Both the Norwegian Skiing Association and the Association for the Promotion of Skiing (Skiforeningen) report of a continuing increase in membership, Stavanger Aftenblad reports.

- After several years of low recruitment, we are now back to the level prior to the Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games, says head of the Agder and Rogaland Skiing Association, Petter Furuseth.

Espen Jonhaugen, in charge of membership in Skiforeningen, has also registered an increase in the use of skis in exercising, and has this explanation:

- I believe the financial crisis is part of the reason. It has made people better at utilising nature around them, he says.

(NRK)

Rolleiv Solholm