Nature, Skiing and Swedish Nationalism

Skiing is a part of life in the Nordic countries, and it has been for a long time. This chapter concentrates mainly on Sweden. Skiing, even wilderness skiing, cannot be detached from the ideological and social contexts of the time, especially that of nationalism. In the nineteenth century Sweden's consciousness of skiing changed gradually. It is hard to escape the impression that skiing became, in a general sense, part of a national mobilization, triggered by competition among the leading countries in the era of industrialization. Competition took place in the economic arena, but in a symbolic sense progress and power were manifested in other achievements as well. The 1890s in Sweden were a time of both strong national sentiment and a growing awareness of the values of nature and natural resources. One important feature of Swedish outdoor life is that from the outset it was open to both sexes.