Gesunda Bike Park
Explore Gesunda Bike Park’s downhill trails and the plans behind its cycling facilities in this archive report from Gesundaberget.
Gesundaberget is made for cycling and is considered one of Sweden’s top cycling centers! Some of the world’s foremost trail builders have designed Gesunda’s freeride trail and 4-cross course. The courses meet true international standards. There are substantial jumps and challenges for advanced cyclists and gentler variants for those who want to take it a bit easier.
That’s how Gesunda describes itself on their website, and I ♥ OUTDOOR had the pleasure of visiting the facility for a day to test both bikes and slopes. After a good breakfast and an introduction to Gesunda, it was time to put on protective gear and pedal toward the lift on the Mongoose bikes rented from Sport Center. The first obstacle for our editorial team was getting the bike onto the lift, but after some fiddling, we were soon at the top and ready to throw ourselves down the descents.
Markus, our guide for the day, had prepared us that the day’s first descent to conquer would be Carro-Line, which is one of the absolute easiest runs. Given the editorial team’s limited downhill experience, it suited us perfectly. One of the instructions we received was to stay relaxed in our hands and not tense up too much. Something that was easier said than done. Halfway down, we were both sweaty and tired, questioning whether we’d have the energy for a full day on the slopes. But when Markus tempted us with wood-fired pizza from the new oven or the house special pork pancakes, it wasn’t hard to find inspiration and motivation. Once down at the lift, we were tired, happy, and enormously charged up for the next run.
During one of our many hydration breaks, we took the opportunity to talk to some of the other visitors. Among them, four guys from the West Coast who were spending a night at the hostel. “For us, Gesunda is perfect. Great riding, varied courses, and affordable accommodation…” Markus tells us that many come here to train for the Swedish Championships and other major competitions and events, and that there are about 200 cyclists on a typical weekend and about 15-30 during weekdays. Interest is strong, and we meet as many local talents as long-distance visitors.
After a couple of runs down Carro-Line and the somewhat tougher Magic Carpet, lunch beckoned in the summit lodge, whose view has been awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide. The weather gods weren’t quite with us during the visit, and we could unfortunately only enjoy a fraction of the view. The house special pork pancakes with nearly an entire jar of blueberry jam were, however, delightful and something you absolutely must eat if it’s offered when you visit.
After lunch, we headed out to the bikes to once again hit the slopes. Arms, legs, and above all hands were tired and sore, which wasn’t surprising since there’s no chance to rest anywhere on the way down. We made our way down Magic Carpet a couple more times before it was time for Skogsmys’ newly built GMX, which was a truly wonderful experience. The jumps were well-calibrated and the berms in superb condition – a delight for both beginners and the more experienced. Last but not least, we finished off in the 4X, which is Gesunda’s version of a ski cross course for bikes.
Worn out but very satisfied, we wrapped up the day, thanked Markus for all the useful tips, and headed home.
• Renting a bike at Sport Center costs 695 SEK/day and protective equipment costs 300 SEK. An all-in-one package costs 795 SEK.
The season wraps up with a celebration on October 2-3. All downhill enthusiasts are welcome!
Photographer: Mattias Klockar
Cyclist: Gustav Gullholm
