Rimfors Open in Riksgränsen - Rimfors bamboo ski poles

Rarely do I sponsor anything—if I even ever have—but sometimes it just happens. And when I was asked to sponsor something that actually carries my own name, how could I say no? It’s about the freeride competition Rimfors Open in Riksgränsen, named after the pitch-black off-piste run Rimfors, which in turn was named after my great-grandfather, ski pioneer Olle Rimfors. So, the competition itself has nothing to do with me, but still—it bears my family name.

Anyway, I got the question this past winter from a guy on the Riksgränsen staff, who thought a fitting prize for the winner of Rimfors Open would be a pair of Rimfors poles. “Sounds great,” I said, pointing out the small complication that length and color are normally chosen by my customers themselves. We solved that problem with a gift card. Or rather, two of them—one for the women’s category and one for the men’s.

Small-scale and family-style in playful terrain

As for the Rimfors Open competition itself, it has kept a low profile over the years. It lives in the shadow of Riksgränsen’s bigger events, like the Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships and the Banked Slalom. Rimfors Open is more of a family-sized mini-version of the SBMC, without sacrificing the challenging and playful terrain. Rimfors has plenty of cliffs and variety to let creativity flow. The contest format is small-scale and down-to-earth, and the only thing you really need to watch out for is the sharks that can bite when you least expect it.

Seven years ago, I actually competed in Rimfors Open myself—together with my oldest son, nine years old at the time. For him, it was a big deal to take part in the riders’ meeting and put on the Red Bull bib with a start number over his jacket. He grew a few feet from that experience. We spent Easter up there, as we usually do, and most of the week was marked by flat light and wind, but just in time for the start the skies cleared and untouched powder sparkled over the race face.

This year, the competition was held much later, at the end of May, in radiant sunshine and perfect corn snow. The winners were Tuva Skanderby, who had claimed the Swedish national title in slopestyle just five weeks earlier, and Linus Dellve, who opened his season with a strong 20th place in an FWT Qualifier in Chamonix.

Congrats, Tuva and Linus!

/Fabian

P.S. I finished second and my son third in Rimfors Open 2018.✌️ It looks like this year’s competition was tougher though. Maybe I should also mention that I did not sponsor the competition alone. ICA Nära Riksgränsen and Lapland Resorts also contributed.

Rimfors Open 2025 in analogue photos

Photography by Filippa Backman

Skiers carrying their skis on their shoulders as they ascend a steep, narrow snowfield surrounded by bare cliffs in the sun. — The riders on their way up in Rimfors to inspect the race face. My great-grandfather Olle Rimfors used to ski this line with his ski-school students behind, as this often was the last snow-covered run down to the hotel. Hence the name Rimfors for this part of the mountain. Photo: Filippa Backman

Freeride skiers scouting the competition terrain with cliffs and snow during Rimfors Open. — The riders inspect their lines from the cliffs up above in Rimfors. Photo: Filippa Backman

Four guys in sunglasses sit at a jury table watching a freeride competition. — The competition’s announcer and main driving force, Pål Corell, together with the judges Hampus Tullberg, Merlin Luttropp, and Adam Sundqvist. Photo: Filippa Backman

A skier in a black helmet doing a mute grab in steep terrain. — Helene Kragelund from Denmark does a mute grab and finished second in the women’s class. Photo: Filippa Backman

A skier in a white helmet does a classic spread eagle with the poles between the legs. — Linus Brundin, usually found working in the hotel’s Sports department, pops a classic spread eagle to the audience’s delight. Photo: Filippa Backman

A guy with long brown hair, a beanie, and sunglasses sitting at a table with a pair of bamboo ski poles. — Competition judge Merlin Luttropp made an impressive run at the Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships a few weeks earlier. Photo: Filippa Backman

Three guys in sunglasses and beanies confer about how many points a participant should receive. — The Rimfors Open judges Hampus Tullberg, Merlin Luttropp, and Adam Sundqvist confer to make a fair assessment. Photo: Filippa Backman

The winners, three men and three women, pose on a rock in Rimfors with their diplomas and prizes in their hands. — Rimfors Open podium 2025, from left: Melker Tillhagen (3rd), Linus Dellve (1st), Vilmer Ivarsson (jury’s special prize), Hannah Gavenas (3rd), Tuva Skanderby (1st), Helene Kragelund (2nd), and Hugo Öhrström (2nd). Photo: Filippa Backman

A long-haired dark blonde guy with sunglasses and a blue jacket speaks into a microphone in front of a snow-covered mountain. — Pål Corell, the announcer and primary driving force behind the competition. Without him, there would be no Rimfors Open 2025. Photo: Filippa Backman

. . .