience, including a trip down the Holmenkollen jump as well as some other fast runs.

Visitors are divided in to groups before entering the simulator, it seats about 8 people comfortably (in two rows). As soon as everyone is seated and holding on to the rail in front of them, the hatch door closes and the ride begins. A narrator's voice sets the stage for your first run and you are off. The pneumatic movements of the simulator are timed precisely to the video. A huge screen takes up the entire front of the space and for the most part the rider's field of vision, making the experience more believable. The second run takes you down the Holmenkollen jump itself, which you were able to see just before you entered the simulator. Other runs follow, which give the illusion of more impressive speeds, but not the extreme (almost vertical) drop that the Holmenkollen jump has.

There are a number of runs and visitors spend about 10 minutes inside the simulator. It claims to give the sensation of moving at speeds up to 130km/h (81.25 mph) all for the price of 50 Kroner (a little over $8.00).

Firsthand review/critique:

I tend to bristle when museums have "rides" - but the Holmenkollen Simulator has earned its place at the Museum. The simple fact that it gives you a virtual run down the Holmenkollen ski jump makes it worth the money, as there would be no other way of comprehending what that would be like (apart from becoming a professional skier). It is also well-placed at the museum site as you are able to see the actual jump before you enter and after you exit the ride. Further, it gives you a sense of the kind of speeds that can be reached on a pair of skis, which helps you appreciate what you see in the museum's various exhibits, especially if you are not a skier.

Unfortunately, the ride is not handicap accessible. It also seems a little dangerous for children because the only thing keeping you in your bench-style seat is a metal bar you are asked to hold on to. The audio is very loud (you get a sense of this if you watch the first YouTube clip above) of course, it has to cover the sound of the pneumatics moving the simulator. Despite these problems, the simulator is a meaningful addition to the Ski Museum and probably the closest most people will ever get to skiing Holmenkollen.

Technologies incorporated: Video, Surround Sound, Synchronized Pneumatic Movement 

Internally or externally produced: externally produced 

Entry Contributor and Date: Krista Menacher :: 2/3/2011 

Related projects:  None