Cross-country skiers

7C and a blue sky when I jumped on the bike on Saturday. I headed for the Rudan nature reserve in Handen. The plan was to first ride around the Lower Lake, but the path was way too icy for that, so I continued down to the Upper Lake, where the local ski club had worked hard to keep the cross-country ski track open for the skiers. Ice everywhere there as well, so I walked very carefully as I for once were not wearing my icebug boots. The second photo is two shots combined as I wanted to have the same skier skiing past the pine near the still frozen lake. This is a popular beach in the Summer, btw.

Freedom to roam

There are lots of open fields where I live. This field belongs to the 700-year-old Nedersta gård. As this is Sweden, and we have the freedom to roam, (allemansrätten), anyone who wants to can ski over the fields.

Cross-country skiing

Back at the Rudan nature reserve in Handen. I had heard that the local ski club, Jordbänningarna had opened the ski track so I knew that I could get a few snaps of happy skiers.

Tired?

I don't know how tired she is, but it must be hard to go cross-country skiing without ski poles! As seen at the Rudan nature reserve a while back. Theme Day. Tired.

Cross-Country Skiing

The lack of snow in Stockholm this Winter has been tough for the Cross-Country skiers. They need a lot of skiing practice before the big race of the year, the Vasaloppet, so when the snow finally arrived a short track was up and running in no time at all at the Rudan nature reserve and that's where I snapped these photos a few days ago.

Cross-country skiing

Gray skies. -3C and no wind to speak of. I stopped at the Rudan nature reserve yesterday to see if I could get a few photos of any cross-country skiers. And here they are.

A Good day For Skiing

It was a good day for skiing at the Rudan nature reserve today. -1C and a clear blue sky. Luckily for the cross-country skiers the snow machines have had a few busy nights and this is one of the few places in Stockholm where you have been able to go skiing this Winter. This time it is an all male ensemble. Last time I showed you a few ski portraits it was an all female affair.

Cross-Country Skiing

The snow machines and the recent snow fall have made it possible to open the ski tracks at the Rudan Nature reserve in Handen. I decided to stop by and get a few snaps of some of the cross-country skiers yesterday. It's not a very long track so you have to go round and round, but it's very inexpensive, it will only cost you 60SEK and for that you get a good workout and whenever I talk to a skier they scream of happiness!

The Smiling Skier

Thanks to the recent cold spell the ski club at the Rudan nature reserve have been able to start the snow cannons. On my visit to the lakes the other day they had created a short ski track. It is only 700 meters long but if you like cross-country skiing and live in Stockholm it is one of the few places with snow at the moment. I took a bunch of photos using the panning technique. Shot with the pancake lens so I had to stand close to the track on the icy grass. One skier asked if I was from the local paper and I told her that I might send them a few snaps.

A cold day for skiing

We are experiencing a cold spell at the moment. -19C this morning. Spent some time at the Rudan nature reserve yesterday shooting photos of skiers. It was a beautiful winter day, although cold for the photographer. This man had some ice in his beard which we joked about.

A little lunchbreak skiing

On my way to the lakes yesterday I met Åsa. She works at Osram in Jordbro, and that companies office building is only a few minutes walk from the ski tracks at Rudan, which means that on a good winters day like the one we had yesterday, Åsa will go cross-country skiing on her lunchbreak. She has taken part in the annual Vasaloppet race a number of times. If you don't know it, it is a long distance (90 km) cross-country ski race that takes place in Dalarna on the first Sunday in March every year. Åsa has also tried her luck in the Engelbrektsloppet in Nora. That race is also part of the Swedish Classic Circuit. So I guess it is safe to say that she is a fit woman. And when there's no snow, chances are that you will find Åsa either at the gym or out jogging.

The Daily Commute

A cross country skier at Lake Rudan this warm and sunny (Spring?), afternoon. Possibly the last weekend for skiing here as it was 8 C today, and the snow is quickly melting away. In the background the commuter train leaving the Handen station heading for Jordbro.

Skiing Cross-Country

I stopped at the frozen Lake Rudan yesterday and met a couple of cross-country skiers. The first person I asked for a portrait was a pretty girl, but she told me she was camera shy. Next to her stood Stefan. He is from Aspudden. Stefan had a day off, so he decided to go skiing for the first time in a decade! He wasn't too sure which of the prepared ski tracks to use, and was talking that over with Kenneth when I arrived. Stefan told me that the skies he was using weren't exactly new, he got them when he was thirteen, back in 1990. The weather was perfect for skiing on this day, with a temperature around -5 Celsius, which is a bit better than the -17 C we had last week. I had some camera trouble here, the auto focus was not working, but hey, that happens sometimes!

Health Tip of the Day

If you love cross-country skiing, like this man, and want to go for a run even when it's really cold, you should use a mouth worn humidity and heat exchanger. They don't cost much and they will save you from an asthma attack. Shot this today at Lake Rudan where the ski club Jordbänningarna, have six snow canons that can produce 90 cubic metre snow per hour. On a good day 200 people go skiing here on the 1,3 km track. For one day you pay 50 SEK, and for one season the price is 200 SEK.