Sauda Skisenter in Svandalen is one of the largest ski resorts in southwestern Norway. It was established in 1968 with a single 800-metre Poma lift. Today it has five lifts with a combined capacity of 5,200 skiers per hour.
The resort sits between 357 and 822 metres above sea level, with a vertical drop of 500 metres. The longest run is 6 kilometres. There are slopes for beginners and advanced skiers, a snowboard park, and prepared cross-country tracks in the mountains above.
Sauda is known for reliable snow conditions, more so than many other resorts in Rogaland. The season typically runs from January to May. In summer, Svandalen becomes a popular hiking area.
One unusual way to get here is by ski boat from Stavanger. On weekends during the season, a boat leaves Stavanger in the morning, sails through the fjords to Ropeid, where a bus takes you up to the slopes. Taking the boat to the mountains, as the locals say.
The resort is about 8 kilometres from Sauda town centre. There is a café with hot food and an exhibition of 600 pairs of historical skis.