Skitrotter made a stop at Vemdalen ski museum in the small valley of Vemdalen, or “Who Valley” as the local nickname translates in English. Vemdalen is a waste spot at the very beginning of the Swedish mountains. Here, a ski artifact collecting plague is spreading among the local ski community. Ski history is strong in Vemdalen, and its surrounding ski resorts. Ski artifacts are to be found in every homestead. Among all, local citizen Berndt Holmqvist or “Berne” is the greatest collector of all.
After 40 years in the ski business, Berne has collected more than 3000 ski artifacts in his barn. Every dedicated skier holds more than one pair, and the ski stuff use fills up its owners’ garage or basement, but a hole barn?
Come on
Yes, and we all know that feeling of finally throwing away that old ski gear and stuff that been lying around for decades, just to be invited to a 80s look – alike ski party the week after.
If you miss your old gear, or just want to be reminded of your childhood skiing, you can always go visit Berne and his Vemdalen ski museum. This is where a fraction of his collection is put on show for the public.
Entering the gate of Vemdalen ski museum is a walk down the memory lane
If you are lucky, Berne might show up and tell you more abut each artifact than then notes and signs are telling.
Berne keeps his exhibition alive and alters the goods regularly.
After all, there is much to show and donators keep passing by and donating or lending ski stuff that carries its own history. For example, here is a full wall of Salomon skis.
From the very first limited presale ski released in 1990 and given to the influencers of that time (Berne was one of them).
Ingemar Stenmark and Anja Person are present
Sweden’s greatest skiers are, of course, represented with their old racing skis. And the Swedish ski manufacturer Extrem has its own wall of flame including the first collection of Freedom skis from 1998.
A ski model that I was part of in initiate. Freeride.se still has a review on the model with readers’ comments. Click on the link here to read it. Those comments are an art installation itself.
A living exhibition
The open museum is not very big, and Berne can only show a fragment of his artifacts at a time.
Therefore, he tries to alter the items on display. Making it worth coming back from time to time. There is no entrance fee but when you visit, there is a possibility to donate money or an artifact. I suggest you do so.
When in Vemdalen, don’t just drive through, make a pit stop at the Local Skier museum. That’s not advice. It’s an order.
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