Source/published: Easter Magazine 2025.
The story of a website and an alpine center
April 13, 2025 / Updated June 22, 2025
With a heart for Aurdal
It all started with a cabin and one man's love for a small piece of Norway in Valdres.
In 2001, Olav André Melan built a cabin on Aurdalsåsen, a place he would soon dedicate much of his heart to.
and its time to.
For almost 25 years, Olav has shown a burning commitment to both the cabin and the surrounding area, a commitment that would grow into something far greater than he might have first imagined.
When the cabin was completed, Olav was still an officer in the Armed Forces, but in 2013 he retired after reaching
age limit. With more time to spare, a new world of opportunities – and challenges – opened up . As a cabin owner , he had long missed a place where he could find information about what was happening in Aurdal. At that time, there wasn’t much to be found, so Olav took matters into his own hands. He started with a small printed matter for Easter tourists – a simple brochure with a few pages that gave an overview of activities in the area. Over the years, the small brochure grew into a colorful magazine filled with programs, useful information and a bit of entertainment. But the need for more – and more accessible – information
continued to grow.
A digital dream becomes reality
In 2007, Olav took a big step forward. He bought the domain aurdal.no and launched a website with a clear goal: to promote Aurdal and Aurdalsåsen and give both cabin owners and visitors a source for everything that was happening in the area. With his own pictures and texts, often taken on the same day, the website quickly became a living window into life in Valdres. Social media such as “Aurdal in Valdres” also became part of the initiative, and soon information about opening hours, activities and future plans was flowing out to an ever- growing audience. Partners such as Aurdal Fjellpark, Danebu Kongsgaard and Valdres Alpinsenter became important supporters. Land providers in Aurdalsåsen also got a place on the website, and eventually aurdal.no became a common platform for the entire area.
Eivind Akervold, one of those who saw the value in Olav's work early on, says: "We considered that both the breadth of information and the follow-up were so good that we chose to close our own websites and focus on aurdal.no for advertising cabin plots."
For many, the website became a regular stop for finding trail reports, information about Fjellparkstua or news from Aurdal- og Kruk Løypel ag.
A self-appointed marketing coordinator
Olav eventually became a kind of “self-appointed marketing coordinator” for Aurdalsåsen. He attended cabin fairs, showed off plots of land and made sure that Aurdal got the attention it deserved. At the same time, he provided support to other websites in the area, such as Aurdal Fjellpark and Valdres Alpinsenter. The collaboration with the alpine center in particular, which began in 2011, would prove to be a pillar of support. Olav learned back-office systems and software for selling ski passes, and later helped develop an online store with payment solutions. Through his work, he put Aurdal and Aurdalsåsen on the map – literally.
The baton passes on
After many years of dedicated effort, Olav has now chosen to pass the baton on. And who better to take over than Valdres Alpinsenter, the biggest “engine” in the area? The time feels right to join forces and further develop aurdal.no into something even bigger: AURDAL Valdres Alpinsenter. But Olav is not disappearing completely – his experience and knowledge will still be part of the team that ensures that information reaches everyone who has a connection to Aurdal.
A new era begins
Currently, work is underway on a new, modern website that will be launched in the spring. It will replace both the old website for Valdres Alpinsenter and aurdal.no, and gather everything in one place under the main domain aurdal.no – with valdresalpin.no as a still-functioning link. Here you will find information about the ski center, ski passes, food and drink, accommodation, leisure properties and everything else that makes Aurdal a vibrant place all year round.
From a cabin in Aurdalsåsen to a digital meeting place for thousands – the story of aurdal.no is a tale of passion, collaboration and a vision to lift up an entire local community. Now, with Valdres Alpinsenter in the driving seat, the future is brighter than ever. We can only look forward to the continuation!
General Manager Harald Kulhuset at Valdres Alpinsenter smiles broadly when he talks about the collaboration with Olav André Melan. “I really appreciate the collaboration we have had with Olav over the years, and I am really happy that he will be with us going forward. It provides a sense of security and continuity that means a lot to us. Olav is the kind of guy you can call at any time – whether it is Sunday morning or Saturday evening, he always answers the phone. He shows up, no matter what.”
Harald highlights Olav's efforts, "He does a formidable job, both with marketing, organizing ticket sales and support. There are not many who manage to keep so many balls in the air at the same time, and he does it with impressive dedication. Olav is a real enthusiast, not only for Valdres Alpinsenter, but for the entire Aurdalsåsen. He is passionate about the area and has helped to promote it in a way that we all benefit from."
But it doesn't stop there, "In addition to all this, Olav is simply a very nice guy and a good friend. He is the kind of person you not only appreciate for the work he does, but also for who he is. We are lucky to have him on the team."
TEXT AND PHOTO | RICHARD TINGHAUGEN