«Ta sjansen» was a popular Norwegian TV show broadcast on NRK from 1983 to 2002. It was a light-hearted, annual summer event filmed outdoors at the Homenkollen ski jump in Oslo.
The show featured contestants competing in two main types of humorous and often chaotic challenges: Homemade boats racing down a steep ramp into the water, and creative bicycles racing on floating docks.
Participants often wore silly costumes and built wildly imaginative contraptions, making the spectacle part game show, part variety show, and part slapstick comedy. «Ta sjansen» was known for its fun, festive atmosphere, and it became a beloved summer tradition in Norway. Though not officially competitive, winners were awarded prizes, and the emphasis was always on entertainment rather than serious sportsmanship.
Episodes
Cast
Season 1
1. Ta sjansen 1983
1h 2min
9th Jul 1983
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
2. Ta sjansen 1984
44min
23rd Jun 1984
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
3. Ta sjansen 1985
30min
18th Jun 1985
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
4. Ta sjansen 1986
54min
14th Jun 1986
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
5. Ta sjansen 1987
57min
27th Jun 1987
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
6. Ta sjansen 1988
1h
25th Jun 1988
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
7. Ta sjansen 1989
1h 4min
18th Jun 1989
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
8. Ta sjansen 1990
47min
7th Jul 1990
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event. The program had no commentary or host this year due to a strike at the time of filming.
9. Ta sjansen 1991
1h 5min
29th Jun 1991
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
10. Ta sjansen 1992
59min
29th Jun 1992
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
11. Ta sjansen 1993
1h 13min
3rd Jul 1993
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
12. Ta sjansen 1994
59min
25th Jun 1994
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
13. Ta sjansen 1995
56min
26th Jun 1995
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event. There were no bicycles races this year.
14. Ta sjansen 1996
1h 3min
29th Jun 1996
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
15. Ta sjansen 1997
1h 1min
15th Jun 1997
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event. Featuring live performances by Espen «Sway» Lind and D.D.E. There were no bicycle races this year.
16. Ta sjansen 1998
59min
14th Jun 1998
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event. Featuring live performances by Dusty Cowshit and D.D.E.
17. Ta sjansen 1999
1h 3min
26th Jun 1999
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
18. Ta sjansen 2000
58min
24th Jun 2000
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
19. Ta sjansen 2001
58min
24th Jun 2001
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
20. Ta sjansen 2002
1h 27min
24th Jun 2002
Daring women and men gather at Holmenkollen for a wild summer competition. They race down ramps in homemade boats and bikes, aiming for speed and splash – and a golden bell. Creativity, chaos, and laughter rule the day in this playful, high-spirited event.
21. Highlights: Crashes and splashes in Holmenkollen
58min
2nd Aug 2008
A look back at «Ta sjansen»: For many years, people took the chance of ending up fully in the water with self-built bikes and boats. This episode features some of the more memorable moments from Holmenkollen.