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Been with since Branäs inauguration in 1988 - now Bjarne thanks for himself

Branäs is today one of Sweden's most popular ski resorts, but when the resort opened in 1988, one could not predict the success journey that awaited. Bjarne Hovelsås, 66, has been involved since the start and has seen the development up close. After almost 34 years as an employee, the faithful servant now puts his shoes on the shelf.

December 17, 1988. It was the day when the king, together with the then only 9-year-old Prince Carl Philip, cut the ribbon and declared Branäs inaugurated as a ski resort. Just over two months earlier, as one of the first employees ever, the Norwegian Bjarne Hovelsås started as operations manager for the technology department at the site, which today is an award-winning ski resort with visitors from all over the country.

- If you had told me when it all started that day 34 years ago, that Branäs would look like it does today, I would not have believed you. The development has been fantastic to follow, says Bjarne Hovelsås.

From bank branches in Norway to ski slopes in Sweden

That Bjarne Hovelsås ended up in Norra Värmland at a ski resort was far from a matter of course. As he himself describes it, it was by pure chance, and as for so many others, it was love that eventually became the reason for the moving load. After several years as a bank clerk in Norway, he met the Swede Inga-Lill, with whom he is still happily married today. But there was no banking job in Sweden. And there was no ski slope in Branäs yet. Instead, his career began in the world of skiing at a small facility near Branäs.

- There was a vacancy at Långbergets Sporthotell and I stayed there for 8 years. I worked with everything possible, everything from waiter and bartender to fixing with cross-country tracks and lifts.

The job at Långberget became his foot in the industry and to the role he has since devoted the rest of his professional life to.

- I had heard about the plans to build ski slopes on Branäsberget while I was working on Långberget. The interest in mechanics and technology had grown during my years there and when I received the offer of the position as operations manager, I could not say no.

The start of Branäs' longest career

On 1 August 1988, Bjarne Hovelsås made his first day as operations manager in Branäs and laid the foundation for many of the working methods and systems that exist at the facility today.

- I was involved in buying the first snow cannons and piste machines. Since the project was completely new, there was not the same knowledge as today, but we started from the experience we had, including my time at Långberget, and it went well, you have to say.

Unlike today, where the projects and budget are significantly larger, a lot was done in-house.

- I cut down forest and mapped out the very first cross-country trails all by myself.

Shortly after Bjarne's entry into Branäs, the ski resort was inaugurated when King Carl XVI Gustav was present with his son Carl Philip on 17 December 1988.

- We were the first facility in the Nordics with a gondola lift, which of course got a lot of attention.

But apart from a powerful inauguration and the Nordic region's first gondola lift, which at that time took guests to the top even in summer, the first years in Branäs were no major success. Warm winters and the financial crisis in the early 90s left their mark and the success story that Branäs is could only begin later, in the early 2000s.

Families with children are starting to find their way to Branäs

Branäs could be divided into two eras, the time before the Branäs group and the time after, which Bjarne agrees with.

- When the current owner took over, things started to happen. They came in with a clear plan and the development began to go in the right direction.

The families who today run the Branäs group, including the brothers Mikael and Lars Rundblom, bought Branäs from the then owners HSB Värmland in 1999. A major investment was started immediately, which has led to what Branäs we know today.

- To begin with, they chose to fully invest in the winter and I think above all that the marketing became sharper and more clearly aimed at families. Soon, children's areas, more lifts, slopes and housing began to be built.

Have you had time to stop and enjoy the development, you who have followed it so closely?

- It has been difficult to catch up with it actually. During the season, everything goes so fast and I have full focus on the business. But of course there are times where you get to the top, look down over the snow-covered and sparkling slopes that are now filled with guests and are impressed by how far we have come. It's awesome.

The profession - a great passion

In parallel with Branäs' fantastic progress, Bjarne's interest in technology and mechanics has become stronger. The interest has grown into a passion, which has meant that he still remains with pretty much the same role as when he started almost 34 years ago.

- I am currently head of lift technology, but roughly the role is the same. I simply have the technical responsibility for the lifts. There is a lot of service and tests that must be carried out to make everything work and be safe for the guest.

Is there a big difference in what the lifts look like today compared to 30 years ago?

- Not really. The biggest difference is the control system, which is of course much more modern. Before there were buttons and levers and today everything, like so much else, is shot via a screen. If problems occur, the system can often tell you what has happened. Before, you had to go out and investigate much more.

The day when the "hero in Branäs" was born

Bjarne has not only succeeded with the feat of being Branäs' longest-serving employee, he has also been declared a hero for a unique and dramatic event a few years ago. On a normal day in January 2017, the gondola stopped due to a power outage. After the lift had stood still for a long time, the staff received information that one of the guests - a 12-year-old boy - who was stuck in the gondola had diabetes and was in urgent need of food. Bjarne and his colleagues set the pace and prepared for the rescue operation. With baguettes, bananas and chocolate packed in a backpack, Bjarne put on a harness and began the climb up to the lift where the boy was. The food was delivered and Bjarne was praised by both the boy's family and newspapers around the country. He himself is more modest.

- I guess I did not think it was so strange. The most important thing was that the boy did well.

Retires this summer

For the so-called hero now awaits a well-deserved pension and the last working day he does on June 23. On Tuesday, June 14, he was thanked by his colleagues with flashbacks, speeches and, as should be the case at such an event, a hearty piece of cake.

What is it that has made you stay in Branäs for so long?

- I have enjoyed myself fantastically well since day one, where I have had a role with a lot of freedom under responsibility. I have great confidence in making my own decisions and being involved in the development. Then it has given me a lot of joy that the guests appreciate us in the staff so much. I think this is something that makes Branäs unique and that needs to continue in the future, the personal contact.

What are you going to invent now that you are retiring?

- There are many who have asked me that question and I do not really know. I have a holiday home that needs to be renovated a bit, but otherwise I have to ask to return when I have been retired for a while. It will be a big change, of course.

Yes, it will be a change - even for Branäs. For the first time ever, they will start a winter season without Bjarne Hovelsås as one of their employees. But they will not be completely abandoned.

- There are major expansion plans in Branäs that I look forward to following as an outsider as well. I live only a few kilometers from here so I will not be able to stay away completely.

After 34 years together, it is fortunate that the distance is no longer than a few kilometers - both for Bjarne and Branäs. In this way, the relationship can continue for many more years.

 

Photo (photos of Bjarne): Daniel Olausson

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