50th annual World Airlines Ski Championship
Björkliden, Sweden, 8-13 march 2009
Ready for a travel adventure to a ski resort north of the Arctic Circle? I know I am! IASF participants will occupy ALL the lodging and be the only skiers/boarders on the mountain! The partying should be legendary, as usual, although I don’t expect the skiing/boarding to be.
I’m Mark Ralston, your room Mom for the IASF internationals this year. If you’re new to the internationals, I will be your “travel agent” for this event. I will be making your reservations and paying the resort on your behalf. We collect an “amenities fee” from everyone who attends. This is used to buy a special T-Shirt for the event and to cover supplies for the on the hill party Thursday afternoon.
Contact me at: mralston2@earthlink.net Bonnie, my wife, will be glad to help you as well. My home phone is: 860-355-4569, cell 203-417-9446. My address is:
Mark Ralston
28 Candlewood Vista
New Milford, CT 06776
Complete information is available below, but let me hit a few highlights.
First - Travel to and from Bjorkliden could be a challenge. I suggest you use the “Midnight Express Train” in the information below to get there, and the “Escape Flight” to get out. This arrangement will cost about $245 US. The two airports nearest Bjorkliden, Kiruna (KRN) and Narvik (NVK), have limited service. Only Kiruna will have bus service, as Narvik is in Norway. Cars are available in Kiruna, I don’t know about Narvik. Train service is available from Stockholm for 2012 SEK ($255 US), round trip. London Heathrow has frequent service to Stockholm, ZED fare is $139.20, round trip.
Second – Bjorkliden is a small resort – 550 beds. IASF participants will OWN the town and the mountain There’s a chance we may not be able to accommodate everyone due to this fact of life, but I will try to get enough rooms/cabins to accommodate everyone. This makes the timely receipt of payments even more critical, as I expect a large attendance from the rest of the world’s airlines.
Third - To book, you MUST be a current member of the ski team (or guest). I’ll be checking. If you’re husband and wife and don’t want to join twice, OK. If you’re a long time ski team participant, and don’t want to pay dues just for the internationals, I don’t know what to say, except you won’t be the only one paying dues and attending just one meet.
Costs:
Registration 2105 SEK ($270 US)
Lifts: 715 SEK ($92 US, three days )
Lodging: 5245 SEK ($670 US) Hotel
3770 SEK ($420 US) Cabin
Midnight Express: 900 SEK ($115)
“Escape” Flight: 100 SEK ($127)
Food: Expensive - Breakfast included in room rate
Liquor: Expensive – a few freebies
Linen fee: 350 SEK ($45 US per cabin ONLY)
Amenities: $35 US
Total: $1320 Hotel
$1100 Cabin
Exchange rate today: 100 SEK = $12.68
Still interested? Send me an email with your preferences for roommate(s) and accommodations, and whether or not you want to buy the Midnight Express and Escape flight. Also, do you intend to race, and what events? Are you willing to be used as backup for alpine or cross country events? Which ones?
Is the cost still bothering you? Volunteer to be the fifth person in a cabin and the lodging rate drops to $210 US, total, $890. I don’t know what you’ll be sleeping on - fold out couch, roll away bed, or bathtub - or how much privacy you’ll have – and everyone can’t be the fifth – but it’s an option that we will be using. Note the supplemental payment for empty beds in the information below.
I’m just another AA employee, like yourself, not a bank or credit institution. I will need deposits and final payments on time, as I cannot afford to extend credit. Further, as you well know, exchange rates fluctuate, and adjustments may have to be made to the price you pay to cover these fluctuations. All the prices I quote are current as of today, 6 November.
IMPORTANT! I need a deposit of $500 before 31 December, and the balance by 15 January. I will refund a deposit or full payment prior to 15 January, and whatever I can arrange after the 15th. After the 31st of January, don’t expect any refunds, but I will do what I can to get you any refund available.
Complete information at: http://www.wasc2009.com/info.asp?info=reg
General information Björkliden Mountain Resort
Dates: 8 – 13 March 2009
Location: Björkliden Mountain Resort lies in the scenic mountain regions of Lapland with a spectacular view from the resort facing the mountains and the legendary “ Gateway to Lappland” and Torneträsk one of the largest lakes in Sweden. The resort is situated 420 metres above sea level (about 1400 ft) and 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of the Arctic Circle.
Capacity: Björkliden Mountain Resort consists of Hotel Fjället, Holiday Village Kåppas, Gammelgården Ski Lodge and Låktatjåkko Mountain Lodge. The resort offers 3 restaurants and 2 bars, grocery store, sport shop with rental.
Transport: Flights to Kiruna or Narvik Airports. About 90 minutes transfers to Björkliden from both directions. Direct bus transfer from Kiruna Airport. Train connections direct to Björkliden from Gothenburg and Stockholm.
Trailmap: http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Bjorkliden/pistemap Note: All lifts are surface lifts (T-Bars)
Aurora borealis: October until middle of March
Lodging:
Björkliden Mountain Resort has a total capacity of (ONLY) 550 beds.
• Hotel Fjället: 46 rooms (5 family, 11 double, 19 twin, 11 single), open 24/7.
• Village Kåppas: 80 cabins (five- & four-bed. With or without sauna)
• Låktatjåkko Mountain Lodge: 10 rooms (8 twin, 2 single)
• Gammelgården Ski Lodge: 23 rooms (3 four-bed, 12 twin, 8 single)
F&B: Restaurant Lapporten, Gammelgården Ski Lodge restaurant, the bar Rallaren, restaurant at Låktatjåkko Mountain Lodge, Snow Bar.
Currency: We accept payment in Swedish Crowns (SEK), Norwegian Crowns (NOK) and Euros (EUR)(not coins). We accept VISA, Master Card, AmEx, Dinners.
Ski system: Full service for advanced skiers, families and beginners. Pist- & off pist areas.
• Slopes: 24
• Lifts: 5
• Vertical drop:538 m (1750 ft)
• Longest pist: 3300 m
Activities:
Winter: Ski school, ski touring, dog sledging, snowmobile tours, cave tours, Ice Hotel, heliskiing, children activities and cross-country skiing.
Summer: Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, cave tours, children activities. Spectacular golf in the midnight sun (yeah, but we’re going to be there in winter, I know)
Website: www.bjorkliden.com
LIFTS
1 day ski pass: 265 SEK. ($35 US)
2 day ski pass: 510 SEK. ($65 US)
3 day ski pass: 715 SEK. ($92 US)
4 day ski pass: 930 SEK. ($119 US)
LODGING
Hotel Fjället
Hotel Fjället is situated up on the mountain, in amazing alpine surroundings. The hotel has 46 rooms – single, double, twin and family rooms. All rooms have showers, toilets, cable TV and telephones and are non-smoking. The hotel also has a conference room, sauna, solarium and a small gym.. The hotel reception is open 24 hours/day.
• Double room, five nights, half-board included: 5245 SEK/pers ($670 US)
• Single room, five nights, half-board included: 7245 SEK/pers ($925 US)
Village Kåppas
The Village consists of 80 chalets in spectacular settings up on the mountain. The chalets each have a living room, kitchenette, cable TV, two bedrooms, shower room and drying cabinet. All chalets are non-smoking. Staying in the Village means access to the mountain couldn't be easier. Just walk out the door to the beautiful surroundings. The Ski Village is also close to the Sports Shop and Hotel Fjället with Lapporten Restaurant. Please note that the telephones in the chalets can only be used to contact reception, external calls cannot be made. Breakfast bags will be served outside the cabin every morning.
• Alt 1: Part in a five bed cabin with sauna, five nights, half-board included. 3270 SEK ($420 US)
EXTRA: Fill up the whole cabin and the fifth person only pays half price 1635 SEK. ($210 US)
Empty bed supplement, up to four beds: 300 SEK/night/bed ($40 US per night per empty bed for less than 4)
• Alt 2: Part in a four bed cabin, five nights, half-board included. 3045 SEK ($390 US) Empty bed supplement: 300 SEK/night/bed ($40 US)
Linen and towels:
Linen and towels are not included in the prices above, but can be rented in the hotel reception for 350 SEK. ($45 US per cabin)
Björkliden Midnight Express Train
Don’t miss out this “one in a lifetime occasion” to travel through the Swedish winter night by train. The train contains a number of wagons specially reserved for WASC people, and a restaurant wagon. Björkliden staff is onboard to take care off practically details during your stay in Björkliden.
In the morning you wake up, have your breakfast while you travelling deeper and deeper into last wilderness of Europe. Arriving 11:21 to Björkliden Grand Central.
Details Midnight Express Train:
• Departure from Stockholm Central: Saturday 7 march 06:12 pm.
• Arrival at Björkliden Grand Central: Sunday 8 march 11:21 am.
• Part in a six-bed couchette car. Linens included.
Price Party Train: approx 900 SEK. ($115 US)
Escape Flight: Kiruna (KRN)-Stockholm(ARN) Friday, March 13.
You don’t want to take the risk to get stuck at Kiruna Airport with your stand-by tickets, do you? Take the Escape Flight from Kiruna to Arlanda and you will be sure to get out of here. And hey! The transfer bus from Björkliden to Kiruna Airport is included in the price!
Details Escape Flight:
• Departure from Björkliden Mountain Resort: Friday 13 march 08:30 am.
• Departure from Kiruna Airport (KRN): Friday 13 march 10:30 am.
• Arrival at Arlanda Airport: Friday 13 march 12:00 am.
Price Escape Flight: approx 1000 SEK. ($127 US)
Kiruna Airport (KRN)
Located in the mining town of Kiruna, 100 km from Björkliden.
Kiruna Airport currently welcomes service from Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Airlines.
Ground Transportation: Kiruna Airport- Björkliden Mountain Resort. Daily departure 02.30 pm, arrival Björkliden Mountain resort, 04:25 pm.
Evenes Airport (EVE)
120 km west of Björkliden. Evenes currently welcomes service from Norwegian Airlines, Kato, etc
ACTIVITIES
Experience all that Björkliden Mountain Resort and its surroundings have to offer. In which ways – that is up to you. Come in and discuss which activities might suit you at the WASC Information Center at Hotel Fjället. Booking at the desk.
Dog sledding tours
You can hardly get closer to nature. Imagine gliding over the snow with the only sound being the song of the sled’s runners and the panting of the dogs. The tour takes you out into the majestic mountainous countryside where you can soak in the extensive views.
Take your own dog team to Låkta
Become a “dog musher” for a day and take your own dog team to Låktatjåkko Mountain Lodge, 9km up from Björkliden. Once you have arrived, award yourself with a delicious waffle before you continue on with your journey.
Price: 1850 SEK per person. ($236 US)
Try driving your own dog sled
Have you always dreamt about driving your own dog sled? Adults and children alike - come to the Snow Bar and give it a try. The dogs are waiting eagerly.
Price: 150 SEK first circuit, after that 100 SEK per circuit. ($20 US and $12.75 US)
Snowmobile Tours
Go on an adventure and experience the extensive wilderness around Björkliden on one or our environmentally friendly snowmobiles. Drive your own snowmobile, or share it with a friend.
Short Snowmobile Tours
Whiz through the frozen wilderness surrounded by snowy mountains. Once at Låkta we take the time to enjoy one of their famous waffles before it is time to continue on our journey.
Price: 850 SEK per person (2 people per snowmobile). ($110 US)
Snowmobile Safaris
Drive your own snowmobile on a longer tour. We discover new routes through the frozen countryside and enjoy driving through virgin snow. We stop at Låkta, soak in the fantastic atmosphere and enjoy a good lunch before continuing on with our journey.
Price: 1850 SEK per person and snowmobile ($236 US)
To Kåppasjokk Caves by dog sled or snowmobile
Combine a dog sled or snowmobile tour with a visit to the caves. To the sound of dogs panting or snowmobiles roaring we take us off on an underground adventure:
Price: 795 SEK per person. ($105 US)
Ice Hotel
The famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi is one of Sweden’s most well known attractions. Even one of the world’s! The Ice Hotel is built every year from the ice of Torneälv River. Every Spring, the Ice Hotel melts away and returns to where it came from – the river.
Day Trip to the Ice Hotel with an introduction to Sami Culture The morning is spent learning about Sami life and enjoying a traditional Sami lunch. In the afternoon there is a guided tour of the Ice Hotel and the Absolut Ice Bar. Transfers to and from Jukkasjärvi are included.
Price: 1850 SEK per person. ($235 US)
Snow Cat Tours to Låktatjåkko Mountain Lodge
Day Trip
Travel comfortably and quickly up to Låkta in our snow cat. The tour takes you up over the mountain to Björkliden’s very own oasis and then back again after a relaxing and enjoyable visit at the mountain lodge. Price: 240 SEK per person ($31 US)
Heliskiing
Take the chance to ski untouched powder in The Last Wilderness of Europe. For information and reservations: www.arcticelements.com (Prices for the time of our visit range from 2400 SEK ($305) to 5000 SEK ($635), depending on how many drops and where, requires 5 person party. Includes “all mandatory safety equipment” and “complete guideservice”. )
Remember the deadline is 31 December. If you are sure you want to attend or have more questions contact your International Room Moms:
Mark Ralston and Louise McKee
internationalmom@aaskisnowboard.com
