JÄRVSÖ DOWNHILL BIKE PARK
Another record-breaking summer for Järvsö Downhill Bike Park
It started as a hobby project that went off the rails in a positive sense. Today, Järvsö Downhill Bike Park has become a year-round operation that has broken visitor records every summer since opening in 2010.
Järvsö Downhill Bike Park’s journey from its inception up until today can only be described as a genuine success story.
The owners has recently opened a hotel directly adjacent to the lifts with bike rental, workshop and restaurant, which Norrlandsfonden has helped to finance.
“The fact that Norrlandsfonden believed in us has contributed to the fact that we now have a year-round operation and can create more job opportunities in Järvsö. One of our strongest motivations is to do things that help develop the community.”
The idea of starting a bike park was born when Lars was visiting a friend in Whistler, Canada. His friend took Lars to Whistler Mountain Bike Park, where he tried downhill biking for the first time.
“I immediately wondered why I hadn’t done this before. It was so much fun.”
A few years later, after much pestering, Lars managed to persuade the owner of Järvsö’s ski slope to let him rent it during the summers.
“I was impressed with how Whistler Mountain Bike Park made their park accessible to everyone from beginners to pros. We had the same vision for the bike park in Järvsö.”
In fact, the founders of Whistler Mountain Bike Park have been coming to Järvsö every summer since the beginning to build downhill trails, from the easy green trails to the advanced black trails.
“One factor in our success is that we have invested in constantly improving our bike park. We are perfectly located, only three hours from Stockholm, easily reached by car or train. Plus we have a totally unique environment that we have used to great effect in Järvsö, both in summer and winter.”