He grew up in Mosvik with his family, father John, mother May and the two brothers Even (born 1996) and Thomas (born 1990). Thomas is as well a good skier and won the Junior World Championship title in sprint in 2010.

Petter Northug became the first skier to win the 50 km at the Winter Olympics, World Championships and Holmenkollen since Sweden’s Gunde Svan achieved the same in 1988

Las Vegas 2011: Good buddies Petter Northug and Odd Bjoern Hjelmeset faced each other in a duel in the desert outside Las Vegas. The two world champions put on Cross-Country skis to find out who is the best on sand. After two rounds the score was 1:1 and the third round decided the winner as Hjelmeset beat Northug.

In Summer 2010, Petter Northug participated and finished the main event of the 2010 World Series in poker in Las Vegas by placing 653rd .

His main goal for next season will be the FIS Tour de Ski, so far he finished three times as the runner up and aims to become the first Norwegian to win the Tour

Northug plan to join the private team United Bakeries after the FIS Tour de Ski 2012: "When the Tour is over, I will join Thomas Alsgaard and his team to get ready as best as possible for my next goal, which will be Vasaloppet," explained Petter Northug. The Norwegian ace plans to take on board his brother Tomas (or other skiers) to gain logistical support during the Vasaloppet. "It is always good to have someone with you if you break a pole or if you need to drink," he explained

His hobbies are poker, computer, tv, eating, sleeping.

Website: www.teamnorthug.no