Kiruna Wagon supports both elite and grassroots sports in Kiruna. Through its partnership with Kiruna Skidor, Kiruna Wagon is helping to attract and retain top-class skiers in the region, while simultaneously promoting Kiruna as a world-class winter sports destination.
The founder of Kiruna Skidor, Christer Majbäck, is a Kiruna native who was one of the world’s top skiers for a decade. Among his achievements are a World Championship gold in the relay and four individual medals. Today, Christer’s focus is on the elite cross-country skiing club Kiruna Skidor, which was established in 2020 with a focus on juniors and seniors. The club aims to be among the top five in Sweden in relay events for both men and women within three years, to have skiers in the top ten nationally in individual competitions, and to participate in the World Championships and the Olympics.
Corporate sponsorship is essential for providing the club’s athletes with the best conditions for competition and enabling high-quality training camps throughout the year. Having an elite club in Kiruna is significant not only for the athletes but also for the town of Kiruna as a whole.
“Before Kiruna Skidor existed, many people approached me about starting an elite programme in Kiruna, as we have the natural conditions for it. Now that the club has been running for a few years, we see how much it means for young people to know that they can pursue skiing and remain in Kiruna even as seniors,” says Christer Majbäck, chairman of Kiruna Skidor.
The initiative to retain talent in Kiruna aligns with Kiruna Wagon’s goal of operating sustainably by recruiting locally. Fredrik Kangas, Managing Director at Kiruna Wagon explains:
“As an employer, it’s important to us that Kiruna is a place where there are meaningful activities that make people want to live here. The dedication of Kiruna Skidor encourages more young people to stay in Kiruna, which is an essential part of a broader sustainability effort. As a community, we need to build our status and self-esteem. Having role models who actually live, work, and succeed in Kiruna sends a message to young people that they don’t have to move south to achieve success.“
Linn Tapani, representing Kiruna Skidor in the women’s 10 km freestyle at the Ford Smart Energy Cup on February 3, 2024, in Åsarna. Photo: David Lidström-Hultén, Bildbyrån.
Kiruna is widely recognised as one of the best training locations in the world for cross-country skiers. The snow season is long, with excellent terrain for running and in addition there is a top-class roller-ski track. For more national teams to choose Kiruna as a pre-season training base, there needs to be more affordable short-term accommodation options available, good dining choices, and access to artificial snow to ensure an early start to the season, explains Christer Majbäck.
Kiruna Skidor athletes have attended four training camps during this year, with a fifth planned in Kiruna. They are now looking forward to an exciting season with participation in the Swedish Cup, Scandinavian Cups, and the Swedish Championships. The season will conclude with events on home ground in Kiruna.
“At the request of the Swedish Ski Association, Kiruna Skidor will organise the Ford Smart Energy Cup & Bauhaus Cup at Matojärvi in Kiruna at the end of March – a major event which we look forward to sharing with the people of Kiruna. We have a good relationship with the Swedish Ski Association, and if we organise a successful event this spring, we’ll have more opportunities to host competitions in the future,” says Christer Majbäck.
“Kiruna Skidor hosting competitions on home turf is a fantastic opportunity to put Kiruna on the map as an important Swedish winter sports location,” adds Fredrik Kangas.
Victor Majbäck, Kiruna Skidor, competes in the men’s 10 km classic style at the Swedish season opener on November 18, 2023, in Gällivare. Photo: Mathilda Ahlberg, Bildbyrån.
Kiruna offers a total of 63 kilometres of recreational trails, about 28 kilometres of which are floodlit. This provides excellent opportunities for both elite skiers and enthusiasts to enjoy the trails. But how should someone who wants to try cross-country skiing get started if they feel unsure?
“In Kiruna, we have very consistent temperatures, which makes it easy to get the waxing right for both glide and grip. If you’re careful with the ski camber, everything becomes simple, and you don’t need many products. There’s nothing better than classic skiing with good skis. Skate skiing is also excellent in the late autumn and during our long spring season,” says Christer Majbäck.
For anyone following Swedish cross-country skiing, this season is even more exciting with promising local talents to watch over the winter.
“I hope all Kiruna residents will come out and cheer on our dedicated skiers when they compete at home this spring,” concludes Christer Majbäck.
