Folgefonna’s planned summer terrain park has been shelved after heavy rain and rapid snowmelt destabilized mountain conditions. The park cannot be opened because insufficient snow remains to safely build or maintain the planned features. The problem is attributed to rain and wind accelerating melt rather than heat alone. Folgefonna had previously been one of Europe’s most reliable glacier training grounds, supporting national ski team training and freestyle off-season use. Financial pressure and operational instability led to decline, including the collapse and dismantling of lift infrastructure. A scaled-back revival concept, Folgefonna Activity Park, aimed to place a small controlled terrain park at about 1,100 meters where snowfields tend to collect more consistently.
"“due to a watery snowmelt in recent days, it is impossible to open Folgefonna Activity Park this season.”"
"Espeland later clarified that the issue was not heat-related, but the result of “heavy rain and wind,” which accelerated melt conditions and left insufficient snow to safely build or maintain the planned park features."
"For decades, the Folgefonna glacier - often referred to simply as “Fonna” - was one of the last places in Europe where winter conditions reliably extended into summer. National ski teams trained on its glacier slopes, and freestyle riders used its terrain park as a key off-season training base."
"After years of financial pressure and operational instability, the commercial ski operation entered decline. The lift infrastructure serving the glacier ski area collapsed last year and has since been dismantled, and the site has effectively ceased functioning as a conventional summer ski resort."
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