New-in-Box SWEDEN Starbucks "You Are Here" Coffee MugWhether it's Ingemar Bergman films, meatballs, or a favourite Muppet, most people have a fond association with Sweden. Sweden is also home to some of the best cross country skiers; Sixten Jernberg pushed planks of wood through the snow to Olympic victory in the 1950s, and the Swedish women's team currently dominates international competition. I'm sure there were many successful Swedish skiers in between too. Oh yeah, Gunde Svan At any rate, you may

this small town (and its surrounding areas) has been making snowshoes since at least the 1850s

The Engerdal Skifabrikk of Norway made some of the most beautiful wood skis in the late 1960s and early 1970s under the Eggen brand

boots from Sweden

and has had its tops and bases refinished to preserve the skis for the next 50 years

Classic Rottefella "Fenix" 71mm bindings and Geze "pop up" heel plates complete the package

The black tape on the shaft of one pole was a very common look on a bamboo pole that displayed some vertical splitting

Width at center: 46mm (that's pretty skinny

and the long one is 135cm

Take for instance this pair of Madshus "Dobbel Box" racing skis with commemorative graphics celebrating the 1982 nordic worlds at Holmenkollen/Oslo

of Lillehammer Norway

Safer just to lean them in the corner and drool

Unlike their neighbors