Skiing on the edge of the wilderness
Every winter more and more foreign tourists travel to the Swedish mountains. They are enticed by excellent skiing in stunning surroundings, copious amounts of snow, excellent food and a friendly atmosphere. Skiers that like a challenge can choose from areas such as Åre, Riksgränsen and Hemavan. Or why not take a skiing excursion to Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest mountain?
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| Photo: Henrik Trygg |
Sweden’s top international ski resort is Åre, which were host to the Alpine Skiing World Championships in 2007. Skiers from many countries such as England, Finland, Russia, and the Netherlands competed up on the pistes. Åreskutan – Åre’s highest mountain – is an excellent mountain for skiers of all abilities.
A cable car takes you to the top of the mountain, with views over Åresjön (Lake Åre) and the white surrounding mountains. Skiing above the tree line is wonderful, with long and billowing ski-runs.
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Photo: Henrik Trygg |
Further down are the steep ski runs where the women’s World Cup competitions are held every winter. Anja Pärson, the Swede who won the World Cup last year, is the crowd favourite. Åre also offers some calmer skiing in the areas of Åre; Björnen, Tegefjäll and the long pistes of Duved are well suited to carving. Åre is nearly as well known for its restaurants as its skiing. Menus feature typical dishes from Norrland (Northern Sweden) with plenty of game and fish, though there are also Thai and Italian restaurants. The party then continues in Åre’s many bars and nightclubs.
Riksgränsen is the world’s northernmost ski resort and internationally renowned for two things. Skiing under the midnight sun and high speed snowboarding. Several of the world’s best snowboarders visit Riksgränsen every year. The vast mountains have masses of ravines, channels and snow overhangs to play in. A white mountain, a beautiful hotel, two excellent restaurants, a bar and a train station – that’s Riksgränsen. Other Swedish ski resorts that attract skilled downhill skiers are Abisko, Hemavan, Kittelfjäll and Borgafjäll. The pistes within the lift system are quite short but helicopters take skiers to the surrounding high mountains. Cross-country skiing is also very popular in these mountain areas.
The adventurous cross-country skier can go to Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest mountain range. Twelve miles from the nearest road there is a mountain station with a restaurant and sauna, a perfect base for mountain adventurers. Plus, the guides at the mountain station know where to find the best runs. If you yearn to ski close to the wilderness, we’ll you in the Swedish mountains this winter.