FIPS World Congress - Slao

Good to know!
Hope you will enjoy your stay in Åre and Sweden. Please let us know if we
can help you out with anything.
Alcohol is served at bars and restaurants from 11.00.
It is not accepted to drink alcohol bought outside the hotel
in public places or at the hotel other than in your room.
If you like to buy your own liquer Systembolaget is located
in town. In Sweden you can´t buy alcohol in grocery stores.
Avalanche day will start up at Monday 27 th with indoors
sessions at 9 am at Holiday Club (the hotel by the lake).
The fenicular will take you down and first departure is at
08.15. Then it is a short walk down to Holiday Club.
This session is compulsuary if you like to participate in
the outdoor sessions at Tuesday 28 th . Please bring your
own beacon, probe and showel if you got one. Especially
the beacon is important. Also bring the avalanche rescue
papers from the conference bag with you!
Bergbanan, the fenicular, runs from outside the hotel and
takes you down to the town square. Every day between
09.00-16.30.
Breakfast is served 07.00-09.00 at the hotel. Breakfast is
included for all delegates staying at Hotel Fjällgården.
Cash – It can be wise to have some Swedish crowns in cash,
for culture day and kick off night if you like to use the bar.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Sweden.
Culture day – at Klocka Fjällgård, situated 40 km from Åre.
You will get introduced to the Sami culture and Valborgsmässoafton,
Walpurgis Night. Historically this night derives
from various pagan spring customs. Bonfires were built to
keep away the dead and chaotic spirits that were said to
walk among the living then. Lately it became a celebration
of the arrival of spring.
This will be a night to remember – if you like to participate
please sign up in the reception at Hotel Fjällgården. Please
bring Swedish crowns in cash if you like to use the bar.
Dinner will be served 19.00-20.00 at the hotel except
Monday 27 th when it is served 20.00 and we will meet
up with SLAO’s winter meeting, a meeting who gathers
Swedish skiareas to sum up the season.
If you have any special requests for your meals, if you are
allergic or vegeterian, please let us know.
Lunch will be served 12.00-13.00, except Monday 27 th
when it is served 12.30-14.00. When the programme
shows outdoor lunch there will not be any lunch served
at the hotel, lunch will be served outdoor near congress
activities. Lunch is included for all delegates.
Shopping – Take the fenicular to the town square, shops in
Åre are in general open 10.00-19.00.
Smoking – In Sweden smoking is not allowed in public
places like restaurants, bars, airports, hotels etc. Smoking
is only accepted in special places and outdoors.
Ski pass – Skiing from April 25 th to May 2 nd is included
in the congress price. You will get your ski pass when you
register on the congress.
Ski rental – Rent your skis at Skistar Shop and you get
25% reduced price. You find the nearest Skistar Shop at
the town square. Take the fenicular and you find it next to
the sport shop Stadium.
Tourist information is situated in Åre Station, down in the
village by the railway.
Water in Sweden is clean and good tasting, you can drink
it from the tap.
Crister Löfgren
Weather in April is usual nice and warm at daytime with
cold nights, but the weather can be very unpredictily and
change from warm and sunny to windy and snow/rain in
no time. This is in Sweden well known as Aprilweather.
Wireless network is available for free at Hotel Fjällgården.