O-Ringen Magazine, nr 1 - 2022

FOTO NICLAS LIDSTRÖM
O-Ringen is finally
arriving in Åre!
See you in 2023
– to the mountains!
The mountain Åreskutan, reaching to 1420 m above sea
level, will welcome those making the journey to Åre. With
it’s rich history, Åre village has attracted visitors for
hundreds of years, growing into a year-round destination.
In summer 2023, O-Ringen will also make it’s mark in
Åre’s history.
A thousand years of tourism
Visitors have been making their way to Åre since the year 1100.
Thousands of European pilgrims passed through Åre on foot on
their way to Saint Olav’s grave in Nidaros, that today forms part
of Trondheim. The route can be undertaken on foot even today,
as a hiking trail follows the pilgrim’s footsteps, starting on the east
Baltic coast at Selånger, just outside Sundsvall, to Trondheim in the
west. What started as a farming village developed into an international
tourist resort, at least in part thanks to the clean mountain
air. The mountain air was thought to be beneficial for the ill and
» Facts ÅRE
INHABITANTS: Åre by 1400,
Åre kommun 12 100.
LIFTS: 42 during winter/5
during sommer.
WALKING TRAILS: 40 trails,
in total around 346 km
DOWN HILL TRAILS: 34 trails,
in total around 40 km.
NUMBER OF BEDS: 42 000.
the so-called “air-guests” were given the opportunity to participate
in activities such as hiking, hunting and fishing. It was actually as
last as the 1970s when Åre began to attract a similar number of visitors
in winter as in summer. In the 1970s Sweden was hit by skiing
fever and ski resorts exploded in parallel with Ingemar Stenmark’s
achievements on the international stage. The ”kabinbanan” cable
car was constructed in 1976 which brought a drastically increased
capacity to the life system.
Year-round destination
Although the winter season has been dominant in attracting visitors
to Åre in recent decades, summer tourism has also exploded
in the village in recent years. Hiking, mountain running, downhill
and cross-country mountain biking, white-water rafting and
a whole host of other sports have turned Åre into an adventure
paradise for the whole family. Åre also offers a broad choice of
accommodation and restaurants, from 5-star hotels to cosy hostels,
street food to fine dining.
After postponement of O-Ringen Åre for two years, planning
for the event in the Swedish mountains in summer
2023 is finally underway.
– It has been challenging for various reasons, but the
pandemic has given us room for manoeuvre and a chance
to develop the concept, explains Niclas Lidström, project
manager for O-Ringen Åre 2023.
– The initial idea was for O-Ringen Åre to take place in 2021, but
the pandemic postponed the event for not just one but two years.
Despite the pandemic, planning for the event in Åre has continued
and many things have had to be done not once but twice.
However, things are looking up, and there is confidence that the
event will be able to take place as planned in the summer of 2023.
– The postponements have caused us to move two stages from
Åre Björnen, because the landowners for the land where we would
have had the arena have now started to build a climbing facility.
This meant we had to really rethink our plans, Niclas explains.
Three stage areas
The two stages in Åre Björnen have been replaced with one stage
in Järpen and another stage in Ånn. Now O-Ringen Åre will be
arranged as follows:
• Stage 1 & 2: Trillevallen
• Stage 3: Järpen
• Stage 4 & 5: Ånn
– We are very content with these three areas that we will run in.
The cartographers and course planners are very satisfied. Now we
hope that all participants who come up to Åre in the summer of
2023 and take part in O-Ringen will be too, says Niclas.
Campsite also in Åre
Although there will be a smaller campsite in Järpen, and that the
rest of the accommodation will be spread out over the Åre valley,
the competition centre will be located in Åre village. The O-Ringen
square will be established around Holiday Club, and many
activities, including the Youth relay and Elite sprint, will be held in
Åre village.
– Åre is a wonderful location even in the summer. Taking the lift
up the mountain, Åreskutan, or hiking or taking the bike up will
be a fun experience for orienteers as well.
Competitors will not be able to take cars to the event stages; but
a bus shuttle service will be offered. Four bus lines will operate
from two satellite car parks, in Duved and Undersåker, to shuttle
participants to the events.
– O-Ringen Åre is a fantastic project to work with. Our volunteers
are working hard to create a great event for the competitors,
and for the first time we have several Norwegian clubs involved in
the organisation.
What can participants expect to experience
when they come to Åre in summer 2023?
– They can expect fantastic terrain, scenic run-ins and arenas, and
of course challenging courses. But above all I hope that they will
discover that there is so much more to see and do in Åre valley and
Jämtland, Niclas Lidström concludes.
58 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NR 1 • 2022 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NR 1 • 2022 59
Åre torg.
A nice place for the arena in Ånn.