For many years we had visited different winter rallies
throughout Scandinavia with great pleasure. And although the journey and local
trips are usually enough of a challenge the one thing that seemed to be
missing was the opportunity for some additional Nordic winter activities.
Having attended enough rallies, both summer and winter, we felt we knew what
was required to make a rally a success. This was winter’98 and we set out to
find a suitable location following summer which we found in Lövåsen, Sweden.
As we almost ran into an Älg (moose) on the road to the hotel the name was
born – “Älg-Rally”.
First Älg-Rally took place winter 1999/2000 at the Lövåsgården Hotel in
Lovasen, Sweden, close to Idre. The friendly family hotel is situated in a
remote location in the mountains surrounded by nature, the ultimate stepping
stone to set of for your daily bike trip.
Those that have experienced Scandinavia in wintertime will need no further
explanation, for those that haven’t “you will never forget the overwhelming
beauty”. To ride your motorbike across snow covered roads to meet those that
have the same passion is both a thrill and addictive.
Participants range from 25 to 70 years, male & female, ride either solo or
have their bikes equipped with sidecars and usually come from Sweden, Germany,
Netherlands, Belgium, France and Luxembourg. Many of them now know each other
for many years.
Over the years the charater of the rally has become more "hardcore" (and consequentially the group smaller :-)). The Rally is not about driving carefully from the ferry for a few 100 kms up to a hotel and stay there, but we drive (a lot), eat, drinks (a bit..), sleep, drive (a lot)...with the occasional "day of rest" to get some local R&R. Usually visiting some three or 4 sites, usually cottages. On some of the evenings there is good centrally organised food and drinks and/or outside BBQ with elk on the grill and highly explosive “gluhwein”. On the other evenings and during the day "you are on your own", meaning cozy cooking in the huts.
This usuall adds up to some 2000km snow ploughing in the week or so we are up there. Ie be carefull what you wish for if you join us...you might get it...
At the
sites we visit and have an R&R day, we usually stop at places where there is
some events: Nordic skiing and downhill
skiing equipment rental. Ice fishing. We have contacts where you can
rent your own snowmobile and explore the surrounding forests and mountains:
ever did 130 km/hrs on a snow covered frozen lake? ? We have !!!
Last but not least we arrange for a dog sleigh tour for those interested if
the opportunity is there. You, your pack of huskies and the great outdoors, what more could you wish for?
The Rally usually takes place 1/2nd week of February for a 3-5 day period.
Anyway, if you wish to know more on when, where and what, (above you have your
answers as to “why”) on what preparations are req’d etc. pls. do not hesitate
to contact us.
Hope to see you next winter. MK