Christmas in Kiruna

With the exception of the pandemic years, spending Christmas in Kiruna has very much become a family tradition. As such, it felt particularly important to return also this year – even if, for me, it was only for four days. While Anna and the kids are staying on until 5 January, I am already checked in on SK1041 and about to leave the Arctic behind.

Looking back on my days here, I managed three swims at the old Simhallsbadet, which is now firmly scheduled for demolition on 9 January. This will leave Kiruna, and its schoolchildren, without a public pool until the new €100-million-plus aquatic centre eventually opens. I also squeezed in a few workouts at Gymmet and made it to the 36th edition of the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi. Unfortunately, there was no winter sports this time around. The kids have outgrown their equipment and insisted they are still suffering from cross-country skiing PTSD ;-)