Many know Patrik Klüft as a pole vaulter with World Cup bronze and several Swedish records on the merit list. Today, together with his famous wife Carolina, he is a versatile entrepreneur in sustainable and physically active tourism with Järvsö as a base. An important ingredient is cycling and Patrik himself is active as a cycling guide, among other things. Sweden by Bike asked him to tell him more about what is happening in the Hälsingland cycling metropolis.
On a personal level, what does an old elite athlete like you get out of going out into nature on a bike?
Getting out into nature gives a huge feeling of freedom and a sense of perspective. To be one with the forest, the mountains, right there and then. Hiking, cycling or mountaineering on skis will take you as close to the wilderness as possible. You get a feeling of calm in combination with a wonderful environment and miles of views.
You have started up Järvsöguiderna together with your colleague Benny Gäfvert. What are your experiences from the 2021 season?
Yes it's right and feels great fun! The most fun thing is getting people into work with things they really like. The biggest challenge considering that the business is so seasonal is still the staffing issue and finding a good balance in how much and how little you work in general.
What has the pandemic meant?
The pandemic has of course had a great impact, not only on us but on various activities throughout Sweden, but what we see is that cycling in all its forms is increasing all the time. For us in Järvsö, it is important to find structure on trails and where we want our guests to move in our forests and on our mountains.
You focus on guided nature experiences, both summer and winter. What do your customers appreciate the most?
Treatment, competence and the ability to meet the guest at their level regardless of which activity they have chosen. Another aspect is that we really show interest in the guest. The goal we always have is that everyone who is with us should really have learned something new that they can take with them in their continued cycling or in the activity they have chosen. We have our values Hosting-Challenges-Experiences that we have as a basis when we meet the guest.
A new venture this season is Camp Järvsö. What does a visitor find there?
Camp Järvsö ( www.campjarvso.se) is a hotel and conference facility with a focus on health and various physical activities in the heart of Hälsingland. There you can stay in a hotel and get a varied stay by either participating in the farm's daily activity program or in individual sessions. The farm is excellent for the guest who is in Järvsö to cycle, but if you want to do something else, you can, for example, engage in skiing. The range is large with various training opportunities such as gym, yoga, and gym. In the area there is everything from climbing wall, trampoline, nature playground, beach volleyball court, beach soccer field, soccer field, surface for inline skating, basketball, other ball games, long jump pit, coordination course, MTB skills course and running and MTB tracks that in winter become cross-country tracks. You can also visit our wonderful restaurant or use our activity area. There is also a large selection of Gravel cycling with countless miles of gravel roads and Camp Järvsö as a hub.
Järvsö stands out with its cycling and high well-being factor. What's the secret?
My personal opinion is that Järvsöbon is very accommodating and helpful. It gives the person asking something a very good feeling. Another reason is that there are a lot of already resident and relocated entrepreneurs who carry out various initiatives. It gives rise to lots of activities, restaurants, culture, food products that both permanent residents and incoming guests can enjoy.
Can you tell us more about the different initiatives?
Järvsö Mountain Bike Park is ranked as one of the best downhill parks in the country. Cykla Järvsö is building about 70 km of cross country trails. The village's cycling club Järvsö Mountain Cycling Club has for a couple of years worked hard to get a Järvsö Skills Park. The Skills-Park includes two pump tracks, a technology area and this will in the summer of 2022 be expanded with a new Dirt-Park so you can say that cycling in Sweden has a new bike mecca of the highest class. In winter, we are constantly developing as a ski resort with Järvsöbacken in the center. The Predator Center De 5 Stora together with Järvzoo and the cultural monument Stenegård provide a wide range of experiences that are appreciated by both the permanent residents and visitors. Last but not least, I must mention the environment itself. It is absolutely fantastic with Ljusnan running through the valley and all the mountains around providing miles wide views.