Nordlien played his first international tournament with the Four Hills Tournament in 1977/78 . However, he was unsuccessful. His best placement was a 16th place in Innsbruck . In 1979, Nordlien was accepted into the national team for the newly created ski jumping World Cup and on December 30, 1979, he played his first world cup competition in the opening competition of the 1979/80 Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf . However, Nordlien remained unsuccessful in this as well as the other three competitions of the tour. In his first World Cup after the tour in Zakopane , Poland , he achieved his first World Cup point with 15th place. Also in the second competition he was able to win World Cup points with 9th place. In ski flying in Vikersund on March 2nd, 1980, Nordliens last World Cup competition, he reached the 13th place. He finished the 1979/80 season with 12 points in 62nd place.
Norway