Stöten Magazine
Full speed ahead for family holidays in Sälen
The Alps in all their glory, but it is Stöten in Sälen that is closest to the Hellquist/Jarhäll family's heart. There is a versatility here that you won't find anywhere else. Perfect slopes for children and more varied ones for adults. And then there is Vargy - their children love him!
Filip Hellquist and Malin Jarhäll love skiing and have both been doing it since childhood. It was actually in Stöten in Sälen that Filip learnt to ski as a two-year-old. Thanks to his aunt having a cottage here, there have been many visits over the years. Despite the season in the Alps, it is still Stöten that is special to him.
- I have many connections here and many great memories. Sure, the Alps are great, but long gondola rides and long slopes with small children is not a winning concept. We like Stöten because it offers such a variety of slopes," says Filip.
For Filip and Malin, passing on their shared interest in skiing to their children came naturally. Every year they book several skiing holidays to Sälen. The children, Elsa, 7 years and Wilma, 4 years old, thinks that skiing, and all the activities around it, are great. The family, who live in Gothenburg, make sure they leave super early in the morning or later in the evening so that the children can get as much sleep as possible during the car journey. They pack extra snacks and have loaded up with films and fun games. Their children look forward to travelling by car: they know that skiing at Stöten in Sälen awaits!
Last year, the youngest child Wilma (then 3 years old) cracked the "ski code" so now the whole family can ski together on the slopes.
Something I've noticed is that the lift staff in Stöten are so incredibly good with the children
- It is a very nice skiing memory to see when the children take themselves down a slope for the first time or when they manage to ride the lift on their own. Something I've noticed is that the lift staff in Stöten are so incredibly good with the children. They ask how the children are doing, give them high fives, cheer them up and tease them so that they dare to try it on their own," says Malin.
An active week in Stöten in Sälen
For the Jarhäll family, Stöten in Sälen is a bit like a hub. It's where they connect with family members and friends all around them. Malin says they like to go on weeks other than school holidays. Then there are no queues and generally a very calm and pleasant environment.
Malin thinks that Stöten and Sälen offer the best overall skiing for all ages, and a perfect week starts with good accommodation. They themselves like to stay in Pistbyn, a hard-to-beat top location in the centre of the hill. Both close to Stötentorget with restaurants and crowds. At the same time, you can enjoy the peace and privacy right next to the edge of the forest.
Stöten and Sälen offer the best skiing for all ages
- Before the children arrived, we stayed in both hotels and apartments, but nowadays we prefer to stay in a cabin in Sälen. In the cabin, the children can go to bed while we continue with adult hanging out without being disturbed. I think cabin life is an important part of a mountain holiday. It's an unbeatable feeling to stroll around in your underwear after a day's skiing, take a breather, cosy up, have a sauna and get to bed reasonably early, only to be up early on the slopes to repeat yesterday.
The children, who have been skiing since they were two years old, attend the Stöten ski school every year. Filip thinks it's the best way for them to learn to ski. The ski instructors are good and have a completely different pedagogy than you have as a parent.
- It can be quite annoying when you as a parent have to teach. The ski instructors make it a game. When the children are at the ski school, Malin and I take the opportunity to ski together," says Filip.
No wonder Vargy's adventure course and Grandma's assault course are the children's absolute favourite slopes in Sälen
The children are crazy in Vargy and has done everything you can do with him during a week in Sälen. Before ski school he dances with the ski instructors on the slopes, which is much appreciated. On Fridays he organises a popular après-ski, where the younger skiers can party for an hour.
Elsa and Wilma have joined him on his treasure hunt where, with the help of the children, he finds the treasure with clever clues along the way. They also got to ride with him on the slopes - an unforgettable memory they often return to. No wonder Vargy's hill is one of the children's favourite hills, and Grandma's downhill race - of course.
Activities in Sälen
In Stöten there is a wide range of activities for the whole family - both on and off the slopes! In addition to Sälen's best skiing, Stöten has all this and more;
- Snowmobile safari
- Dog sledding
- Bath & sauna
- Spa & relax
- Gym
- Bowling
- Restaurants
- Wolf Club - the kids' own club
Keep an eye out this spring calendar to make sure you don't miss out on all the fun happening in Stöten!
Stöten in brief
- Stöten has been voted Sweden's best ski resort several years in a row by Freerides readers
- There are 50 slopes with different levels of difficulty
- There are 45 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, 3 km of which are lit
- Stöten is home to Sälen's longest descent - Morsmor's 3060 metre plunge
- Pisten Älvan has previously been voted Sweden's best piste
- Stöten has been awarded Sweden's best ski resort for families with children
Wolf Club - the kids' own club
Every week, Vargy organises lots of fun activities for all Stöten children aged 3 to 8. Click on the link to find out more about each activity and how to sign up;
Good food and great memories
Malin is in favour of a trip to Fjällkåtan to experience a memorable fondue evening. You'll be picked up by snowmobile when it's dark and only the snow groomer drivers are working on the slopes. The chocolate fondue, which the children finished with, was of course a favourite. They also visit the mountain hut during the day to take a nice break and rest their legs or have something to eat. There is food for all tastes, from pancakes and club sandwiches, to moules frites and spinach soup.
Visit to the cosy Våffelstugan is part of a mountain holiday. Elsa and Wilma often have classic waffles with jam and cream, sometimes cinnamon buns. There is always hot chocolate! The Jarhäll family alternates between eating out and at home in the cottage. They like to try different restaurants.
- Brasseriet is well located in the centre of the Stöten square in Sälen. You can choose à la carte dishes or a buffet. An oasis in the centre of the hill is Restaurant Ladan with a lovely mountain feel. The lunch menu is available in full and half portions. Perfect for an outdoor break in the sun is Vargy's barbecue place. Where you can grill sausages, drink hot chocolate and have coffee," says Malin.
This year, three ski trips are booked. Will Stöten and Sälen get a visit? Silly question, the answer is of course yes. The dedicated ski family is looking forward to once again enjoying good accommodation, great skiing and the magnificent mountain environment. A warm welcome back, we say!
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