The amazing world of extreme sports at Riksgränsen
In the far north of Sweden at the Swedish-Norwegian border lies Riksgränsen, a small mountain community with an amazing history evolving around extreme sports.
Recorded history of skiing at Riksgränsen dates back over 100 years. One of the first noted events of skiing activity taking shape in the area was in 1928 when the Swedish Skiing Association opened accommodations for visitors.
From then on the area gradually became a destination for ski enthusiasts. A ski school started in 1934 and its first ski lift opened in 1952, making it one of the most popular ski attractions in Sweden.
Skiing evolved over time, with skiers becoming more daring with every generation. In the 1990s new styles of skiing, as well as snowboarding, emerged, fueling interest to start new competitions and events.
In this video, published by SalomonTV in 2016, it is mentioned that Riksgränsen was the birthplace of freeriding in Sweden. Freeriding is a term for skiing and snowboarding in open terrain. The shots in this video are breathtaking!
Here is another video with amazing shots and insight into the freeski culture at Riksgränsen, published by Armada Skis in 2015.
Riksgränsen now boasts hotels, spa amenities, restaurants and events of all kinds.
For more information about visiting Riksgränsen, visit Hotel Riksgränsen’s website here.
Sources:
“The history of Riksgränsen.” Arctic Elements. Link.