Destinations of Swedish Lapland Skellefteå winter/early spring 2015/2016 ENG

the destinations of

SWE DI SH LAPLAND

SWEDEN’S NORTHERNMOST DESTINATION

winter/early spring 2015/2016

Winter bathing

– a part of subarctic everyday life

the kalvträsk ski

– older than the pyramids

A burning passion for light

– the story of a light creator

crowd favourites this winter

Theatre, ice hockey and winter swim

l! a c o l t Ea E YOU D WE GUI LOCAL GH THROU D TASTY N FOOD A ATS TRE

Photo: Conny Lundström.

Magical Northern Lights over the forests surrounding Kalvträsk.

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DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Welcome to Skellefteå!

Picture the low winter sun, shining with unbridled warmth through a spruce forest covered in snow. That warmth sure feels different. It’s not warmer than other sunlight. Hardly stronger or more intense. Maybe it just feels different because the sun has been away for so long – and is now warming the depths of our souls?

When Skellefteå is softly embedded in a thick cover of white snow, our subarctic everyday life is characterised by a seamless transition between night and day. It makes little difference whether we put on our forest skis, turn on our head torches and go for full moon walks in a silver shimmering old growth forest, or walk out on a snow covered pine heath with the warming winter sun on your back.

We have snowshoes on our feet and nature under our skin. Sometimes, we just enjoy the tranquillity of the sled, swathed in warm clothing behind eager huskies. Travelling without a sound into a fantasy landscape of newly fallen snow and glistening ice crystals, or in the direction of the city centre and the pulse of civilisation.

Just as the light – or darkness if you will – is such a normal part of our everyday life – life in Skellefteå is also shaped by seamless transitions between city life and wilderness. Between intensity and complete relaxation. Between a victorious moment on the western stalls of the stadium – where you can feel the local ice hockey culture in your entire body – and laid back hanging out, drinking pretty cocktails in an uncomplicated lounge environment. This is Skellefteå. In winter. For real. You are invited to share our everyday lives – to experience our warm light and soft darkness.

In this brochure, you will find some information about what Skellefteå has to offer this winter.

You can read even more at www.visitskelleftea.se

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Photo: Ted Logardt

Winter at its most beautiful.

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DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

contents 6 Photo: Ted Logardt

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Extreme golden eagle photograpy.

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Children in focus.

The world’s oldest ski.

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Night out in the city.

more:

Photo: Ted Logardt

Photo: Ted Logardt

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Blue eyed huskies.

Photo: Paulina Holmgren

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Photo: Ted Logardt

Photo: Ted Logardt Photo: Conny Lundström

A hit with the crowed.

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Moose safari and pot boiled coffee.

Close to nature Comfy shopping Candle creator Taste of Skellefteå The cultural heart On ice and snow Winter bath Unique stores Accommondation Activities Restaurants & cafés

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Photo: Ted Logardt

If you have never looked into a pair of ice blue husky eyes before…

Text: Ted Logardt

If it’s the first time you have ever met a pack of enthusiastic huskies, no wonder you would be a bit reserved. However, there’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Join the British couple Sabina and Pete for their first encounter with some of Skellefteå’s shaggy residents.

When Sabina and Pete’s car rolls into the driveway, Emma is already at work, harnessing the dogs that are coming on today’s tour. Sabina and Pete come from Manchester, England. They have travelled to Skellefteå to experience winter for real. That means ice and snow and the subarctic lifestyle of the north.

Today, dogsledding is on the schedule. Yesterday it was ice hockey – Skellefteå AIK vs. Färjestad BK. The western stalls. Where you can feel the local ice hockey culture in your entire body.

Myself, I would like to get a close-up picture of a pair of ice blue husky eyes. That turns out to be easier said than done. As soon as I lean in with the 6

camera, the dogs would rather play than pose for pictures. Sure, it’s nice to have someone’s undivided attention, but it’s also a challenge to keep all the wet noses away from the camera lens.

ONE OF THE PACK – You’re welcome inside the kennel, says Emma after she has greeted Pete and Sabina.

– I’m not sure, says Sabina, with a somewhat anxious look at the wolf-like dogs.

She sticks her hand through the netting and Rigel, Emma’s big, long-haired husky is right there to greet her. Sabina instinctively pulls her hand back. Then she laughs.

Her reaction is far from unusual. If it’s the first time you have met a pack of huskies, of course you would be reserved. Of course, however, there is nothing to be afraid of.

– I think I’ll wait out here after all, she says and scratches Rigel behind the ear, through the netting.

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

A MAGICAL FINISH Then I see the sled between the pines. Sabina turns and says something to Pete who laughs, just as Emma brakes.

The dogs come to a halt. Some lie down in the snow. Their tongues are hanging out. One or two swallow a mouthful of snow to quench their thirst.

– Fantastic, says Sabina with Pete nodding in agreement.

Whilst the dogs recover, the visitors are bursting with questions. How come some of the dogs have different coloured eyes, that is to say, one brown and one blue? How much does a husky really eat?

What do they do in summer?

Any and all uncertainty about the dogs is long gone. Sabina and Pete cannot resist their begging looks, asking to be scratched and petted.

Sabina makes eye contact with Bettan. She tilts her white head with black markings, her ice blue eyes twinkling.

– Capitvating, she says as she puts her hands around Bettan’s face, looking deeply into her eyes.

I bring the camera’s viewfinder to my eye and take a picture.

AMAZING HUSKY EXPERIENCES CAN BE FOUND AT: Lappland emotions – Svanfors. Dogsledding and close encounters with Marie-Line and Arnaud’s huskies.

Flarken Adventure – Flarken. Week-long excursions in subarctic wilderness with your own pack.

Rascal Huskies – Yttervik. Both long and short tours.

Also dogsledding for children.

GreyMountain Adventure – Gråberg. Shorter tours, primarily during weekends.

At Rascal Huskies, the children get a chance to drive their own dogsled.

Photo: Domenico Gambardella

HALF- HOUR ROUND The dogs know what’s waiting. Their enthusiasm is unmistakable. If you are a husky in Swedish Lapland there is no joy greater than pulling a sled as quickly as you can through snow covered forests.

Pete and Sabina climb into the passenger seat on the sled. At the back of the sled, Emma gets ready to go. She loosens the snow anchor and off they go.

There is a light snowfall and the temperature is just below zero.

The round that Emma and her guests are on takes 30 minutes. Whilst I wait, I take a look at my pictures.

– A few must be alright, I think to myself.

However, most only contain an ear or a nose, at best, half an eye. Most are blurry or out of focus.

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Photo: Ted Logardt

Winter experiences close to nature – ON SNOWSHOES THROUGH ONE OF SKELLEFTEÅ’S 31 NATURE RESERVES d u r i n g t h e n i g h t there has been nearly 30 centimetres of snowfall. This means that Tjärnbergsheden, the 99 hectare nature reserve that lies about 15 minutes south of Skellefteå, is softly shrouded in a white cover of glistening powdery snow.

– I’ve had worse, says Niklas with a smile as he opens the roof box of his fully loaded car.

We’re going on a snowshoe hike. Straight out into the woods, paying no mind to snowmobile trails or ploughed roads.

– Tjärnbergsheden is one of Skellefteå’s 31 nature reserves”, says Niklas.

There is a bleak but enthusiastic January sun in the sky.

– This is also the beginning of Kyrkstigen (the Church Trail)”, he continues, pointing at the snow covered sign on the side of the road. Kyrkstigen is 30 km long. A hiking trail that runs from the lavish country church in Skellefteå to the church in Burträsk.

Niklas unpacks four pairs of snowshoes and matching pairs of poles.

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– You can walk without the poles, but they help a lot. Especially if you’re not used to doing this.

Up on Tjärnbergsheden, there is absolute tranquillity. The snowshoes sink deep into the freshly fallen snow. The effort is just enough. You feel good without becoming short of breath.

Up here, nature is meagre, giving the forest its characteristic short, bent and gnarly pines.

After about half an hour, Niklas stops.

– Let’s have lunch, he says. We are not allowed to make fires inside the reserve but now we’re on the right side of the boundary.

Niklas puts reindeer meat and plenty of vegetables on the muurikka griddle pan. Everything is locally produced – and right on time – I’ve worked up quite the appetite.

– Yeah, says Niklas, as he sits back and relaxes, contented, on a soft reindeer pelt in the sunshine, you can have days a lot worse than this.

Swea Event and Guide and Swenature lets you experience a variety of winter activities. Find out more online at www.swea-eventguide.se and www.swenature.se DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Photo: Ted Logardt

More entic auth ces n e i r expe

Photo: Ted Logardt

SKELLEFTEÅ WINTER CLASSIC

A FULL MOON TOUR ON FOREST SKIS When the moon is full, many strange things happen in nature. Come on a nightime journey in to the woods. With head torches on, you go out into the night. Look for owls and foxes and listen to all the other animals that are awake and hunt at night. This is a mystical, adventurous tour, only available for a few days every month whilst the moon is full. www.swea-eventguide.se

Photo: Ted Logardt

Experience a host of genuine winter activities in just one day. How about dogsledding, snowshoe hiking, real pot-boiled coffee, newly drilled ice fishing holes and lunch on the snow banks? Sounds like a perfect day for trying what winter in Skellefteå has to offer, doesn’t it? www.swenature.se

ICE FISHING ON FROZEN LAKES Put on snowshoes or forest skis and go out on the frozen lake.

Down by the water, we drill holes in the ice and put bait on the rods. Whilst we fish, mainly for brown trout and arctic char, but also pike and perch, we make lunch on griddles and over open fires. www.swea-eventguide.se

Photo: Ted Logardt

ON THE BACK OF A NORTH SWEDISH HORSE OR LYING BACK IN THE SLED Caribo is a place quite out of the ordinary, a genuine wilderness camp out in the great forest.

Curl up in the sled with reindeer pelts and blankets or sit up on horseback and let calm, safe North Swedish horses take you on a tranquil ride along small, wintery forest roads. www.campcaribo.se

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Close-ups with the grand nature as a backdrop.

Extreme golden eagle photography Text: Ted Logardt Photo: Conny Lundström

Imagine leaving all the stress and all the noise behind you for a couple of days, breathe the fresh winter air of the forest and meet its four-legged or winged residents eye to eye as you take on the role of nature photographer.

– Most people who come here are looking for the winter landscape, says Conny, carefully blowing on the hot coffee in his cup.

Conny is a wilderness photographer. Stationed in Kalvträsk and specialised in photographing the golden eagle. He has made a name for himself with his often extreme close-ups of the mighty birds.

– As long as you are careful, there is almost no limit to how close you can get, he says and tells the story of how he has photographed eagles, with a handheld camera, as close as barely half a metre – then using a wide-angle lens.

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– We normally take pictures at a distance of about six, seven metres – using a tele lens – if we’re doing portrait photography, but it is just as important to offer opportunities to photograph the animals in a genuine winter environment.

PROPER HIDES Nature photography is not simple. It requires a lot of preparation and knowledge about animals and the environment.

– Today, I have three eagle hides.

Conny tells us about his largest one, at the foot of the Vitbergen nature reserve.

– A log building with a toilet, a wooden stove and room for four photographers. It never really gets cold, no matter how harsh the winter cold may be.

He picks up his phone and shows a portrait of a golden eagle with white frost covering its feathers.

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

– A picture like that can only be taken at 35 degrees below zero. Conny tells us that one of his hides is completely new.

– Surrounded by 200 year old forest, on a sandy ridge between a lake and a marsh. It is roadless country. You need a boat or a snowmobile to get there.

NATURAL ENCOUNTERS Golden eagles are very territorial and will not gladly let other eagles on their turf.

– However, when the winter gets cold and food is more difficult to find, they often go on longer searches.

Many years ago, Conny photographed a young golden eagle from one of his hides. It was ringed and he managed to get a picture of the ring, telling him that the bird was native to Finland.

– It was roughed up by local territorial eagles and as it hopped over the marsh, badly battered, I thought to myself that I had probably seen it for the last time. Then, one morning, eight years later, I found an eagle sitting on the very same branch where the young golden eagle once sat. You know, golden eagles have their favourite branches. This time there were two eagles in the tree. It can’t be, I thought, but it turned out to be the same bird who had now met a mate and returned.

– Wildlife encounters are difficult to arrange, I think to myself, smiling.

Proper eagle hide.

INTERNATIONAL NATURAL EXPERIENCES The photographers who visit Conny are usually driven amateur photographers, often just as skilled, if not more skilled than many professional photographers.

– Semi-professionals, I guess you could say. They are incredibly dedicated and they know to appreciate the moments when everything falls into place.

In a way, Kalvträsk, just like Spitsbergen, the Great Barrier Reef and Yellowstone, has become famous amongst photographers all over the world for its unique natural experiences. It is the combination of extreme close-ups and fantastic natural environments, coupled with Conny’s immense skills, that make travelling photographers come to the small village.

– Almost everyone is struck by just how silent and how dark the forests up here can become. That darkness is not bad. In later years, both the Northern Lights and night photography have become increasingly sought-after experiences.

– Thanks to the fact that we have very little surrounding light where we operate, you will get fantastic opportunities to take pictures of the Northern Lights, the starry skies, all of the Milky Way actually.

Conny puts his empty coffee cup down on the table. Now he has been in civilisation for almost too long.

Read more about Conny Lundström and his photo experiences at www.connylundstrom.com Are you interested in more beautiful nature photography experiences in Skellefteå? Check out www.lantlivlodge.com

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Photo: Marcus Burman

Children in focus a r e a l r i g h t — the parents will be too. That is the truth of the day.

In Skellefteå, children and their parents have everything they need to enjoy themselves. In addition to all the outdoor activities, there are lots of fun indoor adventures. Activities ranging from curious visits to Sweden’s largest permanent LEGO exhibition to challenging adventures in the old closed down military command centre, Boda Borg – and everything in between. a s lo n g a s t h e k i d s

Eddahallen How about 10 swimming pools in total? One with an exciting mining and discovery theme for the youngest. One with an adjustable bottom for the real fighters. One with a climbing wall, edges to jump from and waves for the bravest. Last but not least, the full, competition-width pool for fastest and most enduring swimmers.

Photo: Ted Logardt

www.skelleftea.se/eddahallen

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DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Photo: Ted Logardt

Photo: Ted Logardt

Leo’s Lekland Leo’s Lekland is a dream for anyone who likes playing indoors. Lots of space, three floors of hanging bridges, ball pits, tunnels, slides and many other challenges, a mini-funland for the youngest. There is also a café with a child-friendly menu and a cosy parents’ lounge with TV, internet and wireless broadband. www.leoslekland.se

Bowling Bowlingkompaniet – sixteen lanes equipped with the very latest technology, night bowling with fluorescent lights accompanied by cool disco music and family bowling is just part of the concept. www.bowlingkompaniet.com

Golf- och skytteakademin (The Golfing and Shooting Academy)

From Rönnbäcken to St Andrews – with the very latest technology and 16 of the world’s most well renowned golf courses at your fingertips, you can play golf indoors all year round. The laser sensors in the state-of-the-art simulators measure the ball a whopping 100,000 times per second. All this data lets you follow the entire flight of your ball. The 3D graphics give an optimal picture of your swing from start to finish. The ‘swing analyser’ will give you maximum information from the club head and the ball.

Photo: Ted Logardt

es Activiti entire e h t for family

Photo: Golf- och skytteakademin

www.siga.nu

Challenges at Boda Borg A word to remember when you enter the rebuilt military command centre is quests. This is how it works at Boda Borg. You open doors. Behind each door is a challenge, four challenges form a quest – and these quests are yours to complete. That is the very essence of Boda Borg. An excellent group activity.

LEGO Center If you like LEGO, a visit to HB Adventure (LEGO Center) is an absolute must. Here you will find one of Sweden’s and the world’s the most extensive collections of LEGO Star Wars. The exhibition has more than 400 different LEGO Star Wars mini figures and more than 300 LEGO Star Wars kits. There are also exhibits of Star Wars landscapes such as Tatooine and Hoth. In addition to the Star Wars LEGO there are other kits such as Batman, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and many more exclusive kits on display. The store is known across Sweden for its reasonable prices and wide assortment.

Photo: Ted Logardt

www.bodaborg.se/skelleftea

www.hbadventure.se 13

Comfy shoes, good company and plenty of breaks

TAKE YOUR TIME TO DISCOVER SKELLEFTEÅ’S SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES w h at m a k e s a s h o p p i n g e x p e r i e n c e r e a l ly g r e at ?

on the go, to help you last all day, to a fine dining experience that will top it all off.

Shopping can be exhausting, often more so in terms of energy than in terms of money. Every real shopper knows this. Sooner or later you will need a longer, more extensive break because pauses only help up to a point. To make the rest as pleasant as you deserve it to be, it’s important that there are beds close by – and that they are comfortable. How else would you make it through the next day – and the one after that?

Do you agree that a mix of stores, a varied selection of places for spontaneous meetings and comfortable beds sound like something that will create a truly great shopping experience? Then, chances are good that you will like it in Skellefteå.

To put the icing on the cake, Skellefteå offers a pleasant atmosphere and friendly, helpful people everywhere. Enjoy your shopping!

Photo: Ted Logardt

There are probably as many answers to that question as there are people in Swedish Lapland. To some, it is all about finding that particular gadget or item of clothing at just the right price.

Others like being surprised by finding something they didn’t know that they wanted. No matter who we are, we can all agree that a great shopping experience is always fun and interesting.

Of course, you need the major, established chains, the ever-present fundamentals of the shopping experience. You will also find more personalised shops, being individual and catching you by surprise, becoming your ‘shopping mates’.

Well, how about places that encourage spontaneous meetings? With your fellow shoppers and with other people? Good, let’s add restaurants and cafés to the list of things that make the shopping experience really great. Everything from a café latte

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DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Four personal interior on decorati s boutique

Spets & ting Everything you need for beautiful interior decoration – Rigmor and her skilled, friendly staff will help you browse the extensive selection of curtains, gifts, clothing, jewellery and many other things.

Photo: Ted Logardt

Photo: Ted Logardt

www.spetsoting.se

Hemtrevnad At Hemtrevnad you will find interior decoration, textiles and clothes. There is a wide range of brands, from world leaders to small family businesses that add a wonderfully unique touch.

In a way it all started with a few pots. It quickly grew and today you will find things at Butik Udda that will make you smile. Such as beautiful jewellery, a comfy pillow or an aromatic tea. A hand-picked selection focused on conscious choices, green and sustainable ideas. www.butikudda.se

Ingmar Inredning

Photo: Patrick Degerman

Butik Udda

Photo: Ted Logardt

www.hemtrevnad.se

Here you will find interiors characterised by ebullient creativity and a rare attention to detail.

New, old and self-produced in all shapes and colours. Ingmar is the interior decoration boutique with that little something extra. www.ingmarinredning.se 15

A burning passion for lights A candle consists only of a wick and some stearin. Its light however, can spread so much warmth, cosiness and comfort. At the candle factory, Lowima in Skellefteå, the foundations for many a cosy winter evening are crafted.

As I enter Lowima, the candle factory on the outskirts of central Skellefteå, Mattias Wikström is stirring the large stearin water bath.

– Stearin melts at 65 degrees but at that point a tenth of a degree in either direction determines the properties it will have. Stearin is rather brittle but if you handle it correctly you can use it to create almost anything.

He nods in the direction of a 50 centimetre tall stearin shell standing on a workbench a bit further away.

– The idea is that you put a candle on the bottom. It creates a wonderfully soft and nice glow.

Mattias is a former ice hockey player. First in Skellefteå AIK and then professionally in Germany.

About five years ago, he hung up his skates and soon thereafter he realised his passion for candles.

Together with his wife Lollo he visited a candle factory in Norrbotten.

– We felt right away that this was something we wanted to do.

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Text & photo: Ted Logardt

Just a few weeks later, they had completed a crash course in candle making held by a stearin company in Stockholm – and purchased a quarter metric ton of stearin.

CARE AND ATTENTION Their only problem was they had neither facilities nor equipment.

– Over the years I have done quite a bit of experimentation to find out how best to create a stearin candle, says Mattias. In the beginning, I melted the stearin in a potato boiler from a retirement home and I had an experimentation studio in a storage shed in our yard.

On the second Sunday of Advent in 2013, Lowima opened their doors to the public.

– You might think that it took quite a long time but I’ve learned everything by myself and my motivation has always been to make really good stearin candles. That takes time.

SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN My question is then, what characterises a good candle.

– We work according to five criteria. First and foremost, all our candles should be healthy for humans and good for the environment. This means pure raw materials and 100 percent stearin.

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Stearin is obtained from fats and the stearin used

by Lowima consists of a minimum of 95% organic and vegetable fats.

– Today, many candles are made from animal fat, that is, meat processing by-products. Most mass-produced candles are largely made of paraffin, obtained from petroleum, a fossil fuel.

With a few exceptions, Lowima’s candles are white, for the simple reason that white candles burn better.

– The candles should have a functional form to help them burn as well as possible and this, by definition, makes them stylistically pure.

– Quite like Scandinavian design? I ask and Mattias nods in agreement.

UNIQUE SHAPES – A really good candle burns in a particular way.

They burn better, longer and with a brighter flame.

All that is left is a fine web pattern. Compare that to paraffin candles where you always get the characteristic ‘cave’ of residue. Stearin gives you more light per unit of volume.

All of Lowima’s candles are handmade. Or rather hand moulded. This means that no candle is identical to another. Mattias shows a candle that has been given character by the graininess of the wooden mould and then carefully blackened.

– We work a lot using wooden moulds. They give the candles a certain structure, imbuing our northern environment in them.

LIGHT IS HOT Mattias is also a big fan of upcycling and this shows, not least in the interiors.

– A lot of the furniture here is made from upcycled wood. Those crates, for instance, are made from the old façade of the Skellefteå Stadshotell and I have used discarded slate tiles from the old theatre as candle trays.

Then he stops and returns to the stearin water bath.

– Almost 65 degrees, he says and picks up the thermometer. Now it’s almost time.

Find out more about locally produced stearin candles and the Lowima candle factory at www.facebook.com/LowimaLjusfabrik

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Photo: Ted Logardt

A hit with the crowd

– YELLOW AND BLACK IN HEART AND SOUL

As Skellefteå AIK held their first practice this season, there were 5,998 spectators in the stands.

Each and every one excited. The arena can accommodate up to 6,001. This says something about Skellefteå.

– You can’t just stumble in here and think we’ll win”, says Siv as she adjusts the little AIK pin on her collar. No, victory takes plenty of preparation, like wearing the right jersey and making time to buy yourself a hot dog and cup of coffee before the game begins. You must also have time to walk around and meet people before the game begins, anything else means bad luck, she says.

Siv admits that she has showed up late once or twice. For instance, in the middle of the first period. That never ends well.

– Then we often lose and in a way that’s my fault.

Lina and Siv are colleagues. They talk a lot about ice hockey in general and Skellefteå AIK in particular, both between themselves and with their customers.

– Ice hockey is a way of socialising. Yeah, there really isn’t any situation where we don’t talk about hockey.

Whenever Siv is out travelling she always brings a Skellefteå AIK flag.

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– Always, she says. It’s important that it can be seen, wherever in the world I go. Last winter I hoisted it in the middle of the Amazon jungle.

Other than that it is always seen in France, at Tour de France and not rarely in Eurosport’s TV broadcasts.

– During the playoffs I often have a stomach ache.

Then it’s for real. But it’s a nice kind of aching.

Siv shows her necklace, a golden AIK emblem.

She got it in May 2013.

– It was magical, she says. We beat Luleå in the Swedish Championship finals. The tears of joy just wouldn’t stop.

When asked how the 2015/16 season will end, her answer is crystal clear.

– We will win the regular season and reach the finals, Siv says without hesitation. Playoffs are always uncertain but I think we’ll win.

– Of course we’ll win”, says Lina with a broad grin.

Tickets for Skellefteå AIK’s home games can be bought at the Skellefteå Tourist Centre amongst other places.

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S K EL L EFTEÅ

Find more events at www.visitskelleftea.se Illustration: Chrisian Epanya

More cool winter events in Skellefteå Västerbottensteatern

Västerbottensteatern in Skellefteå produces a wide range of plays for all ages. In the 2015–2016 winter season, there is a play about ice hockey called ‘Istid’ (‘Ice Age’) and the children’s play ’Papa Diop’s Taxi‘. The selection also contains youth performances by UngHästen, topical youth plays, after work programmes and a soup theatre – a theatre literally serving soup. The goal is to become Europe’s leading storytelling theatre.

Photo: Krister Hägglund

www.vasterbottensteatern.se

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Christmas Market at Nordanå

Welcome to a fantastic winter world during the traditional Christmas Market at Nordanå. Walk amongst the small red wooden houses and the stalls glistening with genuine crafts and spreading a feeling of the olden days. Enter Lanthandeln (The County Store) and warm yourself with Swedish fika, a light snack and something to drink, in the biting cold. Can you hear the bells?

Photo: Ted Logardt

www.skellefteamuseum.se

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The Skellefteå Pride Festival

A joyous and glamorous manifestation for the equality of everyone as the rainbow coloured Skellefteå Pride Parade moves through a wintery Skellefteå.

Photo: Ted Logardt

www.skellefteapride.se

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The Scandinavian Winter Swimming Championships

In 2016 a World Cup event and the Scandinavian Winter Swimming Championships will be held in Skellefteå. Last year, there were approximately 200 participants and this year the organisers hope to double that number.

Skellefteå is one of five cities in the world that have received the honour of organising a World Cup event.

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Berättarfestivalen

Stories that amuse and worry, strengthen and support, stories that raise questions and remind us of memories. Stories told on large and small stages, at schools and in libraries, at local history societies and in auditoriums, in the city and in smaller towns and villages. A smorgasbord of storytelling for all ages – from the world of fantasy and fiction to engaging biographical documentaries. Welcome to more than a hundred experiences in a week filled with the power of storytelling and the joy of listening!

Photo: Paulina Holmgren

www.darkandcold.com

www.berattarfestivalen.se

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Tuck in in style! our natural flavours. They come from a clean and healthy natural environment where fantastic raw ingredients have been allowed to grow at their own pace on their own terms.

Our characteristic ingredients all have a pure taste of our open cultural landscapes, wet marshlands and deep forests. Sometimes manifested in deep-fried reindeer lichen, accompanying a lightly smoked reindeer tartar at one of Skellefteå’s top restaurants. Other times in a jar of freshly made honey straight from the shelf, produced by some of the hard working bees in Skelleftehamn. Sometimes it is as simple as a cup of hot chocolate and a slice of homemade bread with a generous slice of Västerbotten cheese, in the snow, with the warmth of the winter sun in the clear blue sky. Or a fresh beer from a local brewery in the company of good friends.

All our natural flavours have something in common, they stem from a clean and healthy environment – and they will give you a memorable experience of Skellefteå.

On the next page you will find tips about restaurants where you can taste a piece of Skellefteå and Swedish Lapland. w e a r e v e ry p ro u d o f

Photo: Jonas Westling

Good company at the Stiftsgården restaurant.

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DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S K EL L EFTEÅ

Photo: Paulina Holmgren

BRYGGARGATAN BISTRO & BAR The goal of Bryggargatan is to offer pleasant and wellpresented meal experiences, primarily inspired by Northern Swedish and Icelandic flavours and raw ingredients. These are spiced with the kitchen’s own favourites. Partly influenced by the classical French kitchen, partly with tastes and influences from the rest of the world, Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Photo: Robert Nygren

Strandgatan 32 www.bryggargatan.se

r u o F

RESTAURANTS OFFERING A TASTE OF SWEDISH LAPLAND

RESTAURANG 6:E VÅNINGEN Restaurang 6:e våningen (the Sixth Floor Restaurant) in central Skellefteå.

Providing a cosy environment and an amazing view. The restaurant offers everything from simpler pub menus to fine dining in a pleasant atmosphere.

Trädgårdsgatan 8 • www.hotelvictoria.se

STIFTSGÅRDEN Photo: Patrik Stenlund

At Stiftsgården in Skellefteå, the meal is in focus. Based on classical Swedish food, they create meal experiences just as genuine as the manor housing the restaurant. The food is cooked using selected raw ingredients from the very best producers, with quality, pure flavours and local production being the keywords. The menus evolve around seasonal variations in availability and change continuously, as does the selection of wines.

Brännavägen 25 • www.stiftsgarden.se

Photo: Camilla Öjhammar

RESTAURANG NYGATAN 57 Restaurang Nygatan 57 is based around a simple philosophy, founded on the wealth of our surroundings, the forests, meadows, lakes and mountains. The kitchen is highly experienced and carefully selects the best raw ingredients for every season.

The food is then prepared with love, to give guests a memorable, uncomplicated culinary experience.

Nygatan 57 • www.nygatan57.se

Marked restaurants are listed in the 2015 edition of the Swedish White Guide.

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Photo: Paulina Holmgren

ALL SET FOR A

Night out in the city is all about having a really good plan – from beginning to end.

– If it’s me and the girls, we always start by eating something nice, says Josefin. On game days, we naturally go to one of the sports bars in the city, on other days we go for a really good restaurant.

In the last two years, Skellefteå’s nightlife has undergone something of a transformation. New restaurants, pubs and bars make Skellefteå feel trendier than ever before.

– There are many great places to meet in the city even after the stores have closed and my feeling is that people today socialise in a slightly different way than they used to. Take, for instance, all the different, flavoursome kinds of beer. After we’ve eaten, we often go to one of the pubs with a wide assortment of beer, to sample. Other times we focus on classic pub activities like pool or darts.

Josefin says that there’s now better mingling and a really great lounge atmosphere even earlier in the evenings. When the evening has turned into night, there are only two things left to do: good music and dancing all night.

– It really feels like Skellefteå’s nightlife has something for everyone.

a r e a l ly g r e at n i g h t o u t

Plan for a great night out in Skellefteå: • eat good food at a great restaurant*.

• try a beer you’ve never heard of at the Bishops Arms.

• play a game of pool at Old Williams.

• chit-chat at Carl-Viktor with classic troubadour music in the background.

• chill out with a pretty cocktail at Bryggargatan.

• dance all night at Brygg cc or sit back, relax and enjoy great entertainment at Verandan. *) Restaurant tips can be found on page 21.

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Find out more about sweet bars, cosy pubs and hot nightclubs at www.visitskelleftea.se DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S K EL L EFTEÅ

Toy Bonanza and history

A MEETING PLACE IN NORDANÅ

Toytech. The idea with Toytech is to use toys to inspire people to discover, explore and create. Who hasn’t had their fingers itch to pick a mechanical toy apart just to try to understand how it works?

Maybe you can find a new use for a toy or give it a new look. In the exhibition workshop you can also build your own toys – either build according to instructions or invent one of your own.

There is lots more to discover at Nordanå. Some of the absolute gems in Skellefteå, are the country store at the Skellefteå Museum and the Meijer Collection, displaying works by the artist, Sture Meijer from the early 1950’s until today. If all this culture makes you hungry, the restaurant Nordanågården is serving delightful lunches in an atmospheric environment.

More information about Skellefteå Museum and activities and exhibitions in the area can be found online at www.skellefteamuseum.se

Photo: Anna Gerdén

Nordanå is the cultural heart of Skellefteå. Here you will find the Skellefteå Museum, the Skellefteå Art Gallery and the Museum Anna Nordlander. Also, the picturesque Bonnstan, the 17th century church village, lies pretty much right next door to Nordanå. Add to that the important role that the area has played in the history of Skellefteå and it’s easy to understand why Nordanå has remained a popular meeting place to this day.

Here, people meet casually; in one of the exhibition galleries at one of the museums, over a cup of coffee at the café or out on the ice track with skates on their feet.

This winter, it’s also quite likely that there will be quite a lot of talking about toys in the area. Now, finally, questions are being raised: What is a toy really, how does a doll look on the inside and how is a steam engine built? Insightful answers to these questions are given by the travelling exhibition i n m a n y way s

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The oldest cross-country ski in the world Text & photo: Ted Logardt

To say that cross-country skiing was invented in the area around Skellefteå might not be entirely true. However, no one can dispute the fact that the oldest ski in the world was found in a marsh just outside the small village of Kalvträsk.

In past years, ditching was as natural as stump pulling and haymaking. Ditches were dug to increase available farmland and to improve forest growth.

In 1924 three men, Josef, Hugo and Tyko, were ditching a wetland area near the lake Fäbodträsket.

– They had no idea what they were going to find when they started digging that morning, says Owe with a grin.

In addition to being our guide, Owe is also a skiing enthusiast and a Kalvträsk resident since childhood.

– The ski that they found turned out to have been in the marsh for nearly 5,200 years, making it the oldest preserved ski to be found in the world, to this day.

PERFECT SNOW CRUST CONDITIONS We move across the white winter landscape at just the right speed. We travel on wide forest skis that carry well even on loose snow.

The place of the find lies approximately three kilometres from the village. This is where we’re going.

– The original ski was 204 centimetres long and just over 15 wide, says Owe. The ski pole, it had a shovel-like shape at the bottom, it was round at the top and measured 156 centimetres.

According to Ove, the most obvious differences to the skis of today is the fact that the Kalvträsk ski had no tips.

– It must’ve been difficult to manoeuvre unless the snow carried well.

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Today’s conditions however, are good enough to carry us practically anywhere.

SIBERIAN CONNECTION Owe is not using modern forest skis. Instead, he uses a pair of real Kalvträsk skis. Not the original of course, but a pair of replicas that he built in his workshop.

The only thing differing between Owe’s replicas and the original is the binding.

– I ran out of time so I had to opt for an emergency solution, says Owe, excusing his ‘snowshoe bindings’.

The original, however, had leather strap bindings. Bindings of the same kind that have been found in Siberia.

– This could indicate some kind of connection between Kalvträsk and the Russian forests.

Cave paintings of skiers, 14,000 years old, have been found in Altai. Maybe that’s how we once got here. Skiing through Siberia?

THE WORLD’S OLDEST No matter how you look at it, the Kalvträsk ski is impressively old. It’s older than both the Egyptian pyramids and the hanging gardens of Babylon.

This preservation of the world’s oldest ski throughout the millennia has a lot to do with the composition of the marshland.

– Deep down in the marsh, oxygen levels are incredibly low, meaning that the process of decay is almost completely halted, says Owe. Originally, there were two skis but one fell to pieces as the skis were being moved from the place of the find.

Today, the intact ski and the pole are on display at the Västerbotten County Museum in Umeå.

– If you’re happy to see a replica, you can visit us here in Kalvträsk.

In addition to being the location of the find, the village is home to a small museum dedicated to the Kalvträsk ski — Kalvträsk Historiska Museum.

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Are you more interested in skiing – cross-country or downhill? Take a look at the next spread.

A LASTING IMPRESSION We proceed slowly. Owe is happy to stop and tell stories. About the Kalvträsk ski, about the olden days, about the place.

Previous skiing experience is not a bad asset, but hardly required for a successful tour.

– Kalvträsk is a place with proud skiing traditions, says Owe. In 1963, the first Kalvträskloppet (the Kalvträsk Race) was organised in the region. A 60 kilometre ski run starting in Kalvträsk and finishing in Burträsk. The race was organised every year between 1963 and 2004.

When we arrive at the scene of the find, the storytelling rings out. Owe calmly makes a fire

and puts the soot pot (pot for boiling coffee over open fire) in place. He serves sausage sandwiches and homemade wheat buns.

– Of course, he then says, it’s far from certain that us Kalvträsk people would’ve been what we are today if not for the fact that Josef, Hugo and Tyko decided to frost ditch the marsh by Fäbodträsket on that morning almost 90 years ago.

There are plenty of stories to discover in Skellefteå and the Skellefteå Museum is an excellent place to start. Would you also like to follow the tracks of the Kalvträsk ski?

Find out more at www.visitkalvtrask.se 25

When the air is at its crispest snow and ice often define life in Skellefteå.

We build snowmen, roll snowballs that turn into snow lanterns, dig ourselves into snow banks, roll out reindeer pelts, pour hot chocolate into wooden cups and eat homemade sandwiches with thick slices of Västerbotten cheese.

We also ski. Downhill, uphill and cross-country. Or ride sledges.

Or snowboard. Sometimes we organise spontaneous ice hockey games. We might plough a rink on a frozen lake or put on our skates and go ice dancing with classical music and coloured lights.

Sometimes we go out in public to a nearby outdoor rink, or even the Skellefteå Kraft Arena. In a way it doesn’t really matter what we do, as long as it happens in the ice and snow and we get a hefty dose of icy fresh winter air whilst the cold gently nips our noses and cheeks.

Photo: Kaj Bjurman

during the winter

Vitbergsbacken

Cold facts

About two kilometres north of central Skellefteå you will find Vitbergsbacken. The slope has two lifts, two slopes and a very popular ‘fun park’ with jumps and rails. There is also a kiosk and a cafeteria. www.friluftsframjandet.se/skelleftea

The Vitberget Ski Stadium In the winter, the northern part of the Skellefteå Camping, the local campsite, is transformed into a ski stadium. Many Swedish Championship races have been run here and there are a variety of tracks, all with varying levels of difficulty, as well as long downhill stretches and tough climbs. www.skelleftea.se 26

Bygdsiljumsbacken In Bygdsiljum, 60 kilometres south of Skellefteå, the wishes of any downhill skier can come true. How about a snow cannon, 13 slopes, 4 drag lifts, one button lift, the longest slope is 1,350 metres and the maximum vertical drop is 125 metres.

All pistes are of differing difficulty. There is plenty of snow, a big jump, a skicross/fun park, mogul pistes and last but not least a sleigh slope. You will also find a ski cottage with a cafeteria and a kiosk. At the ski shop, you can rent, try and buy from a wide selection of snowboard, slalom and telemark equipment. www.bygdsiljumsbacken.se DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Photo: Ted Logardt

Nordanå Ice Track Central Park in New York has one, Kungsträdgården in Stockholm has one – of course, Nordanå in Skellefteå has one too.

An ice skating track – the Nordanå Ice Track. Bring your skates or rent a pair at the front desk and glide out over the ice, into the lights, accompanied by the sweet sound of music! www.skelleftea.se/nordanaisbana

Storklinta Ski Centre At Storklinta, just outside Jörn, you will find six slopes, three lifts and a 150 metre children’s slope. The vertical drop is 185 metres and the slopes are always well prepared. If you need to rent downhill equipment you can do it here. www.storklinta.se

More thrilling outdoor activities can be found at www.visitskelleftea.se

Photo: Patrick Degerman

Klutmarksbacken

The facility consists of three slopes as well as a trail on the outer edge of the family slope that runs out into the woods. The trail is primarily for snowboarding. The slopes are between 300-600 metres with a vertical drop of 110 metres. There is also a big jump and a rail, as well as a drag lift and a button lift for children. In the clubhouse, you will find a kiosk and a cafeteria. www.aks.nu

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Photo: Johannes Holmlund

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Photo: Ted Logardt

Photo: Johannes Holmlund

Moose safaris, pot-boiled coffee and ice cold swims Text: Ted Logardt

The cups are all handmade. They are unique and Catrin chooses carefully. She finally settles for one with a bone inset and an elaborate engraving. She holds up her cup and Thorbjörn pours the potboiled coffee.

Catrin is from Germany, southern Germany more precisely, from Cologne. She is one of about ten Germans who have never been farther north than where they are right now, in the forests surrounding Svansele and what is sometimes called Europe’s last wilderness.

A GRADUALLY EVOLVING WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE Even though it is midwinter, the wilderness exhibition will immediately give you an idea of the entire subarctic fauna. All animals are represented – from small willow warblers to golden eagles, wolverines and wolves. Thorbjörn is, as always, in a great storytelling mood. With great enthusiasm, he mixes anecdotes from his eventful life in the forests around Svansele with facts about the animals and their behaviour.

– What are those up to? a member of the group asks, pointing at a montage of three bears looking like they’re about to launch an old rowboat.

– They sure make you wonder”, says Thorbjörn.

This may well be my favourite montage in the entire exhibition.

SNOWMOBILES A snowmobile overall, rugged shoes, gloves and a helmet. Your own snowmobile too. Catrin gives a thumbs-up and positions herself on the snowmobile seat. She has, after all, never been on a snowmobile before.

A member of the group wonders about the chances of spotting elk. They are wild animals after all.

Thorbjörn laughs.

– You will probably never have a greater chance than you do here. »

Photo: Ted Logardt

The Svansele Wilderness Centre is in many ways a first step into what could be called Europe’s last wilderness. From an easy start with pot-boiled coffee, cinnamon buns and a guided tour of the wilderness exhibition, to a thrilling finish with an ice bath in the middle of nowhere.

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Photo: Ted Logardt

Catrin and her fellow travellers are of course not very used to manoeuvring snowmobiles through the Swedish Lapland winter landscape, however, they are fast learners and Thorbjörn helps anyone who needs it to get back on track.

SAFARI Thorbjörn raises his hand and everyone behind him stops. He has found tracks. Elk tracks. The curious group gathers around him. Thorbjörn points to black, round pellets in the snow.

– Moose droppings.

As a light snowfall begins, Thomas tells the group about how the elk in the north live their lives, how the cows reject the calves when they’re old enough to take care of themselves and that their favourite food is spruce sprouts. Someone in the group wonders if it will soon be time for the real deal.

– Yes, the snow tracks are in our favour, says Thomas and starts his snowmobile again.

MOOSE SPOTTED Suddenly they’re right there. The moose. Catrin, who rides first in the procession of snowmobiles is also 30

one of the first to notice Thorbjörn’s outstretched hand.

– An moose calf weighs no more than 15 kilos at birth but in the same autumn it can grow to weigh nearly 100 kilos, says Thorbjörn.

– Fantastic, Catrin says calmly, mother and daughter.

The moose are not noticeably affected by suddenly finding themselves in the limelight. Everyone in the group has plenty of time to take a look at the large animals amongst the pines.

– Moose in northern Sweden normally grow larger than moose living further south and a really large bull moose can weigh over 500 kilos, Thorbjörn continues.

DIFFERENT CHALLENGES At the wilderness camp there is no electricity. No running water or other modern conveniences. Torches flicker everywhere. It’s already dark outside and it’s not even four o’clock in the afternoon. There are rugged log tipis, a couple of cottages, a hot sauna and steaming outdoor baths.

In the main tipi, Thorbjörn has three muurikka griddle pans on the open fire. Fish on one, meat on the other, potatoes and vegetables on the third.

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Photo: Ted Logardt

Are you curious about the Svansele Wilderness Centre, the wilderness exhibition and the elk safari? www.svansele.se

Photo: Ted Logardt

– Just salt, he says as he puts the saltcellar down.

No other spices, there’s no need. The meat and the fish have plenty of natural flavour.

The mood in the tipi is quiet. The fire is crackling and the conversations are many but low-voiced.

Catrin sits in silence. Soon it will be time to return to life outside. To the city pulse in Cologne. To all the thousands of people who surround her every day, without her even thinking about it. In the forests surrounding Svansele there are no unknown people. Most things are different here.

Then someone says “Let’s have a sauna” and rises to their feet. The others slowly follow.

– Oh yeah, Thorbjörn says with a smirk, There is a slide from the sauna down to the river. I have cut a hole in the ice and lowered a ladder. If you’re up for it, that is.

Catrin smiles at him, to show that she accepts the challenge. If you are in Swedish Lapland for the first time and you have gradually been introduced to its wilderness, you have almost no choice but to try ice-bathing.

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Bathing in the winter

Photo: Flashpointevent

Photo: Anna Lindfors

En plats berättar – och du blir en del av historien

r winte e r o M es in c n e i r expe å lefte l e k S

Paintball – Swedish Lapland Style

Photo: Ted Logardt

The harsh winter climate of Swedish Lapland does not always allow for winter paintball but when temperature and snow depth are within the limits of the game, it’s insanely fun for you and your friends. Challenge yourself with warm clothes, snowsuits and markers as well as a hefty dose of fighting spirit – and make each other’s lives difficult on snow covered winter courses. www.flashpointevent.se

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Build an Igloo

Building an igloo takes about three hours – for a few people working together. You build it and then you sleep in it – because who wouldn’t want to spend the night in sleeping bags, on reindeer pelts, feeling the winter nip in their cheeks. www.swenature.se DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

or colleagues an experience for life, you should of course book a winter bathing course.

Skellefteå’s fascination with winter bathing has also resulted in regular winter swimming competitions. For the last four years, international championships have attracted participants from all over the world to Skellefteå. The participants often compete in water just 0.1 degrees ‘warm’ – at distances ranging between 25 and 200 metres using breaststroke and freestyle. The championships are held in early February every year.

In a way you could say that winter bathing is part of everyday life here. It’s a way to meet, to hang out. A winter bath can be taken any day of the week, in the central parts of the Skellefte River, somewhere along the long, snowy coastline or in a nameless forest lake in the middle of nowhere. You can go bathing midday, in the winter sun, or in the middle of the night under the dancing Northern Lights.

The society Mörkrets och Kylans Glada Vänner organises winter bathing courses in and around Skellefteå as well as the Vintersim swimming event. If you would like to take a winter bath along with the people of Skellefteå, you can do it on Sundays at the harbour in Kåge. You can find out more and book baths at other times at www.darkandcold.com

Photo: Johannes Holmlund

i n t h e o ry i t m i g h t n o t s o u n d like the best of ideas. A winter bath. Getting undressed as the thermometer shows -20 degrees, that sort of goes against all human wit and sense, however, once you have discovered that floating amongst snow slush and ice crystals is not that bad, you will experience the rush that embeds you in a warm, fuzzy feeling – and chances are you’ve become a winter bather for life.

Bathing outdoors in winter has been shown to have positive health effects. Studies claim that winter bathers have lower blood pressure, better resistance to cold and are more tolerant to stress – not to mention all the endorphins rushing through your body after a winter dip.

– It’s all about overcoming that first fear, learning to breathe easily and relax. Then you can lie there for a while with no problem whatsoever. The real endorphin rush comes as you get out of the water, says Lars Westerlund, winter bather and an active member of the society ‘Mörkret och Kylans glada vänner’ (‘the Happy Friends of the Cold and Dark’).

From January to April, the society operates two ice bathing locations, one at Kåge and one in Kusfors. If you’d like to give yourself or your friends

Airport Transfer by Snowmobile

Photo: Johannes Holmlund

Airport buses in Swedish Lapland Yeah, they exist… Airport taxis in Skellefteå? Yeah, sort of… in Skellefteå we take the snowmobile straight from the airport into town, sometimes all the way to the hotel. At Skellefteå Airport you will be given proper winter clothes, including shoes, gloves and helmets.

Professional snowmobile guides take you through a spectacular, frozen environment, from forest to city. You can either drive your own snowmobile or ride in pairs. www.tidy.se

Drivning on Ice

During the winter, lakes, mires and rivers freeze over, creating amazing conditions for true ice racing. At Svansele, we stud the wheels of ATVs, amongst them our famous Polaris RZR 800s and near the Wilderness Centre, we plough tracks on the ice. All set for a real adrenaline rush. www.svansele.se 33

Unique Stores

FOOD GOURMET BUTIK +46 (0) 910-77 88 25 Boviksvägen 7 Skellefteå www.food.se This boutique offers excellent raw ingredients such as tenderised meats, exciting olive oils, spices from all over the world and more.

HANDELSGÅRDEN +46 (0) 910-77 99 24 Stationsgatan 12 Skellefteå www.handelsgardenskelleftea.se Handelsgården is a gift and crafts shop in central Skellefteå, owned and operated by 13 artisans. Here you will find unique local Swedish Lapland products and great, personal service.

HEMTREVNAD +46 (0) 910-143 47 Nygatan 46, Skellefteå www.hemtrevnad.se Interiors, textiles and clothing both from world-leading producers and small family businesses.

INGMAR INREDNING +46 (0) 70-284 61 61 Nygatan 55, Skellefteå www.ingmarinredning.se Skellefteå’s number one interiors store. Here you will find things old, new and self-produced in all shapes and colours. Ingmar is the interior decoration boutique with that little something extra.

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LEGO CENTER +46 (0) 70-377 74 48 Köpmangatan 12 Skellefteå www.hbadventure.se One of Sweden’s best selections of LEGO at reasonable prices.

We also have one of the largest LEGO exhibitions in the world that you must not miss.

LJUDSHOPEN +46 (0) 910-136 00 Nygatan 61, Skellefteå www.ljudshopen.se A personal store that gives personalised advice and customer service. Offers possible audio and video experience within the limits of your budget. The store has three separate sound rooms, giving you optimal conditions for listening to and trying out various products.

LOCAL STORE +46 (0) 73-810 91 01 Citykompaniet, Skellefteå www.thelocalstore.se Clothes store for lads, dudes, men and boys featuring, amongst other things, T-shirts with local prints from Skellefteå.

Photo: Ted Logardt

SKAFFERIET +46 (0) 910-134 44 Nygatan 57 www.nygatan57.se Delicacies from all over the world as well as selected, exciting, organic products from our local producers.

SPETS & TING +46 (0) 910-108 08 Nygatan 33, Skellefteå www.spetsoting.se Everything you need for beautiful interiors, the latest in curtains, interiors and gift articles from well-known brands.

SPORT CITY +46 (0) 910-159 01 Nygatan 55, Skellefteå www.sportcity.se

The outdoors store focusing on quality with a personal selection from leading brands. Sport City is a store with expert staff and a good eye for all individual outdoor life needs.

Photo: Ted Logardt

BUTIK UDDA Nygatan 35 Skellefteå www.butikudda.se A hand-picked selection focused on conscious choices, green and sustainable ideas.

KOTTESHOPPEN +46 (0) 910-20 03 68 Torget 10, Bureå www.kotteshoppen.se Fun and inspiring high quality, genuine designer children’s clothes, all well-known brands.

Kotteshoppen.se is an online shop featuring cool clothing brands, baby clothes and toys.

Photo: Johan Gunséus

Skellefteå offers plenty of shopping opportunities and an interesting mix of chain stores and things you that won’t find in other cities.

Here are some examples of stores which you will only find in Skellefteå.

LOWIMA LJUSFABRIK +46 (0) 70-818 00 40 Bergrummet, Boviksvägen www.ljusfabriken.se 100 percent pure stearin candles, locally produced.

NORDANÅ CAFÉ OCH BUTIK +46 (0) 910-73 55 10 Nordanå Kulturområde Skellefteå www.skelleftea.se/kultur The shop offers products for old and young alike. Photos of the Skellefteå area, as well as local design, arts and crafts.

Products associated with the region and with current exhibitions.

DE ST I NAT I ONS OF SW E DI S H L A PL A ND S KEL L EFTEÅ

Accommodation Hotels

B&B & Hostels MARINA’S HOTELL +46 (0) 913-301 30 Uttersjöbäcken 231, Lövånger www.marinas-se.com

BURTRÄSK VÄRDSHUS +46 (0) 914-106 00 Kamvägen 7, Burträsk www.burtraskvardshus.se

MEDLEFORS +46 (0) 910-575 00 Medleforsvägen 2, Skellefteå www.medlefors.se

BYSKE GÄSTGIVARGÅRD +46 (0) 912-612 30 Hotellgatan 6, Byske www.byskegastgivargard.se HOTELL AURUM +46 (0) 910-883 30 Gymnasievägen 12, Skellefteå www.hotellaurum.se HOTELL STENSBORG +46 (0) 910-105 51 Vinkelgränd 4, Skellefteå www.hotell-stensborg.se HOTEL VICTORIA +46 (0) 910-174 70 Trädgårdsgatan 8 6tr, Skellefteå www.hotelvictoria.se

Hostels, Bed & Breakfast and other accomodation.

Photo: Edoardo Miola

BEST WESTERN MALMIA HOTEL +46 (0) 910-73 25 00 Torget 2, Skellefteå www.malmia.se

QUALITY HOTEL SKELLEFTEÅ STADSHOTELL +46 (0) 910-71 10 60 Stationsgatan 8, Skellefteå www.skellefteastadshotell.se RUM FÖR RESANDE +46 (0) 910-100 26 Klockarbergsvägen 1, Skellefteå www.rumforresande.se SCANDIC HOTEL +46 (0) 910-75 24 00 Kanalgatan 75, Skellefteå www.scandichotels.se/ skelleftea

LANTLIV LODGE +46 (0) 70-55 33 377 +46 (0) 916-210 55 Österjörn www.lantlivlodge.com

B&B GRÄNDEN +46 (0) 72-222 24 18 Magasinsgränd 4, Skellefteå B&B KOIGARDEN +46 (0) 70-395 50 54 Ostvik 164, Kåge www.koigardenostvik.se

LÖVÅNGER KYRKSTAD +46 (0) 913-102 03 Kungsvägen 31, Lövånger www.lovangerkyrkstad.se

BRUNNSGÅRDEN B&B +46 (0) 70-293 45 24 Kyrkstadsvägen 16, Skellefteå www.brunnsgarden.org

STENMARKS LANTBOENDE +46 (0) 70-313 56 52 Svarttjärn 24, Skellefteå www.stenmark.webs.com

HÄKTET I LÖVÅNGER +46 (0) 70-576 88 67 Kungsvägen 29, Lövånger www.haktetlovanger.se

Cabins & camping AKTIV I NORR +46 (0)70-567 70 92 +46 (0)76-047 18 13 Selet Byske www.aktivinorr.se

STIFTSGÅRDEN +46 (0) 910-72 57 00 Brännavägen 25, Skellefteå www.stiftsgarden.se

KVARNDAMMENS VILDMARKSCAMP +46 (0) 70-566 97 43 +46 (0) 70-672 00 29 Kalvträsk www.kalvtrask.se

VILLA INSIKT +46 (0) 70-5894154 Innansjön 38, Burträsk www.villainsikt.se

Photo: Marcus Burman

KNUTES HOTELL +46 (0) 915-210 03 Svansele 67, Boliden www.svansele.se

STF VANDRARHEM SKELLEFTEÅ +46 (0) 910-72 57 00 Brännavägen 25, Skellefteå www.stiftsgarden.se

Winter stays BYGDSILJUMSBACKENS STUGBY & CAMPING +46 (0)70-271 66 13 Bygdsiljum www.bygdsiljumbacken.se

BYSKE HAVSBAD +46 (0)912-612 90 Bäckgatan 40, Byske www.byskehavsbad.se

STORKLINTA CAMPING +46 (0)70-281 11 10 Storklinta www.storklinta.se

SKELLEFTEÅ CAMPING +46 (0)910-73 55 00 Mossgatan www.skellefteacamping.se

Find more comfortable accomodation alternatives at www.visitskelleftea.se 35

RESTAURANG TATUNG +46 (0) 910-193 22 Torget 4, Skellefteå www.tatung.se/skelleftea

Restaurants

SCANDIC HOTEL RESTAURANG +46 (0) 910-75 24 00 Kanalgatan 75, Skellefteå www.scandichotels.com/ skelleftea

ALLSTAR +46 (0) 910-109 10 Torget 2, www.allstarbar.se/skelleftea

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BRYGG CLUB +46 (0) 910-21 16 50 Strandgatan 32 Skellefteå www.bryggcc.se Brygg club is a night club perfect for mingle, dancing or hanging out in the lounge.

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BRYGGARGATAN BISTRO & BAR +46 (0) 910-21 16 50 Strandgatan 32, Skellefteå www.bryggargatan.se

VERANDAN KÖK & BAR +46 (0) 910-71 10 60 Stationsgatan 8, Skellefteå www.verandan.se

AINAS CAFÉ +46 (0) 910-153 50 Östra Nygatan 70, Skellefteå www.ainascafe.se

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BURTRÄSK VÄRDSHUS Kamvägen 7, Burträsk www.burtraskvardshus.se

ALHEMS TRÄDGÅRD +46 (0) 910–120 00 Nygatan 62, Skellefteå www.alhemstradgard.se Italian ice cream servered at what is probably Europe’s northernmost authentic gelateria.

+46 (0) 914-106 00 MARINAS RESTAURANG & CAFÉ +46 (0) 913-301 30 Uttersjöbäcken, Lövånger www.marinas-se.com

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THE BISHOPS ARMS +46 (0) 910-21 17 60 Torget 6, Skellefteå www.bishopsarms.com

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STIFTSGÅRDEN +46 (0) 910-72 57 00 Brännavägen 25, Skellefteå www.stiftsgarden.se

BISTRO A +46 (0) 910-171 44 Citykompaniet, Skellefteå www.fazer.se/restauranger--cafeer/menyer/bistro-a-skelleftea/

BRYGG CAFÉ +46 (0) 910-21 16 80 Strandgatan 32, Skellefteå www.bryggcc.se

ESPRESSO HOUSE +46 (0) 10-510 12 94 Nygatan 47, Skellefteå www.espressohouse.com

CAFÉ KANEL +46 (0) 910-77 75 00 Hörnellgatan 12, Skellefteå

OLANDERS CAFÉ & KÖK +46 (0) 910-77 78 78 Nygatan 63, Skellefteå olanderscafe.dinstudio.se

CAFÉ PÅ BIT +46 (0) 76-246 23 15

Storgatan 31 Skellefteå www.cafepabit.se

CAFÉ LILLA MARIE +46 (0) 910-391 92

Köpmangatan 13 Skellefteå

CAFÉ LILLSTUGAN

Lövånger Kyrkstad +46 (0) 913-102 03 Kungsvägen 31, Lövånger www.lovangerkyrkstad.se

SOCIETY CAFÉ +46 (0) 72-506 59 26 Köpmangatan 8, Skellefteå www.facebook.com/pushcafe.se

O’LEARYS, THE SPORTS BAR +46 (0) 910-79 63 08 Kanalgatan 31, Skellefteå www.olearys.se

STIGS KONDITORI +46 (0) 910-103 02 Karlgårdsvägen 15, Skellefteå www.stigs.nu

Photo: Ted Logardt

NORDANÅGÅRDEN +46 (0) 910-533 50 Nordanå, Skellefteå www.nordanagarden.se

RESTAURANG 6:E VÅNINGEN +46 (0) 910-174 70 Trädgårdsgatan 8 6tr www.hotelvictoria.se

WESTMANS CAFÉ & BAR +46 (0) 914-200 10 Robertsforsvägen 2, Bygdsiljum www.westmanscafe.se

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RESTAURANG NYGATAN 57 +46 (0) 910-134 44

Nygatan 57, Skellefteå www.nygatan57.se

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Photo: Ted Logardt

Below is a selection of restaurants and cafés in Skellefteå.

Photo: Ted Logardt

Restaurant, bars & cafés

We’ll guide you to the best eateries and producers, Swedish Lapland’s culinary gems. Places where you can enjoy meals prepared from ingredients that are gathered locally, or where you can buy local produce to take with you.

Pizzerias, hamburger bars, lunch restaurants, cafés, etc. can be found at www.visitskelleftea.se

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Photo: Ted Logardt

Activities & Sights Below is a selection of activities available in Skellefteå.

BODA BORG +46 (0) 910-70 12 70 Vitberget 10, Skellefteå www.bodaborg.se The closed-down military command centre is full of challenges for the entire family.

BOWLINGKOMPANIET +46 (0) 910-71 00 73 Gymnasievägen 14, Skellefteå www.bowlingkompaniet.com

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FLARKEN ADVENTURE +46 (0) 73-385 85 33 Flarken 2, Boliden www.flarkenadventure.com Go out into the wilderness with your own dogsled.

HB ADVENTURE Tfn 070-377 74 48 Kåge hamn www.hbadventure.se Winter bathing at the harbour in Kåge.

LEGO CENTER +46 (0) 73-818 48 93 Köpmangatan 12, Skellefteå www.hbadventure.se Home to the largest permanent LEGO exhibition in the world.

FLASHPOINT EVENTS +46 (0) 70-297 84 22 Åbyn 41, Byske www.flashpointevent.se Snowy paintballing in the style of Swedish Lapland.

LANTLIV LODGE +46 (0) 916-210 55 Österjörn 13, Jörn www.lantlivlodge.com Genuine photography experiences in a northern environment.

LEOS LEKLAND +46 (0) 910-20 05 05 Gymnasievägen 20 www.leoslekland.se

LAPPLAND EMOTIONS +46 (0) 72-555 73 36 Svansele 463, Boliden www.facebook.com/lappland. emotions Dogsledding and close encounters with Marie-Line and Arnaud’s huskies.

NORDANÅ ICE TRACK +46 (0) 910 73 55 10 Nordanå kulturområde, Skellefteå Ice track with lights and music.

FOTOSKOLA OCH GALLERI +46 (0) 70-621 41 32 Yttervägen 28, Boliden www.facebook.com/Fotoskolaochgalleri

CARIBO +46 (0) 73-830 75 33 Hemmistjärn www.campcaribo.se www.caribo.se

Horse and sleigh, riding tours and exciting group activities in the big forest.

DARK AND COLD +46 (0) 70-204 62 94 www.darkandcold.com Safely enjoy winter bathing together with experienced instructors.

GOLF OCH SKYTTEAKADEMIN +46 (0) 70-311 11 41 Gymnasievägen 14 B, Skellefteå www.siga.nu

EDDAHALLEN +46 (0) 910-73 50 00 Norrvallagatan 1, Skellefteå www.skelleftea.se/eddahallen Fun indoor swimming for the entire family.

GREY MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE +46 (0) 70 270 63 78 Gråberg, Skellefteå www.facebook.com/GreyMountainAdventure Dogsled tours.

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Activities & Sights RASCAL HUSKIES +46 (0) 73-821 09 91 Norra Yttervik, Skellefteå www.rascalhuskies.se Family-friendly dogsledding near the city. Children from age 5 and upwards can try driving their own sled.

SKELLEFTEÅ MUSEUM +46 (0) 910-73 55 10 Nordanå kulturområde Skellefteå www.skellefteamuseum.se Skellefteå Museum is the place where past, present and future meet. In the same building you will also find Museum Anna Nordlander, Skellefteå Art Gallery and the Meijer Collection.

SWENATURE +46 (0) 70-397 00 97 Forsbacka www.swenature.se Outdoor experiences such as igloo building, snowshoe hikes and ice fishing.

Photo: Skellefteå Turistbyrå

SVANSELE VILDMARKSCENTER +46 (0) 915-210 03 Svansele 67, Boliden www.svansele.se Complete winter experiences with activities such as elk safaris, wilderness experiences, a wilderness exhibition and driving on ice.

SWEA EVENT & GUIDE +46 (0) 70-686 85 11 www.swea-eventguide.se Genuine outdoor experiences on snowshoes or forest skis. Ice fishing also available.

TIDY EVENT +46 (0) 910-180 69 Trädgårdsgatan 17, Skellefteå www.tidy.se Guided snowmobile tours, snowmobile airport transfer.

For more information about ski trails, ski slopes and other exciting winter activities, please visit www.visitskelleftea.se

VISIT KALVTRÄSK +46 (0) 70-219 49 41 Kalvträsk www.kalvtrask.se WILDSHOTS SWEDEN +46 (0) 70-689 71 97 Vitbergen, Kalvträsk www.connylundstrom.com True winter experiences focusing on eagle and nature photography.

Visitors information No matter where you’re from, you’re always welcome in Skellefteå. At the Skellefteå Tourist Office we provide personal service and we’ll be pleased to help you to get the most out of your visit. We have tickets to events in Skellefteå, souvenirs, fishing licences and mementos and other items from Skellefteå. Welcome in!

Skellefteå Turistbyrå, Trädgårdsgatan 7, Skellefteå. +46 (0)910-45 25 10, email: info@visitskelleftea.se

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Welcome to Sweden’s northernmost destination!

In Swedish Lapland you will find unique arctic experiences. Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, here high up by the Arctic Circle, you can experience seasons with great contrasts between polar nights with sparkling northern lights in a white winter landscape and warm summers filled with swimming and hundred days without night under the midnight sun. In the east – a 300-km coastal stretch facing the world’s largest brackish water archipelago, with thousands of islands. Sandy beaches, fishing camps and unique produce. In the west – vast mountains, brooks with water so clean you can drink from them and lots of adventures around the corner. In between the quiet, enigmatic, open-handed forest and river valleys from Skellefte River in the south to Torne River in the north-east, all with their unique distinctive characteristics to offer. Traditions and cultures are strong here, and love of nature is even stronger. This is our everyday-life, and we invite you to share it with us. www.swedishlapland.com Discover more from Skellefteå at: www.visitskelleftea.se instagram.com/visitskelleftea facebook.com/visitskelleftea facebook.com/skellefteaswedishlapland 40

Idea, text & graphic design: Swedish Lapland Visitors Board & Visit Skellefteå. Copy: Ted Logardt. Illustrated map: Lisa Wallin/Märkvärdig. Cover photo: Ted Logardt. www.swedishlaplandvisitorsboard.com

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