Hovden

Hovden launches at about 1,340 m right next to the E6 highway in Norway, with a ski lift and gondola serving the takeoff, and very good launch conditions just a few metres from the lift. The site is flyable year-round with good ridge and thermal conditions, and takes wind from north-east through east, south-east, south, south-west, west and north-west - a wide enough spread for cross-country flying as well as ridge soaring. Landing conditions down by the lift are generally good, though they can occasionally feel a bit turbulent. One condition is worth watching closely: when southerly wind exceeds about 5-6 m/s at the 800 hPa level, wave activity forms over the area, visible as lenticular cloud. A weather station on Storhornet, about 1,550 m and 15 km due west of Hovden, measures wind speed and direction every hour and is a useful live reference before flying. The site is easy to find - the ski lift is visible directly from the E6 main road.

Launch & conditions

The ski lift and gondola serve the takeoff directly, with very good launch conditions just a few metres from the lift. The site is flyable year-round with good ridge and thermal conditions.

Getting there & local rules

The ski lift is visible directly from the E6 main road, making the site easy to find.

Local rules & hazards

When southerly wind exceeds about 5-6 m/s at the 800 hPa level, wave activity forms over the area, visible as lenticular cloud - worth checking before flying. Landing conditions down by the lift are generally good but can occasionally feel a bit turbulent, and a weather station on Storhornet, about 15 km west, gives useful hourly wind readings.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Hovden, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Hovden with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.