O-Ringen Magazine. Nr 2 - 2022

A different
Trail-O at
O-Ringen Åre
» Program O-RINGEN TRAILO 2023
PREO STAGE 1 – Sunday 23 july
Arena VÅLÅDALEN
PREO STAGE 2 – Monday 24 july
Arena VÅLÅDALEN
PREO STAGE 3 – Wednesday 26 july
Arena FRÖÅ GRUVA
PREO STAGE4 – Thursday 27 july
Arena MÖRSIL
PREO STAGE 5 – Friday 28 july
Arena RÖJSMON
FIVE STAGES
FOUR ARENAS
TRAILO
For those who compete
in MTBO and TrailO, there
will be parking areas near
the arenas. However, there
will be no bus transport
out to these arenas.
The first two stages of the trail orienteering
will take place in Vålådalen. One of the stages
will go up on beautiful Ottfjället with a view of
the mountain world. Here, the participants are
met by occasional low mountain birches, open
calf mountain and extensive bogs. One of the
two stages in the Vålådalen will go down into
the valley itself with a completely different
terrain than above the tree line.
The third stage will be an evening stage at
the Fröå mine. In the old mining environment,
you can hear the beat of history as you wander
between mine shafts and preserved buildings.
Most impressive is the restored shaft that
powers the pump that keeps one of the mines
dry and is in turn powered by a large water
wheel.
Stage four will be run in Mörsil and the final
fifth stage will run from Arena Röjsmon in Järpen.
The TrailO at O-Ringen Åre 2023 will
be a bit special.
– The terrain will be incredibly
exciting and varied, says Owe
Fredholm, responsible for the TrailO
course setting.
From Uppsalaslätten plain to Årefjällen
mountains. Yes, there you have the differences
in TrailO between O-Ringen Uppsala
2022 and O-Ringen Åre 2023. Both areas
have their charm and the TrailO gang spent
two weeks in Åre during the late summer to
complete all course setting and everything
practical that needs to be fixed for the TrailO
stages in Åre to be as good as possible.
– The challenge in Åre is the long distances
to check the terrain and courses. It's
not possible to just go out one evening and
check some details, but here we had to work
through a course completely, which takes
one to two full days, says Owe Fredholm.
Owe and his wife Ewa are retired and has, together
with his son Martin, worked hard with
everything about courses, maps and more at
O-Ringen for many years. When it was time
for O-Ringen Åre 2023, it was obvious that
Owe should be involved in the work.
– Compared to Uppsala and other places,
the conditions are completely different when
it comes to the terrain. We have had to work
with different areas, and it has sometimes
been difficult to make everything perfect.
But we think that we now have five really
good stages. In addition to the three Fredholm
family members, Göran F Andersson
has also been involved in the course setting
work on site in Åre.
– We have been up here and been
fantastically lucky with the weather. We have
met many nice landowners and received
good support from O-Ringen organization,
says Owe.
What can the participants
expect at TrailO in Åre?
– It will be exciting and varied terrain and
it is important to master different forms of
TrailO. One stage runs in an old mining
area, two of the stages on classic sports
ground in Vålådalen. One of these stages is
decided entirely on the mountain above the
tree line.
– It will be a great experience for all
participants. O-Ringen Åre 2023 has had a
good dialogue with the landowners and with
the Sami, and to have the opportunity to be
up above the tree line will be something new
for most people, says Owe.
Owe Fredholm, Martin Fredholm, Göran F Andersson and Eva Fredholm are all experienced when it comes to
TrailO. The course setting work for O-Ringen Åre 2023 is now almost complete. Photo: Johfors Productions AB.
The rod passage from the water wheel to the pump at
Fröå Gruva, stage 3 for TrailO. Photo: Wikipedia.
34 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NR 2 • 2022 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NR 2 • 2022 35