Kåre Østerdal started competing locally in ski jumping in the early 1930s. After World War II he began to compete on a national level, and after doing well in the selection events, he was selected for the Norwegian team in Nordic combined for the 1948 Winter Olympics. His best result in Holmenkollen was in 1951, placing seventh, and his best National Championship placing was fifth in 1949. He continued to compete locally until he was close to 40. Østerdal ran a grocer’s shop in his home town of Mo.