FAQs
Sweden | Skate Skiing
Travel
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You're responsible for getting to Røros airport or train station, where we'll meet you. We offer one transfer on arrival and departure days.
Arrival day transfers:
Røros airport at 19:30
Røros train station at 19:40
Departure day transfers:
Røros airport at 10:30
Røros train station at 10:45
Røros is a small town in Norway, near the Swedish border. There are no direct flights from the UK or Europe to Røros, so you'll need to fly to Oslo first. You can then take a train or a flight from Oslo Gardermoen airport.
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Røros is accessible from Oslo Gardermoen airport with a change at Hamar. Travelling by train is straightforward and rail services in Norway are excellent.
Once your trip is confirmed and you know your flights please book your rail journey as soon as possible because the trains can become booked up. Tickets go on sale 60 - 90 days before travel.
Arrival day recommended train:
Depart Oslo lufthavn stasjon 14:59
Arrive Hamar stasjon 15:43
Change trains in Hamar
Depart Hamar stasjon 16:05
Arrive Røros stasjon 19:35
Departure day recommended train:
Depart Røros stasjon 12:20
Arrive Hamar stasjon 15:52
Change trains in Hamar
Depart Hamar stasjon 16:13
Arrive Oslo lufthavn stasjon 17:01
Book tickets on Vy (https://www.vy.no/en) or Entur (https://entur.no/).
At Oslo Gardermoen airport (lufthavn) the railway station is in the same building as the airport, downstairs. You’ll find that the station staff speak excellent English and everything is well signposted.
Oslo city centre (in Norway this is called Oslo S or Oslo Sentralstasjon) is on the same rail line, so the same train can be caught to or from here.
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Arrival day recommended flight:
DAT DX526
Depart Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) 18:20
Arrive Røros (RRS) 19:10
Recommended Flight:
DAT DX523
Depart 12:30 RRS Røros
Arrive 13:20 OSL Oslo Gardermoen
Book tickets on DAT or via a flight consolidation service.
Make sure your international flight to Oslo allows enough time to catch this connection.
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You will need to arrange your own international flight to and from Oslo Gardermoen. We don’t have recommended international flights to Oslo because there are lots of options which work.
If you are flying on Røros, make sure your international flight to Oslo allows enough time to catch your flight connection. You will need to do a self-transfer in Oslo Gardermoen. See "What's a self-transfer?"
Please note that Gutsy Girls cannot book travel and is not responsible for your travel to Røros and that this information is just provided as a guide to help you!
What's a self-transfer?
NB this question is only valid if you’re flying Oslo - Røros
If you are flying internationally to Oslo Gardermoen and then connecting with a flight to Røros, you will need to check in separately for each connecting flight. Make sure you have enough time.
You will need to collect hold bags and check them in again for the next flight.
You must pass through security and passport control during each connection and you will need a visa if your connection is in a country that requires one.
You should check before you book that you have time to connect through the airport
What if flights are cancelled or delayed?
Booking flights together with a flight consolidator or agent could provide you with some guarantee against cancellations or missed connections. Check the agent's policies before you book.
If you book direct with the airlines, your transfers may not be guaranteed.
Please note that Gutsy Girls cannot book travel and is not responsible for your travel to Røros and that this information is just provided as a guide to help you!
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On arrival day we will collect you from:
Røros airport at 19:30
Røros train station at 19:40
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On departure day we will drop you off at:
Røros airport at 10:30
Røros train station at 10:45
If you are taking the train back to Oslo, you will have a little time to spare before your train departs. There are luggage lockers in the station. We recommend exploring Røros: https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/trondelag/roros/
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The transfer time to the hotel from Røros is about an hour and a half.
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Yes we can organise a taxi for you. This will cost in the region of NOK 2700 for 1 - 4 people.
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If you have the time or need to spend an extra night to make travel options work, we highly recommend visiting Røros, one of the oldest towns of wooden buildings in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. More information can be found here: https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/trondelag/roros/
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If you have the time or need to spend an extra night to make travel options work, we love Oslo!
You can take a train really easily from the airport to the city and vice versa, it takes about 20 - 30 minutes. The train station at the airport is in the arrivals terminal. The trains to Hamar start at Oslo Central and go via the airport (same train, you just get on/off a stop or two (30 mins) earlier/later). Book your trains to or from Oslo S (Sentral) instead of to or from the airport.
Walking around the Opera House (right by Oslo station) area is lovely. You can also do a boat cruise; we recommend you sit on the left side of the boat as you look at the front :)
We recommend the food at Salt Langhuset, and it’s a great place to sit and watch the water.
The Aker Brygge area near the water is lovely too if you have good weather!
If you fancy the full Norwegian sauna/freezing cold fjord plunge experience: Oslo Badstuforening (near the opera house)
There is much more information here: https://www.visitoslo.com/en/
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We will connect you with others on the trip via WhatsApp, so you may be able to arrange to travel together.
Accommodation
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We stay at a cosy, family-run hotel with stunning views. Rooms are simple but comfortable, and there's a small pool, sauna, and Wi-Fi throughout. Meals are delicious, with options for all dietary needs. There’s also a ski area where you can wax your skis, and you can ski right from the door!
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Yes, towels are provided. Hairdryers are shared, so bring your own if needed.
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No - you could bring some soap flakes / travel wash to wash your base layers if you think this will be necessary!
Food
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The delicious food on this trip is a real highlight. In the hotel we will have a sumptuous breakfast buffet and a plentiful packed lunch for our days out.
Some evenings we will eat a fantastic three course dinner in the hotel, and on two occasions we will have dinner at Brasserie Kerstin, just around the corner, which offers an à la carte menu using local ingredients and local recipes.
One evening we will eat at the waffle hut Knallen, Bruksvallarna's top cabin at 1050 metres above sea level and with a magnificent view of the mountain world.
The hotel is committed to catering for all dietary requirements and allergies.
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We can cater for all dietary requirements and we will request information prior to your arrival.
Activities
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Skate skiing appeals to fit, athletic people who like to train on a regular basis.
You don't need to have ever skied before (any ski discipline), but you will need a high level of fitness, as it is athletically demanding.
We will be skiing for several hours each morning and afternoon or doing full day tours. We ask that you are realistic in assessing your fitness for this trip.
If you have any questions about this, please do get in touch before booking, we're happy to help!
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Classic style cross-country skiing is the traditional discipline of Nordic skiing. It uses a diagonal stride technique and it looks like walking on skis.
If you are just starting out, classic cross-country skiing is quite easy to learn and the skis allow you to glide in dedicated groomed tracks.
Skate skiing is a more recent cross-country discipline. The technique is similar to ice skating.
Skate skiing appeals to fit, athletic people who like to train on a regular basis. With perseverance it’s possible to reach high speeds and achieve effortless glide. Skate skiing is a full-body workout that combines endurance, strength, and flexibility.
For more information on the differences between the two disciplines, have a read of this article:
https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/nordic/nordic-advice/cross-country-skiing-classic-vs-skating
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We’re here to support you out of your comfort zone as you learn something new, by creating fun and supportive environments. We recognise everyone’s journey in trying new sports is different. We believe cross-country skate skiing is a fantastic sport for beginners with no previous skiing experience, but it may not be the sport for everyone.
The Movement & Terrain
Cross country skiing is a gliding and sliding motion. If you do not like the sensation of sliding this winter sport might not be for you.
In skate skiing you do travel at speed, so you need to be prepared for the possibility of falling at speed when you're beginning! If you are nervous about falling, this winter sport might not be for you.
Cross country skiing does have downhill sections which you will learn to go down and control your speed. If you do not like the sensation of going downhill, maybe from previous skiing experiences, then you may not enjoy skate cross country skiing.
Fitness
Skate skiing is a physically demanding sport! It does get described as ‘running with skis on’. As far as cardio fitness goes, this is true - it can be hard work! We do recommend you have a high fitness level to get the most out of the experience. Each day we will have 2 x 2-3 hour lessons and tours and on some occasions full day tours. Skate skiing is a full-body workout that combines endurance, strength, and flexibility.
We encourage you to be kind to yourself when deciding if this is the sport for you, if not, we have loads of other winter adventures on offer!
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No! This trip is designed for complete beginners to cross country skiing.
We can’t wait to share the joys of skate skiing with you!
It is important that you have the right fitness. Skate skiing is a physically demanding sport and you do need to have a high level of fitness for this adventure. Skate skiing is a full-body workout that combines endurance, strength, and flexibility.
Working with fantastic ski instructors and guides, you’ll receive excellent tuition progressing your skills throughout the week, learning new techniques and building your mileage to explore incredible remote and snowy landscapes.
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Working on your cardiovascular fitness will help you with endurance and stamina. Walking at a good pace (where you feel slightly out of breath) and climbing stairs is really beneficial, or of course, running or cycling or performing other higher intensity exercise.
Nordic walking and inline skating are similar to cross-country skate skiing and can help prepare you for your first time on skis
Improving your strength, core stability and balance really helps with cross country skiing too. Good balance is essential for weight transfer from one ski to the next. We will be balancing on one ski as it glides – so if standing one one leg is a challenge then practising will help! You could stand on one leg every time you clean your teeth!
Activities and sports that challenge our balance can help us develop our balance in a progressive way, including Pilates, yoga and dancing.
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Please see our blog about cross country ski clothing here.
When cross-country skiing, you're very active and generate heat, even though you're out in the cold. While moving, you'll get warm (and sweaty), but when you stop, you can cool down quickly. A common mistake is overdressing, which leads to getting too hot while moving, then feeling cold and damp when you stop. This is especially true when skiing with a group, as there are more frequent and longer stops than if you were skiing alone. Unlike downhill skiing, cross-country skiing doesn’t require bulky, insulated clothing, since you’re not sitting still on chairlifts.
We recommend wearing wool or synthetic base layers, topped with a windproof, breathable, waterproof jacket (shell) with a hood. Keep a warm, insulated jacket in your backpack to put on during breaks. For your legs, use windproof, water-repellent, breathable soft-shell trousers or leggings.
We recommend avoiding cotton clothing as it gets cold when it’s wet and doesn't dry fast.
Other vital items are warm socks, sunglasses, sunscreen, waterproof and insulated gloves, a buff and hat.
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Yes! You can find it here.
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Yes! Ensure you bring a daypack with you that has plenty of space for layers that you need to peel off and put away. We recommend a backpack of about 25 litres.
It is a good idea to carry a warm, insulated jacket in your bag that you can put on at rest stops to stop you from getting cold, and a spare pair of gloves because wet gloves are the worst! Make sure there is some space in your bag before you begin as you are likely to need to put layers away as you warm up.
It is a really good idea to carry a couple of smaller, lightweight dry bags to keep the clothes in your backpack from getting wet.
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The yoga sessions are slow and restorative to help you recover from a day of skiing!
Other
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Of course we cannot predict the weather on any given week, but temperatures around -10°C are considered perfect for cross country skiing, and we may sometimes have temperatures of more like -20°C. This sounds cold, however, for most of the winter in Sweden it is a “dry” cold which tends to feel less cold than “damp” cold.
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On this trip, everywhere you will visit accepts cards, so you don't need to withdraw any Swedish Krone at all!
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There is no upper age limit for our adventures - we have women up to 70 years old join us.
The Gutsy Girls community is filled with fun, friendly and supportive women from 18-70+. We never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!
As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-60 years old, with around 60% in their 30s-40s. After a day learning to cross country ski, mountain biking over the hills, hiking to peaks for incredible views or exploring remote locations by paddleboard, age becomes irrelevant as we are all connected by our experiences.
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Definitely join alone, the vast majority of guests come along to our events and retreats solo.
Our aim is to connect you with like-minded new friends! We are a very friendly bunch, come as you are, we can’t wait to meet you!
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Whenever possible we use female instructors and guides on our day events and trips, however we cannot always guarantee this, simply because there are fewer female instructors available!
Our first priority is to work with the most highly experienced and considerate instructors and guides, who are patient, friendly and as passionate as we are about building women’s confidence in the outdoors.
Simply due to the ratio of men to women in the outdoors industry, sometimes this means our guides and instructors are male.
We keep a close eye on the feedback our guides receive from our guests as we believe that overall this is more important than their gender. We sincerely hope that as more women are introduced to adventure sports and activities, the amount of female guides and instructors in our industry will increase.