Updated: 18th august 2002

The Norwgian National Whitewater Arena is a popular camping- and meetingplace for paddlers travelling in Norway.

The arena is located by the small village of Sjoa (very small!!), by the entrance to the Heidal valley. The river Sjoa runs through this valley and into the river Gudbrandsdalslågen in the Gudbrandsdalen valley.

Access from Oslo and Lillehammer by car is the E6 towards Trondheim. When you reach Sjoa, turn of towards Randsverk, onto Route 257. The whitewater arena is located about 10 min. drive from the E6. Follow the signs to Sjoa Kajakk Camp.

- Map over the Whitewater arena area.

The witewater arena was constructed in the beginning of the 1990s. There was a need for a place to compete and train whitewater paddling.

In 1995 there was a severe flooding in the eastern Norway. This made huge damages to the whitewater arena. They were quickly repaired.
See the pictures here >>>

- Slalom competition, 1992.

Over the years slalompaddling has unfortunately disappeared in Norway, but it is still a very good slalom arena, and can be rented for this purpose.

Paddling has developed into different categories as creeking, playboating, river-running and more. In this context the arena is excellent as a base for paddling in the area which has a huge number of great rivers within an hours drive from the arena.

During the summer a well known event is the Sjoa Canoe Festival. Read more about the event here >>>

- The arena during the Sjoa Canoe Festival.
Photo: Anders Blomquist.

There are two main buildings; one is a cottage with a kitchen, refridgerator, toilets and a fireplace. This building is open for paddlers to get warm in, but then the kitchen is closed. It may also be rented for courses or other events (then you'll have access to the kitchen). In the other bulding we plan to build beds for rent. These will be avaiable next season (2003).

E-mail Sven Nordby Anderssen >>> for details.