Title: No Snow Chaos in Eastern Norway… Yet
In the grand winter stage of Norway, the drama of snow is/questions mark slowly unfurling. As the white blanket descends upon the land, it brings with it a tale of contrast between the steadfast north and the somewhat unprepared south.
Fritz Aanes, the Narvik-born, Oslo-based ‘ur-northerner’, speaks to Se og Hør about the southern capital’s snow-blighted trials. Aanes, a former competitive wrestler and a stern taskmaster in NRK’s ‘Hodet i klemme’, is no stranger to the rigors of the season. Yet, he admits he’s taken aback by the stark unpreparedness of Oslo’s inhabitants.
"Oslo folk are still stomping around in shorts and summer tyres. It’s like they’re playing at winter," Aanes chuckles, shaking his head. However, he’s quick to defend fellow northeners, noting that they’re simply better equipped to handle the snow.
Aanes, who recently took to Instagram to show off his snow-shoveling prowess, believes that ‘southlanders’ need to buck up and take the season in stride. "It’s just a normal Tuesday for us up north. Autumn in Oslo seems to be a bigger hassle than winter for us."
Erik Sæter, the Bergen-born influencer and TV personality, agrees. Sæter, who cut his teeth on reality shows like ‘What Happens in Bergen’ and ‘Roadking: Farmen Lonn’, believes Oslo’s roads are a massacre just waiting to happen.
"Every year, when the temperature drops, E18 becomes a death trap. Dumber drivers and inadequate snow-clearing efforts – it’s a recipe for disaster," Sæter laments, his face set in a grimace. He suggests imported snow-clearing techniques from North Norway, like using chains on buses, could save the day.
So, as the snow continues to fall, it’s a waiting game to see if this winter will thaw into a warm, blizzard-free spring, or if the eager Oslo folk will finally learn to embrace the snow. Only time will tell, but in the meantime, Aanes has a suggestion: "Embrace the chill, people. It’s just a bit of snow."
