2 Exclusive - A detailed career interview with Ulf karlson

2 Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson

Once this was made, we booked our flight and hire car and were over in Sweden pretty quickly. We flew into Gothenburg which is the 2nd largest city in Sweden behind Stockholm. Gothenburg is situated on the western coast of Sweden and is an important historic port access point for Sweden allowing supplies to come in and go out. Arriving at Gothenburg airport it was everything I had come to expect from Scandanavian countries. Everything was brushed stainless steel and glass, neat, tidy and immaculate. When we arrived we were welcomed by the sun shining brightly. It was warm with temperatures around 25 degrees and the skies were blue.

Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson

So, first we headed off to the the Liseberg theme park. This place is a real hidden gem. Well, it is not so hidden, however I had never heard of it and quite frankly I should have. What a place. I have been to a few theme parks around the World and this one rates as being the best.

I think there were 6 roller coasters of differing types. The wooden coaster for me was the piece de resistance. I had always dream't of riding one and perhaps hearing it creak and feel it move a little under the load of several carriages. The Liseberg wooden coaster is a huge one and it was a great ride.

photo expedia

By Lennart Guldbrandsson -

Photo expedia

I couldn't have asked for more apart from one thing, a better place to stay than the not so lavish Ibis styles hotel on the edge of Ulf 's home town of Lerum. But it's my fault, I should have a paid a little more.

The town of Lerum is on the eastern side of the Säveåns Naturreservat nature reserve, ie the huge lake. Lerum is half an hour's drive from Gothenburg.

ibis

Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson photo google

Driving along the lake front, are large stretches of lawn with hundreds of people laid out on towels enjoying the warm sun. A 200 foot long floating pier stretched out into the lake and to a floating diving platform with two levels.The whole community was down at the Lakeside chatting, swimming, diving, having picnics and barbecues. This is what people do in Lerum when the sun comes out. Instead of driving to the beach they come here. It was gorgeous. The water was warm......and I hadn't brought any shorts ......bummer !
If you look at the satellite photo above carefully you can see the foot pier coming out into the lake.

Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson

Now and again huge American cars would drive up and down the road by the lake, making the most of the sunshine.

Ulf and Ewa come down here to exercise.

Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson

The whole area is quite idyllic. Canals coming off the lake were quiet, with the odd fisherman casting a line. It was very peaceful.

Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson

On the other side of the road in a large stretch of beautiful lawn were 150 women in a variety of different coloured fluorescent latex and lycra leotards taking part in yoga stretching and contorting their bodies to the Pet Shop Boys and other great tunes.

Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson

Next to this were grass football pitches with teams running backwards and forwards. It was all quite a sight. The whole community was there and it made me think whether I've ever seen anything like this in the UK. I don't think I have. The sense of community was incredible.

It was time to see Ulf.

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