Downhill skiing in Sweden

If there is any sport that is the image of Sweden or any northern country, it is skiing. Whether it be cross country or downhill, skiing is the lifeblood of the people during the cold and dark months of the winter. When the snow begins to fall, and sun begins to rest earlier, there is one thing people can look forward to: skiing.

The skiing season does not truly begin until February when the nations’ States and Communes begin to take their winter break called Sport Lov (Sport Vacation). The vacations really apply more to the school children than the childless citizen. What is funny about Sport Lov, is that every different State or region within the country takes a different week off: maybe so that the ski areas do not get overloaded with people. For example, the southern most part of the country gets to take off during the seventh week of the year, the next northern region gets week eight, and Stockholm gets week nine. As a result of this system, the entire country functions on measuring vacations on which weeks they begin and take place.

On one of these Sport Lovs, you may decide to take your family skiing, which my family has always done. The downhill skiing however is sub par, but his is the place I learned how to ski. My perception is definitely biased, but you would be wrong to judge the place by the lack of vertical gain and loss. The snow here is probably closer to the snow of the West coast, but it comes down cold and it stays cold. There is rarely any ice, because it tends to snow just enough each night to build up enough of a new layer to ski on. The slopes are not very steep, and if they are, they do not remain steep for long. There are few chairlifts, and they are gaining popularity. Nonetheless, charging down a run here with perfectly groomed trails and varied steepness makes for an exciting downhill experience.

I went skiing with aunt Katarina and her family a couple of days ago. I had not seen my cousins’ ski in five years, and the last time I saw them ski, they were in harnesses getting held back by their mother. During our day at the ski slope, they were strong and confident skiers. My aunt comes from a long line of majestic skiers and watching her ski is exciting. Her feet remain completely solid and do not stray while her torso tilts from side to side. She makes any slope angle seem easy. Katarina and Janne’s children will easily become excellent skiers if they watch the form of their parents.

Above and below: Jenny and Anton with the Janne riding the lift.

I ski with my buddies up here often, but that usually results in a different experience. It is not as fun as skiing with the whole family mostly due to the amount of hurt I have after a couple of more challenging runs charged with testosterone. I usually miss my family whenever I ski with my friends, because skiing has always seemed like a family sport to me.

Week nine is by far the busiest week of the year in the ski regions of Sweden. On this week all of Stockholm’s schools get to take vacation. It results in traffic jams in the small rural grocery stores, lines at the ski slope, and generally more people find themselves in every nook and cranny the mountains have to offer. On week nine we had our friends Björn, Inger, and their son Isidor with us in the cabin.

Top left to bottom right: Isidor, mom, Inger, Björn, myself, and dad.

We went skiing with Björn and Isidor, and I taught Isidor how to snowboard. After seeing the learning experience again, I realized that I have completely forgotten how challenging it is to begin going down snow. After a number of face plants and falls on his ass powerful enough make him an inch shorter, Isi almost had it.

Björn, Isidor, and myself after our first day of skiing in Funäsdalen.

On this particular day, we went to a new ski slope that has been further developed since I have been gone. When I left five years ago, the ski slope was a small ski slope that functioned mostly as the schools ski slope for gym class, free periods, and playing hooky. It has now become a world-class ski resort with long steep slopes, which is uncharacteristic for Swedish ski slopes.

The custumary yardsale when learning to ride the lift.

On our second day skiing with Björn and Isidor, we went to our local ski slope. Isi got the chance to learn on the same ski slope I learned how to ski on. On this occasion we had a better learning environment, and by end of the day after countless face plants and painful whiplash, Isi finally got it. I do not think I have ever persevered and actually taught someone how to snowboard before, and the experience was uplifting. Isi’s last run of the day was flawless. I had a lot of fun being the teacher, but I felt guilty when Isi was the one who had to do all the work.


Isi on his second to last run. He almost had it until the face plant took him out!