How it all started
In the summer of 1997, a handful of outdoor enthusiasts intrigued by human endurance and inspired by nature gathered in the mountain town of Åre, in Northern Sweden. At the height of the long Nordic summer, when the sky never darkens, they followed a multisport trail that still exists today:
- A downstream paddle on a crystal-clear river that snakes down a long valley …
- A steep mountain run up and over the region’s highest peak …
- A demanding mountain bike ride on narrow trails with exhilarating descents …
Fast-forward two decades and the race has grown from a handful of committed endurance junkies to an event that attracts a variety of participants: tourists wanting to explore Clean Green Scandinavia; weekend warriors escaping from urban centers in Stockholm, Trondheim, and Copenhagen; locals who enjoy the mountain lifestyle; and the world’s elite multisport looking to make a living on prize money.
In the New Zealand multisport tradition, competitors celebrate at the finish line in the picturesque Scandinavian village with a cold beer.
Race directors and crew through the years at Åre Extreme Challenge
2021
Henrik Weile
2020
Henrik Weile
2017 - 2019
2010 - 2016
2006 - 2009
2006
2004 - 2005
2000 - 2003
1999
1997-1998
The original 1997 ÅEC Logo
