Swedes turn to skiing as the winter school break approaches

It might seem that December is when Swedes dream most of snow and freezing temperatures. Yet bookings for mountain cabins in Sweden and abroad tend to gather pace as the winter school break approaches.

One reason may be a preference for spending Christmas at home. Another is the growing amount of Alpine skiing and other winter championships on television. The original February 2017 report looked ahead to skiathlon at the end of that month, and to a small comeback by Charlotte Kalla after a poor start to the season. With so much winter sport on screen, it is easy to start longing for snow. The question is where to go.

For higher peaks and steeper slopes than Sweden offers, many travelers look to the Alps. France, Austria and Italy compete for visitors. Chamonix and Val d’Isère are popular French destinations for beginners and experienced skiers alike. They frequently host competitions, and visitors can ski the race slopes outside competition periods. In Italy, Armentarola is said to offer some of the world’s most beautiful downhill excursions.

For a shorter journey beyond Sweden, Norway has excellent mountain resorts. Oppdal is one of the country’s largest ski resorts, although it is less familiar to many Swedes. It offers varied slopes and attractive forest skiing, both downhill and cross-country. There are also mountain walks for visitors with insulated hiking boots, including the 1,260-meter Prestauran, with beautiful terrain and far-reaching views. Oppdal is also a summer destination for cyclists.

Swedish mountain classics

For many, traveling abroad is unthinkable when Sweden’s mountains are at their best. The original report described Tänndalen and Funäsdalen gaining ground as first choices over Åre and Sälen, partly because they offer both cross-country and downhill skiing. Funäsfjällen has more than 60 peaks and over 300 km of prepared ski trails.

The report portrayed these traditional mountain destinations as places centered on skiing rather than nightlife, lively après-ski or shopping. Visitors come to spend time together on the slopes and trails.

For a broader choice of activities, Sälen and Åre offer plenty beyond skiing. Åre has some of Sweden’s most demanding pistes for adventurous skiers seeking more than the usual green, blue and black runs. It also has highly regarded ski schools and hotels aimed at both families and groups of friends.