VENUE DESCRIPTION

The Alpine destination Åre, in Sweden, is one of the Nordic region's most frequented holiday destinations. The trains arrive right in the middle of the village and there are two international airports within a one hour drive from Åre. Åre is situated in the Jämtland district and the skiing area stretches from Duved situated to the west via the Åre village to Åre Björnen in the east. Åre is situated approximately 620 kilometres from Stockholm and 140 kilometres from Trondheim.

The ski area Åre is located just outside and above the village of Åre, approximately 80 km (50 mi.) from the city of Östersund. The ski lift system is on the Åreskutan mountain, at an elevation of 1420 meters (4660 ft.); its absolute summit is not lift-served, but is reachable by snowmobile. The village and ski area are accessible by bus and train. The nearest airport is Åre Östersund Airport. With a latitude of 63.4° north, the ski area is approximately 350 km (220 mi.) south of the Arctic Circle.

46 lifts:

32 t-bars and button lifts
5 chairlifts
1 alpine chairlift
1 funicular
1 gondola lift
1 mountain chairlift
5 moving walkways

Slopes 102:

18 green (very easy)
40 blue (easy)
36 red (medium difficulty)
5 black (difficult)
3 non-prepared/not monitored

Lift capacity: Approx 48,560 pers/hour
Electrical lighting: 7 pistes
Longest downhill slope: 6.5 km
Total length prepared pistes: Approx 100 km (4,450,000 square metres prepared area)
Prepared cross country tracks: Approx 58 km of which 15.5 km lit up
Maximal fall height lifts: 890 m
Maximal skiable fall height (vessla): 1,035 m
Highest prepared skiing height: 1,274 m above sea level
Åreskutan summit: 1,420 m above sea level
Snow guaranteed: Between December 12th and May 2nd
Number of children areas: 4
Dreamparks: 3
Number of beds: 31 000 beds
Number of visitors: 1 088 000 ski days (08-09) 1 056 000 ski days (07-08) 940 000 ski days (06-07)
Restaurants: Approx 50 restaurants
Bars & nightclubs: Approx 15 bars & nightclubs
Examples of other activities: Tobogganing, paragliding, Zipline, SPA's, snowscooter, dog sledging, after ski, Moosegarden, Chocolat factory, saunaworld, horse riding, ice climbing etc

History

Åre of today is best known for its ski area and the city pulse/atmosphere during the winter peak season, but Åre as a tourist resort has a long history. As early as in the 12th century, thousands of pilgrims from all over Europe visited the village on their way to St Olaf's grave in Nidaros, nowadays Trondheim. Åre and its surroundings as a destination for tourists from far away developed in the later part of the 19th century, initiating the transformation of Åre from a farming village to an international ski resort. Up to this point, the inhabitants of the valley were mainly engaged in farming, combined with hunting and fishing. The local church, Åre Gamla Kyrka dates back to the early 13th century. The early visitors were primarily attracted by the pure air and were often referred to as the ‘air guests'. Hunting and fishing were also major attractions, as witnessed by the hunting lodges built during the period ca 1880-1915, such as Skalstugan and Rensjösätern. The main focus in the early days of Åre tourism was on summer tourism and as far as into the 1970s, Åre had just as many visitors during the summer as in the winter.

1882 The railway is officially opened by King Oscar I. At this time, the first 'air guests' come to visit Åre.

1888 Stationmaster Albin Wettergren starts Åre Jernvegsrestaurang in the railway station (today café Lok & Latte)

1891 Åre Turistbyrå opens. The theme for the first advertising campaign is "For tourists and spa guests at Åre climatic spa resort"

1892 Svenska Turistföreningen (the Swedish Touring Club) builds the first cabin on the summit of Mount Åreskutan, still today the highest café in Sweden.

1895 The first hotel mainly for tourists, Hotell Åreskutan, is opened by Kristina Hansson, the name is later changed to Hotell Åregården

1897 The next major hotel is built, Grand Hotell, today Hotell Diplomat

1902 Åre Skidklubb is formed

1910 Åre Bergbana, the funicular and the first means of transport up on the hill is built during the years 1908-1910 at a cost of 230,000 SEK and is officially opened in 1910. Åre Fjällstuga at the top station of Bergbanan opens (today Hotell Fjällgården). Åre Turistförening is formed and the work of making Åre into an alpine winter sports destination with tobogganing and skiing is now under way.

1912 Nya Grand Hotell opens (today Sporthotellet)

1919 The first downhill competition is organised, Årebragden, the course is 5,200 m long.

1935 Åre Slalomklubb is formed

1939 The first draglift in Åre is built, near the modern World Championships arena where the tiny yellow lift cabin is still in place

1952 The first cableway is construed, running from Hotell Fjällgården to Mörvikshummeln with one change; in total 960 m long with a vertical of 327 m. The passengers were transported standing, in what looked like large buckets; one of them is displayed on Åre Square in front of Bergbanan

1954 Åre is hosting the Alpine World Ski Championships, ladies and men, in downhill, giant slalom, slalom and combined. Local girl, Sara Thomasson is third in slalom and Stein Eriksen of Norway, the king of the event

1966 Duved's first chairlift opens and the Duved ski area is developed

1969 Åre is, for the first time, hosting a FIS Ski World Cup competition, the first of many

1971 FIS Ski World Cup Finals, ladies and men

1976 Åre cable car opens, an investment of some 73 million SEK, providing access to the upper zone for skiers

1977 FIS Ski World Cup, men

1979 FIS Ski World Cup, men

1981 Snow guns are installed in Åre. The first lift in Björnen is built and several other investments in the area undertaken. FIS Ski World Cup, men

1984 The downhill course - Störtloppet - and the Olympia lift are built (now replaced by the VM8 lift)
FIS Ski World Cup, men

1986 The first lift in Tegefjäll is built, and several other investments in the area undertaken
FIS Ski World Cup, men

1988 FIS Ski World Cup, men

1989 The Olympia gondola is officially opened by King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia. FIS Freestyle World Cup, ladies & men

1990 FIS Ski World Cup Finals, ladies and men

1993 FIS Ski World Cup Finals, ladies and men

1995 The new toboggan course, following long-standing traditions, is opened, running from Fjällgården to Åre Square. FIS Ski World Cup, ladies

1996 Powerful floodlighting is installed in Gästrappet, enabling night skiing

1998 Duved's chairlift, a high-speed, six-seater with plexi-glass covers against the wind, opens
FIS Ski World Cup, ladies

1999 Åre is hosting the UCI World Mountain Bike Championships, at the time Åre's most important racing event which proved a fabulous success. FIS Ski World Cup, ladies

2000 FIS Ski World Cup, ladies. Ice-climbing World Cup finals

2001 FIS Ski World Cup Finals, ladies & men

2002 FIS Ski World Cup, ladies. The decision is taken to award the 2007 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships to Åre. A high-speed, six-seater chairlift replaces Stjärnliften and Fjällgårdsliften, and a quad replaces Hummelliften

2003 FIS Ski World Cup, ladies

2004 FIS Ski World Cup, ladies. The children's theme parks in Björnen and Tegefjäll open
Holiday Club opens

2005 FIS Ski World Cup, ladies
The racing arena for FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2007 is finalised during the autumn, with a road tunnel replacing the skiing bridge across the E14 highway in the Olympia area

2006 FIS Ski World Cup Finals, ladies and men. The opening of the new railway station, Station Åre, housing, for example, Åre Turistbyrå. The Olympia lift is replaced by the VM8 lift; the first of its kind. The capacity is extremely high; during one hour, the lift can transport 3,400 persons up to the Olympia plateau in chairs or gondolas. The lift has 64 chairs and 16 gondolas, each with room for 8 passengers. The vertical of the lift is 454 m and the length 1,490 m.

2007 Åre is hosting the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships

2010 Åre is celebrating 100 years of winter sports, it's 100 years ago Åre Funicular was built and 100 years ago Åre Tourist Association was founded