– We have never been to Hemsedal at Easter before, says Victoria Strand (28).
Together with siblings Benjamin (23) and Malin (26), and friends Stian (23) and Mathias (23), they have made the trip from Hitra.
They’ve been in the car for nine hours. Everything to capture Hemsedalfjellet this Easter, for this year’s Påskival.
– First we will see Ballinciaga at Skistua. I am really exited. Tomorrow we will be slaloming, she says with a sticky pink headgear like the band.
Between sing-alongs and huge crowds, it’s important to keep the gang together. The communication, it takes place through the walkie-talkie.
– We got the idea from Oskar Westerlin, we saw it on his story, says Benjamin.
Traditionally, après-ski is associated with alcohol consumption after skiing.
In Hemsedal, however, many choose to ditch the skis altogether.
As early as 3 p.m., festive people in colorful clothes began to flock to Skistua.
An hour later, the music around the outdoor stage was turned up even further.
A remix of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” thunders from the speakers and people sing along. Most of the tables are filled with people dancing, and for many the alcohol goes down high.
Traveled for the guards
For some, it may be a couple, two or three units too many.
The après ski in Hemsedal is more lively than usual, we are to believe the police.
– Usually it is as quiet as the grave there, but now there is an incident where there are some angry people that the guards are struggling with, says operations manager in the South-East police district, Øystein Eikedalen, to VG just before 9pm.
He clarifies that it is a matter of ordinary disturbances, and no more noise than what the police expect.
Earlier in the day, the police received reports of an argument in the ski lift and an aggressive and drunken man in his 20s who had to be handcuffed by the security guards. So far, the incidents have resolved smoothly without the involvement of the police.
People also flock to Trysil for après-ski. During the afternoon, several were expelled because they had been drunk and arguing.
For a man in his late teens, Maundy Thursday ended in the detention center in Hamar.
In Hemsedal, operations manager Eikedalen hopes that people will behave so that drunken arrest will not be necessary.
– It is a bit far-fetched to take someone to the detention center in Drammen. It probably takes two to three hours to drive.
– Do you have any tips for people on après ski?
– You must behave when you are a guest at a place.
Over 3,000 on après ski
There is plenty for guests, and throughout the afternoon it is filled with more and more.
In Hemsedal, over 3,000 tickets have been sold for the après ski festival and it is almost sold out, general manager Ole Bårtveit tells VG.
On Thursday, there was rain in the air and it was cloudy throughout the day.
– Tomorrow it’s forecast to be sunny, so I know it will be full, says Bårtveit.
A group of girls who have taken the trip have not yet taken up the skis.
– We haven’t been skiing today, but we will tomorrow, says Maiken (26).
Now there is primarily agreement that it is Ballinciaga at Skistua that applies.
– We are really looking forward to the evening, we have been waiting for this all day, says Vilja (23).
She and her friends have just handed in their study assignments.
– Now we are taking a short holiday before we have the exam in a few weeks.
