FWC Discover NORDIC SKI
In March 2026 FWC will take a team of 12 women to tackle a multi-day Discover Nordic Ski Experience, in the stunning ‘Sub-Arctic’ environment of Jämtland in Northern Sweden. This challenge will introduce the fundamentals of Nordic Skiing and associated winter safety skills. Alongside learning to Nordic ski and move through varied terrain, it will give participants the opportunity to learn skills in being self-sufficient in a winter wilderness environment (e.g. digging snow holes), with an emphasis on developing self-confidence, resilience, mindfulness and teamwork.
KEY DATES
Saturday 7th MARCH - Saturday 14th MARCH 2026
COULD THIS BE YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?
If you feel this is the adventure for you, please see the FAQ’s below for more details on the expedition and information on how to apply.
DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SKI?
No, you do not need to be able to ski before the trip, this challenge is open to everyone. So if you have never skied before, please don’t be put off applying, as you will be provided with tuition and coaching. We start with the basics of putting on the skis and skiing on flat ground before progressing to going up and down hills and going on longer journeys. Weather permitting, an expedition to other huts is planned once everyone has learned the basics of Nordic skiing.
HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
A good measure of fitness for this challenge is whether you can walk for several hours a day (6-8 hours) on consecutive days. Advice on a pre-expedition training program will be provided to the team.
What does a typical day look like?
0800 - Breakfast
0900 - Morning brief
0930 - 1230 - Ski
1230 - Lunch
1330 - 1600 - Ski
1600 onwards - dinner, evening brief and downtime (some days there will be a sauna accessible for use)
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
All skis, boots, poles and group safety equipment will be provided for this challenge. Essentially you will need to provide your own Gore-tex (or similar) jacket and trousers suitable for cold winter weather (what you might wear in the mountains in the UK winter), a rucksack, thermal base layers and extras like hat, warm gloves and goggles (a full kit list will be distributed). You will be able to use all these items for future adventures! FWC even has some items of equipment such as sleeping bag liners that you can borrow.
DO I HAVE TO BE A FWC MEMBER TO APPLY?
Yes, to apply to participate in this challenge, you have to be a member of FWC. The membership policy can be found HERE. If you are a female with a partner (spouse or long-term partner) in the armed forces (either serving or a veteran) and are not yet a member, please sign up HERE prior to applying for the challenge.
HOW MUCH WILL THE WILDERNESS Ski CHALLENGE COST?
There will be a cost of £1200 required from each team member, which is an all-inclusive price from arrival at the initial Mountain Centre in Sweden, through to departure. This includes accommodation, guide costs, food and equipment. The costs not covered are; flights, personal insurance (to include Nordic ski touring) ski clothing and alcohol. A deposit of £300 will be due 10 days after receipt of invoice (individual invoices will be sent by Sweden Outdoors Coaching once the team has been confirmed). The balance will be due in early 2026, and invoices for the final amount will be sent by Sweden Outdoors Coaching.
HOW WILL PARTICIPANTS BE SELECTED FOR THE FWC WILDERNESS SKI?
Applications for this challenge will be open from Monday 21st July at 09.00 until Sunday 27th July at 20.00 ONLY and following the closing date, names will be drawn at random to allocate the places. Applicants will be contacted by email by Thursday 31st July to confirm whether or not we have been able to offer a place on this challenge. Applicants who are offered a place will be required to confirm that they want to accept the place within 5 days, or their place will be offered to the next on the waiting list. The link will be available here during the application window.
WHO IS RUNNING THE CHALLENGE?
The challenge is being run by Matt Larsson-Clifford and his company Sweden Outdoors Coaching. Matt is based in Sweden and is ex-military. He was also one of the FWC Heroes of Telemark expedition guides, which took place in 2022. Matt continues to run the FWC Wilderness Canoeing trip and ran the first FWC Discover Nordic Ski trip in 2025.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING ON THE CHALLENGE?
Learning how to Nordic Ski (not always as easy as it looks but plenty of fun!), understanding how to manage yourself, clothing and equipment in a sub-arctic environment, learning about both emergency and planned winter shelters, navigation, use of the Swedish Mountain Hut Network, Saami Culture and much more!
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING AND HOW WILL I WASH?
You will be staying in basic huts with dormitory-style bunkbeds (a few hundred metres from a well-equipped mountain lodge where we prepare our food and can relax). Toilets are often outside within short walking distance of huts. Duvets are provided, you will just need a sleeping bag liner. The basic huts themselves do not have washing facilities; however, there is access to larger huts within short walking distance with sauna, shop, snacks and opportunities to wash at the end of each day.
WHAT WILL I BE EATING?
We will be self-catering. On some days we will have expedition food (freeze-dried food) with us for the huts with the odd supplementary luxury item! A celebratory meal is included on the last night at Storulvån with often locally sourced and prepared food - all dietary requirements can be catered for.
WILL I ENCOUNTER ANIMALS?
The trip is in the ‘Sub-Arctic’ environment of Jämtland in Northern Sweden and is renowned for reindeer and moose.
Where can I get a sneak peak of what it might be like?
Check out:
@swedenoutdoorscoaching on INSTAGRAM
Sweden Outdoors Coaching on FACEBOOK
WHERE WILL I NEED TO BOOK FLIGHTS TO?
The likely route is a flight from the UK to Trondheim in Norway (there will be a specific time window that will be confirmed after places have been allocated, so that everyone arrives within the same timeframe - flights are not to be booked prior to this). Included in the price is a return bus transfer from Trondheim to Storulvån.
WHAT ARE THE BOOKING CONDITIONS, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF, FOR ANY REASON, I CANNOT GO HAVING BEEN ALLOCATED A PLACE E.G. IF WE ARE POSTED OVERSEAS?
Please read our BOOKING CONDITIONS and DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT prior to applying for this challenge.
In the event of you being unable to participate, we will try to arrange for someone else to take your place, but this cannot be guaranteed.