The season began at what has become customary, at Walpurgis weekend. Winter and summer meet, skiing, biking and partying in a wonderful mix.

From the beginning of June the lift World Cup was open daily which was a huge success and kick started the season for real. From midsummer we open the rest of the park as usual.

Another success was the “extended play” on Friday nights, which especially pleased all the local riders who could take a couple of runs after work.

Åre Bike Festival continues to grow and the organizers Åre Bergscyklister is doing a great job filling up the week with cool events for all riders.

During the peak season from early July to mid-August, we open more lifts to ease the pressure on particular the cable car. Using the lifts VM8:an and the Gondola has become a necessity nowadays.

Maxi Avalanche visited us for the fourth consecutive year. This French Cup in the format "marathon downhill with a mass start" growing from year to year. 150 riders with half the starting field foreign riders have become a real happening in the Swedish downhill season. Not just among hardcore racers but also among ordinary cyclists who like to ride downhill and compete against their friends.

The season ended with the Swedish and Nordic Cup finals in Downhill at the beginning of October. Fears were that this would be too late in the season but it worked really well.

Photo: Alexander Bello

We also opened new biking trails in summer. Getrappet actually opened during the final weekend in 2010, but for most riders it was a new trail. In addition, during the summer we built a whole new section of the trail that is really good. During the summer we also opened the brand new trail Månskogen, which together with Getrappet forms a superb long ride of over four kilometers down the mountain. It quickly became a really popular line that will be even better next season. We have continued to build and improve Månskogen after the season ended.

Another project that had its premiere this season was the green line Bräckesvängen and Långsvängen. These two trails make it possible to get down to the lift VM8:an even if you prefer to ride green trails.

But this summer's big projects have been Easy Rider. We built the trail Easy Rider in 2006 and it has been in need of a major overhaul in a couple years now. Therefore, it feels really good that we have been able to do this mammoth project, renovating and rebuilding this classic. Many have been able to test the newly renovated sections as the trail has never been closed for this job, but it will be perceived as something completely new for most people coming here next summer. Besides that everything is renovated, we have also redirected the line in several places and we will continue to work on the trail an additional month as soon as possible this spring. The upcoming spring we will build a whole new section and the entire trail will be approximately five kilometers long when completed. If we were a little ashamed of this trail the last few seasons we now really recommend it to all our guests. A completely different flow, better adapted to the severity of blue (intermediate) and fabulous in every way with their length and location on the top part of the mountain.

While we worked on Easy Rider we also improved and extended Hällrajd, a novelty that remain to be discovered for many of our guests next summer.

Other things that happened since we closed for the season are that we have done some work on the last section of Shimano, a job that is still ongoing. The idea is that the section will be more fun, and look like the rest of the trail.

 Keep on digging... 

Now it is three weeks sins we close for the season. It takes time to summarize everything.

We have been open 138 days. The number of riding days in Åre Bike Park was 21,000, an increase of almost 25%. Despite this, however, the trails held together better than in previous years. Obviously this statement is subjective, but I know many of you agree. The reason for this are many, including favorable weather during the preseason when we put everything in order, but above all because of the talented, dedicated and experienced coworkers who are passionate about Åre Bike Park to be in the highest possible quality at all times.

Thanks to everyone who ridded here this summer, thanks to all who worked this summer and thanks everyone else who makes the summer season great in Åre.

We now aim towards the season 2012. Much remains to decide in terms of opening hours, prices, events, etc. For my part, things change a bit. I will put more focus on the bike trail and dropping the overall function, which from now on really should be disseminated to the various departments within Skistar.

So the last post on the web site from me. See you on the trails next summer.

Ulf