Norway — Issues gave the impression to be trending in the appropriate path for Fonna Glacier Ski Resort, which is likely one of the ski areas in Norway that exists on a glacier. After coming into chapter final 12 months, a brand new possession group stepped in to avoid wasting the ski resort and introduced that it will function this summer season.
Nonetheless, since that announcement, issues have deteriorated. Final week, the opening date for the glacier was moved again. Now, it seems the plan might have fallen aside completely, with the founders of the group being faraway from the group. The disagreement was reportedly over the 2 eager to open up this month, with the others considering that they have been going too shortly. The founders turned annoyed with the continued postponements that the opposite members have been pushing for. The 2 founders who have been eliminated are scrambling to discover a new group to assist reopen the mountain for this summer season. The workers from the opposite group have additionally shaped a brand new firm, so we’ll see if something comes from that. For now, the ski season at Fonna seems to be vulnerable to not taking place.
The official press launch from the founders of Fonna Sport AS is under.
Founders of Fonna Sport AS Eliminated Regardless of Secured Startup Capital and Operational Plan
In December 2024, Olivia Wenk and Thomas Burda from Germany began the initiative to ascertain Fonna Sport AS along with Bjørnar Neteland — a non-profit firm below formation — with the purpose of reviving ski operations on the Folgefonna Glacier. Now, simply as preparations have been nearing completion, the 2 founding members have been requested to step away from the group.
By robust collaboration with native companies and lodging suppliers, Olivia and Thomas secured as much as 1.7 million NOK in startup capital. These funds have been allotted to make sure the acquisition of apparatus from the bankrupt Visitfonna AS, the structural securing of the ski raise, and the deliberate relaunch of operations.
“I used to be in ongoing dialogue with athletes and coaches and had developed a transparent idea for restarting actions,” says Thomas. “This idea was shared with the municipality and all cooperating companions. Until a last-minute settlement may be reached, bookings — now amounting to a number of million NOK — must be cancelled. That may imply a lack of important coaching alternatives for kids, youth racers, and para-athletes. It breaks my coronary heart to share this information simply as we have been making ready to convey snowboarding again to life at Folgefonna.”
During the last six months, the founders mobilized an skilled and worldwide community of engineers — together with specialists from certainly one of Tyrol’s main glacier resorts, with which Visitfonna AS maintained a long-standing nine-year partnership — to evaluate and make sure the technical security of the raise. Their work was hands-on and fueled by private dedication, contributing important labor hours, non-public monetary assets, and specialist experience to get the raise operational below demanding situations.
Olivia, elected board member and Monetary Controller, spent months growing a sustainable monetary plan and dealing money move mannequin for Fonna Sport AS. By structured partnerships and confirmed bookings, the projected revenues had already reached a considerable degree, securing monetary viability for the 2025 season.
She additionally labored in shut partnership with the Worldwide Ski Federation (FIS) to create a improvement mission aimed toward bettering athlete security and lowering the fee boundaries for alpine velocity coaching. The idea was designed to learn each able-bodied and para-athletes with sponsored infrastructure and enhanced accessibility.
“It has all the time been my mission to assist the game, promote youth improvement, and empower para-athletes by creating safer and extra financially accessible coaching alternatives,” Olivia explains. “That’s why I’m particularly pleased with the sustainable coaching idea developed along with the FIS Improvement Division. It’s extremely disappointing that this may occasionally not be realized.”
Ought to a swift and constructive resolution nonetheless be discovered, each founders stay open to seeing the unique imaginative and prescient for Fonna realized. With out such a decision, nevertheless, the trail ahead is unsure.
“We’re deeply saddened,” they state, “as this second was meant to mark the return of one thing significant — not only for the game, however for the youngsters, the athletes, and your complete neighborhood round Folgefonna.”
Olivia and Thomas additionally specific their heartfelt because of the numerous native supporters, companies, and personal people who stood behind the mission over the previous months. Their encouragement and perception have been a driving pressure all through this journey.
Whereas the circumstances are undeniably tough, the doorways will not be closed. We haven’t stopped preventing — and we’re nonetheless right here, on web site, absolutely dedicated. Our perception on this location, within the energy of sport, and within the individuals who have supported us is unshaken. There stays a final, robust hope that snowboarding can return to Folgefonna in 2025 — for kids, athletes, para-athletes, and the broader mountain-loving neighborhood. If there’s a method ahead, we’re able to take it.
Picture Credit: Fonna Glacier Ski Resort
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