Born in Trondheim, Winsnes started his senior career with local team Rosenborg in 1996.

Though playing for Rosenborg until the end of 2005, he spent the 2002 season on loan at Swedish team Hammarby IF.

In December 2005, he signed a three-year long deal with Aalborg Boldspilklub (AaB) in the Danish Superliga.

He joined the AaB squad on 4 January 2006 during the training for the second half of the 2005–06 Superliga season.

[1] Having played a total 57 games and scored five goals for AaB, the birth of his daughter prompted Winsnes and his wife to move back to Norway to be closer to their family.