In Hudiksvall, Sweden, local organizations have come together to provide free skiing opportunities at Hedebacken during the sportlov week for families who cannot afford traditional ski vacations. The initiative, which runs from Monday to Friday during week 10, is a collaborative effort between Hudik Alpin association, Friluftsfrämjandet, and the local municipality. According to SVT Gävleborg, 20 high school students from Läroverket who had never skied before were among those benefiting from the program on a recent Friday.
Mikael Skjaervold, an active member of Hudik Alpin who initiated the expansion of Hedebacken including the children's lift, expressed his enthusiasm for the program. 'It's exactly that which is so amazing. ' he said when hearing about the teenagers who went from beginners to independent skiers in one day.
They started with the children's lift. Then we took the button lift and now they're skiing by themselves, in all the slopes, all of them!
During the sportlov week, a local association provides free lift passes for all children, a municipal company offers hot dogs and ice cream, and the Fritidsbanken provides equipment for loan. The municipality also contributes to slope maintenance. While organizers would prefer the slope to be free year-round, Skjaervold noted that snow production costs must be covered by lift ticket sales during regular operations.
That's exactly what's so amazing. I get goosebumps!
They had never skied before and now they can go to the mountains if they want,
All of us who work with Hedebacken would like it to be free all the time. But the cost of producing snow must be covered by the lift ticket cost,