Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange in Sweden: Mountain Biking

Our base of operations for participants from Finland, Ireland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands was the wonderful Hotel Funäsdalen, which has provided a welcoming atmosphere in the mountains for nearly seven decades. On the first day, our brilliant guide Louise led us in exploring the rugged beauty of the Tänndalen area. We picked up our bikes at the Tänndalen ski resort and began pedaling toward the tree line. The ascent was definitely challenging, but the Arctic scenery at the top was a well-earned reward. From there, we rolled down to enjoy lunch at Sweden’s oldest mountain lodge, Fjällnäs.

After lunch, we met with Rasmus Bent from Tänndalen, who showed us the work being done to develop bike trails in their ski resort area as a way to maintain year-round employment. Bent explained that the development began with a very small budget—and that, even as CEO, he learned how to operate an excavator. He admitted that they built some great tracks early on, but also made plenty of mistakes. Still, his message to aspiring entrepreneurs was clear: keep developing, even if a large-scale investment isn’t possible at first.

Back in Funäsdalen, we enjoyed some well-earned “after-bike” and listened to a presentation by the Destination Funäsfjellen, which highlighted the importance of collaboration among businesses in the region.

The second day began with a drive to Lofsdalen, where we met our guides Kalle and Alex. This time we were equipped with full-suspension e-bikes to help us tackle the ups and downs of Lofsdalen Trail Park. At the "central hub," we paused for lunch—delicious grilled burgers—before setting off on the park’s signature trail, which led all the way up the fell before descending back to the hub for some well-deserved Swedish cinnamon buns.

During the ride, we learned about the park's development and the company’s environmental efforts to reduce the impact of trail construction on the fragile Arctic fell ecosystem. According to our trail building expert Kalle, mountain bikers constantly seek new trails, and to ensure repeat visits, there always needs to be something new to discover. The trail park addresses this by reconstructing existing trails rather than opening new ones, further minimizing environmental impact.

Eventually, it was time to make our final descent on Lofsdalen Bike Park’s signature trail, which twisted through the woods within the ski resort area and ended at their brand-new facility. There, we toured the building which houses bike pass and school sales, a boutique, rentals and equipment maintenance, and offices. We also had the pleasure of learning about Lofsdalen Resort’s operations and hearing from the Destination Lofsdalen. They agreed that mountain biking has significantly transformed their operations and helped establish Lofsdalen as a true year-round destination.

The evening and grand finale of our learning experience took place at the charming Uppvallens Fäbod, a historic hut and sauna from the 1800s, where we enjoyed a traditional sauna and the heartfelt hospitality of our hosts. During our final meal, participants reflected on their learning journey and exchanged ideas and contact details for future collaboration.

The SUB team is incredibly grateful to all participants for making the three learning exchanges such meaningful and enjoyable experiences.