Narvik and Riksgransen, Abisko Wildlands
So, with the end of fwq events i thought what the heck let's finish with competitive
freeride now and go and enjoy the end of the season with a bank slalom and just
riding in the winter sun, The next stop was Riksgransen, Northern Sweden and a
return back to arctic Norway, Narvik where it all started earlier in December
2014.
Narvik looks completely different without the snow, A lot more concretey and square, I guess the lack of snow lost most of it's ski townish look and charm, The first time i arrived it was -28 and i really felt i was really out there in the middle of nowhere, But after becoming familiar with the place i was a little less excited about spending more time there and especially after finding out the local resort closed a week earlier before i arrived which completely sucked half my spirit right out straight away. I really planned to come back and ride the local mountain but with the earlier closure the only option was to spend most of the time over in Swedish Lapland in the resort of the bank slalom event, Riksgransen . I'm going to get this out of the way soon so it doesn't sound like i'm having some ultra rant, After my previous trip over the border, I already decided i don't like Sweden or the atmosphere, So i wasn't expecting too much northern hospitality once i arrived in Riksgransen and sure enough i didn't get it for pretty much the entire time i was there plus i got severely burnt with the deal we had on our event package which ended up costing me like almost as much as it would to stay for an entire week rather than 3 days, For a snowboarder in like one of the most expensive resorts and places on earth this is bad news and you can imagine i was already a lil pissed before i even strapped in a snowboard.
Riks was kind of hyped up to be this mecca all-time place to ride, The terrain is definitely around and there are some great natural features conveniently sitting next to the lifts but in honesty it's nothing you can't do anywhere else in any other resort in Europe for much cheaper, I was a little bored after 2 days and i had already lapped most of sidecountry accessible terrain from the lifts, In fairness there are tons of other options around for touring but it wasn't really that kind of trip for me. There are no really steep or long lines, Most of the terrain is fairly mellow with some feature drops to look out for, The skiers were really charging those drops, I seen one guy straight up go full speed over a huge cliff with a sideways landing and another cliff underneath which was really sketchy, freaking nuts guy!! but he made it and did it in style in the end.
the Swedish are pretty known to be a little cold but there was defo some localism /crewism going on up there, The only real peeps i had a decent talk with were other international riders who also felt the same bad atmosphere of the place which was kind of a shame because it had the potential to really go off as an end of year celebration of riders from around the world but turned out to be a Swedish gathering for swedes only, We pretty much all said the same thing too in that well it was hyped up, We've been here, We've done it, We won't be going back, We will be in Norway riding proper mountains! :P
The event was pretty fun though i gotta admit, The course was great and pretty challenging, I probably could have done with another day of riding and a few more practice runs, My final practice run i finally got the course down in my head and i got through the course and turns pretty well but during the competition i lost a ton of speed on like the 3rd corner going in too hard on the bank turn and by that point i was already out of the finals, I actually lost my edge again turning too hard around the flag trying to cut the turn tighter for more speed but i ended up pushing too hard and going down at that was me finished for the competition, the rest of the run went pretty good but i was way way down on the time. I mean i give props for the course design and the location seems a perfect fit for a bank slalom, the course kind of snaked through like a small canyon and was challenging and fast enough for even the best of riders to have troubles over the weekend.
The last day of riding was really fun, my legs had finally got into full power and i just decided to ride mostly off piste for most of the day and really push it, I was really done at the end of the day.
So that was it, The closing end to the season, Not the party i had hoped for but still looking back the season has been quite a wild ride all across Europe, I started in Narvik early December 2014 and finished in Narvik 2015 with a hell of a goggle tan too, I managed to start and finish the season where i wanted to be even if the things in-between got a little weird, I've had a lot of time for reflection over the season and well next year means new challenges and a little rehaul of my lifestyle in order to truly be where i want to be with my riding going into the future, The season is over but i will keep riding this summer on the dry slopes and indoors ready for the next!
Narvik looks completely different without the snow, A lot more concretey and square, I guess the lack of snow lost most of it's ski townish look and charm, The first time i arrived it was -28 and i really felt i was really out there in the middle of nowhere, But after becoming familiar with the place i was a little less excited about spending more time there and especially after finding out the local resort closed a week earlier before i arrived which completely sucked half my spirit right out straight away. I really planned to come back and ride the local mountain but with the earlier closure the only option was to spend most of the time over in Swedish Lapland in the resort of the bank slalom event, Riksgransen . I'm going to get this out of the way soon so it doesn't sound like i'm having some ultra rant, After my previous trip over the border, I already decided i don't like Sweden or the atmosphere, So i wasn't expecting too much northern hospitality once i arrived in Riksgransen and sure enough i didn't get it for pretty much the entire time i was there plus i got severely burnt with the deal we had on our event package which ended up costing me like almost as much as it would to stay for an entire week rather than 3 days, For a snowboarder in like one of the most expensive resorts and places on earth this is bad news and you can imagine i was already a lil pissed before i even strapped in a snowboard.
Riks was kind of hyped up to be this mecca all-time place to ride, The terrain is definitely around and there are some great natural features conveniently sitting next to the lifts but in honesty it's nothing you can't do anywhere else in any other resort in Europe for much cheaper, I was a little bored after 2 days and i had already lapped most of sidecountry accessible terrain from the lifts, In fairness there are tons of other options around for touring but it wasn't really that kind of trip for me. There are no really steep or long lines, Most of the terrain is fairly mellow with some feature drops to look out for, The skiers were really charging those drops, I seen one guy straight up go full speed over a huge cliff with a sideways landing and another cliff underneath which was really sketchy, freaking nuts guy!! but he made it and did it in style in the end.
the Swedish are pretty known to be a little cold but there was defo some localism /crewism going on up there, The only real peeps i had a decent talk with were other international riders who also felt the same bad atmosphere of the place which was kind of a shame because it had the potential to really go off as an end of year celebration of riders from around the world but turned out to be a Swedish gathering for swedes only, We pretty much all said the same thing too in that well it was hyped up, We've been here, We've done it, We won't be going back, We will be in Norway riding proper mountains! :P
The event was pretty fun though i gotta admit, The course was great and pretty challenging, I probably could have done with another day of riding and a few more practice runs, My final practice run i finally got the course down in my head and i got through the course and turns pretty well but during the competition i lost a ton of speed on like the 3rd corner going in too hard on the bank turn and by that point i was already out of the finals, I actually lost my edge again turning too hard around the flag trying to cut the turn tighter for more speed but i ended up pushing too hard and going down at that was me finished for the competition, the rest of the run went pretty good but i was way way down on the time. I mean i give props for the course design and the location seems a perfect fit for a bank slalom, the course kind of snaked through like a small canyon and was challenging and fast enough for even the best of riders to have troubles over the weekend.
The last day of riding was really fun, my legs had finally got into full power and i just decided to ride mostly off piste for most of the day and really push it, I was really done at the end of the day.
So that was it, The closing end to the season, Not the party i had hoped for but still looking back the season has been quite a wild ride all across Europe, I started in Narvik early December 2014 and finished in Narvik 2015 with a hell of a goggle tan too, I managed to start and finish the season where i wanted to be even if the things in-between got a little weird, I've had a lot of time for reflection over the season and well next year means new challenges and a little rehaul of my lifestyle in order to truly be where i want to be with my riding going into the future, The season is over but i will keep riding this summer on the dry slopes and indoors ready for the next!
Below is a Pciture Diary of Narvik and Swedish Lapland part 1 From my blog post
Ethereal Sunset walking through the trails
Amazing views overlooking Narvik Bay
Wondering back down in the streets at night
I don't usually get worried for flights but landing this far North in winter had my doubts
The view of Riksgransen, Swedish Lapland Resort
Getting ready to race the Bank Slalom
The train to Riks
Another look at the BC Riksgransen
The course!
Narvik Hostel with the Windlip
Which way?
Great nighttime views
This Husky Dog joined me on the walk up to the top station
Very Spooky and misty evening down on the fshing harbour
Jumping off the arctic train at Abisko
The abisko puppy Huskies!
Frozen Lakes
Traditional Sami Houses and structures in the Wild
Eerie Abisko Landscape
Somebody forget this
Showing off my board with this amazing sunset
Had to get in on this
Imagine looking out to these views each day
Going into the Abisko Wilderness
Huge Industrial cargo train went by
A nice view at dusk in the centre
Coming home via Copenhagen
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