Atlantica - 01.02.2002, Qupperneq 41

A T L A N T I C A 39
W I N T E R P L A Y G R O U N D
The winter lasts for six months plus in the Eyjafjördur region (north Iceland), so it
makes perfect sense that residents inhabiting the small villages along the fjord
are bonkers about winter sports. You name it, they do it. Last spring, for instance,
tiny Ólafsfjördur hosted the World Championship SnowCross Race, attracting
competitors from Europe, Russia, the US and Canada to the snow-covered vil-
lage.
Winter junkies travelling through Grenivík can ride a snowmobile up Mt.
Kaldbakur (1167 m) and either suck in the view or slush down Iceland’s longest
skiing trail.
Not into snowmobiling? Then snowshoe your way a bit further north to
Siglufjördur for some serious downhill and cross-country skiing. The small town,
plotted so close to the azure North Atlantic that locals can almost fish from their
open windows, also has an ice rink for those not interested in the higher peaks.
Speaking of ice rinks, the town of Akureyri has a brand-new facility for skaters
yearning to do an axel or hockey players jonesing to cross-check someone. Just
a short drive from the centre of town is Iceland’s premiere ski resort, Hlídarfjall, a
must for the serious winter enthusiast. After a hard day on the slopes, dinner and
drinks in ‘the capital of the north’ are only minutes away.
Some people just thrive in cold weather. When the mercury dips below freezing,
the adventure begins. Such is life in Eyjafjördur. Heck, as we speak, northerners
in this winter wonderland are thinking up crazy winter sports, finding yet another
inventive way to enjoy themselves in the snow. EW
033-042 I-site Atl102 14.12.2001 16:57 Page 39