Video: Shred some of Sweden’s best riding places
From the rocky trail riding and dirt shop scene in Gothenburg to the brand new bike park in Kisa. From the downhill mecca that is Järvsö Bike Park and the world-class jumping set in the Dome Adrenaline Zone to one of Sweden’s northernmost bicycle parks in Bygdsiljum and Sweden’s most historic downhill ride in Åre Bike Park.
Welcome to season 2 of Swede Shreds!
A 4-part web series that takes you to some of Sweden’s best places for Gravity MTB. Mountain biker and host Hanna Jonsson travels from south to north to explore some sick riding places with some of Sweden’s best riders such as Emil Johansson, Zakarias Johansen, Oscar Hänrström, Alma Wiggberg and even the old downhill World Cup legend Johan Engström.
EP1: GOTHENBURG
Can you get good gravity driving in the middle of a big city? This is a question we wanted to find the answer to in this first section. From technical trail riding to massive freeride lines and some of Sweden’s best dirt jumps, it is safe to say that Gothenburg’s gravity scene is really something else. We explore the technical enduro tracks in Lackarebäck, just a stone’s throw from the city center with local riders Johanna Küchler, Simon Johansson and Christian Bengtsson. Simon then takes us 30 minutes outside the city to show his installation process. A freeride line that may be the largest in Sweden. The third and final stop in the section is one of Sweden’s best dirt shopping places called Kallebäcksdirten. A hidden green area with lots of jumps that attracts all types of riders: from BMXers to Slopestyle and Enduro riders.
Stains: Lackarebäck, Bollekollen & Kallebäcksdirten
Track: Larssons, Staffans Störtlopp, Matilda & HHHR’s back
Rider: Hanna Jonsson, Johanna Küchler, Simon Johansson, Christian Bengtsson, Simon Gustavsson, Felix Törnqvist, Helena Lemström, Oscar Bengtsson, Felix Törnqvist.
EP2: KISA MTB PARK
How long does it take to build a bicycle park from scratch? Well, three months if you ask Oscar Härnström and his crew at Kisa MTB Park. But it contains insanely long hours, no free days and a lot of commitment.
Last year, Oscar Härnström took the leap and bought an old ski slope in southeast Sweden to turn it into his dream park. Together with her partner Beatrice Johansson and brother Hampus Quist, the trio put in enormous hours to get the park open in time for the summer of 2021. With big rock rolls, massive jumps, playful side hits everywhere, it is safe to say that this park has a completely different atmosphere. than most others. Although it is aimed at beginners and families, the focus here is on big and burley and is a playground for more advanced riders. A refreshing addition to the Swedish MTB scene where the focus is mostly on light and beginner-friendly.
Stains: Kisa MTB Park
Track: Gold Mine, Old Guys Rule, Dirty Pamela, Squamish, Intense.
Rider: Hanna Jonsson, Oscar Härnström, Beatrice Johansson and Hampus Quist (and test dog Cudo of course).
EP3: JÄRVSÖ & DOME ADRENALINE ZONE
Welcome to two of Sweden’s most popular facilities when it comes to downhill skiing and indoor jumping.
How do you maintain a bicycle park, what attracts riders to Järvsö and makes Zakarias Johansen’s wheels ever touch the ground – these are all questions we explore in the first part of this section together with Zakarias, Elina Davidsson and Alex Bäckvall. We then move on to one of the world’s best indoor training facilities for action sports, Dome Adrenaline Zone which is located in Gävle in Sweden. This place has one of the best jump settings with several different starts in a foam pit and a landable airbag. Here we meet the Swedish Slopestyle elite Emil Johansson, Lukas Skiöld and Ludvig Eriksson and the upcoming freerider Alma Wiggberg for some high-flying acrobatics.
Stains: Järvsö Mountain Bike Park & Dome Adrenlina Zone
Track: Enduro trail 1 & 2, Kristin & Itzy Bitzy
Rider: Hanna Jonsson, Zakarias Johansen, Elina Davidsson, Alexander Bäckvall, Alma Wiggberg, Emil Johansson, Lukas Skiöld, Ludvig Eriksson.
EP4: BYGDSILJUM BIKE PARK & ÅRE WORLD CHAMPS 1999
In the season finale, we move further north than any previous episode. Bygdsiljum Bike Park is located between Umeå and Skellefteå and is a real gem. This bike park is built and run by a group of local volunteers and has about eight different tracks that range from easy flow to hairy downhills.
In this episode we get to tag along with two real Swedish downhill legends. Herman Ölund and Johan Engström competed in the downhill world cup back in the 90s and 2000s and have both had an enormous influence on the Swedish slopes. And in the spirit of Swedish legends, we end the season by throwing it back to one of the most iconic races in Swedish downhill – the 1999 World Championships in Åre Bike Park – where Johan digs deep into his memories and traces back the old track.
Stains: Bygdsiljum Bike Park & Åre Bike Park
Track: Mosquito, SM-banana (Vittran), Rydbergs drop, RIP-branten, Flinbanan.
Rider: Hanna Jonsson, Herman Ölund, Johan Engström, Maria Hedberg, Petter Lennartsson.