I started skiing when we moved to Sweden but I'm awful. I do try, but I'm awful. I think it has something to do with my age and teaching dogs new tricks. It doesn't work with me and I still won't go down the main slope at our local ski hill. But I will this year and I've got inspiration.

But I'm posting this because there isn't enough English publicity about the ski hill in our village and it deserves it. Also, because of that inspiration I've found.

But first, the ski hill

I could give you some blarney about how we are nestled in between the two main towns of Vasterbotten and how on a clear day you can see for miles, but I won't. I could tell you about the free WiFi at the top of the hill, in the restaurant and shop, but I don't think they want me to tell you about that and you only get it in certain spots.

I should tell you about the ski shop however. Everyone is very helpful and you can pretty much turn up with nothing and be kitted out for a day on the hill in no time (renting or buying equipment). I will also tell you about lunch - they do a mean burger or kebab plate but you don't have to spend your money here, you can bring you own and eat inside or in one of the huts on one of the hills or better still at one of the open fires - just bring your meat and drinks.

I won't tell you too much as when I start I can go on, but I will tell you, it is open right now, every day from 10am and the cost for a ski pass for the day is 190 kronor and if you were wondering who I am, I'm the guy on the family hill, sat on his arse, not able to stand up.

You can get directions to the ski hill from here and if you are that way inclined, if you zoom out you'll also get to see the slopes Bydgsiljum has to offer. Google have even street viewed it - but it was in the summer, so you don't actually get to see any snow or the views.

There is also a website for the ski hill here, but it is in Swedish. I'm going to talk to them about adding an English page, where I might even write some copy and I'm even going to talk to them about updating it with a little more focus on what I'm about to show you. But that will take time and might not happen.

The Inspiration

While working on something for fun, I was checking out a few videos on Vimeo and fairly randomly typed in 'Bygdsiljum'. This is what I found.

Bygdsiljum 7/1-2011 from Johan Fahlgren on Vimeo.

Now, this is a great advertisement for Bygdsiljum, so I thought I'd share. The video was taken by Johan Fahlgren and he has very kindly given me permission to use it. He took the video, I'm guessing, with a Go Pro HD Helmet Cam and for me, it just shows off what you can get up to in Bygdsiljum, if you want to have a fun day out and unlike me, know what you are doing on a pair of skis.

Fun for all the family

Last bit from me on this, and I've just remembered that if you're reading this you probably want to know something about the hill. Basically, it is fun for all the family - you have different slopes based on your experience and skill. Like I've said, I'm a big fan of the green and blue, but I'll be moving over to the red some time this year, but there is also a black. The black isn't for me, it is for people like Johan Fahlgren.

But there is also a really very basic ski hill for the kids which is a great training hill, so basically, whatever your level, it is a fun day out. From learning to having lots of fun, like in the video above, the ski hill in Bygdsiljum, has it all.