Progress in Narvik – August 2025
Preparations for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2029 in Narvik are well underway – in the mountain, within the organization, and through the planning of upcoming events. Here is the latest update on the progress.
Venue Development
This summer has been marked by high activity in Narvik Ski Resort. The new chairlift, Linken Express, is progressing according to plan. The construction road has reached Skaret and is scheduled for completion in early September, after which the foundation work for the lift towers will begin. The base area has already been excavated and prepared for the bottom station and snow groomer garage. Installation of the lift is expected to start in October.
The new family slope from the Upper Gondola Station, which will be used for transport and training during the championships, is also taking shape. The contours of the trail are now visible, and the slope is scheduled to be ready by Christmas. For the coming season the slope will be operated with natural snow and daylight, while snowmaking and floodlighting will be added in phase two, to be completed during the 2026/27 season.
Preparations for the new T-bar lift (Lift 3) are in progress, with excavation and groundwork underway at both the top and bottom stations. Installation will begin once the chairlift is completed, currently planned for late October or early November.
On the mountain plateau, work is ongoing to establish a new water reservoir, leveling, and pipe installations for the expanded snowmaking system. Pipes, wells, and snow cannons have already been delivered, and for the coming winter snow production will be carried out with a combination of the new and existing systems. The full system will be operational from the 2026/27 season.
Building the Organization
Alongside the construction work, the championship organization is also being strengthened. On 1 September, Knut-Eirik Dybdal will assume his role as CEO and team leader. Working closely with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), he will lead the recruitment of the key management positions, which are expected to be in place by the end of 2025.
At the same time, a strategy for volunteer recruitment and capacity building is under development, with the first mobilization campaigns scheduled for 2026. The organization is also engaged in close dialogue with public and private partners, aiming to establish sustainable and long-term agreements that will provide resources, expertise, and security as the preparations move forward.
First Rehearsal: Junior World Championships 2026
The first major test will come already on 5–15 March 2026, when Narvik hosts the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships. The event will bring the world’s best junior alpine athletes to Narvikfjellet and serve as a full-scale rehearsal. It will test the course network, lift infrastructure, and technical systems, while also giving the organization valuable experiences in delivering large-scale championships.
Current status 2026: All section leaders are now in place, volunteer recruitment is underway, and detailed planning is ongoing across all sections. The organization holds regular planning meetings, and the championship is beginning to take shape on paper.
The Junior World Championships will be an important milestone on the road to 2029 – a chance to showcase Narvik as a host city, to gain vital experience, and to build a strong foundation for what will become the greatest alpine event ever staged in Northern Norway.
