Fredrik Ericsson

Fredrik Ericsson grew up in Umeâ, in the northern part of Sweden, with long winters and lots of snow. As young he tried a lot of sports like ice hockey, soccer, orienteering and cross-country skiing. At the age of 18 he found out that skiing was his big passion, worked as a ski instructor for two years in Oppdal, Norway before he left Scandinavia and spent winters in Queenstown, New Zealand and Fernie, Canada. In 2000 Fredrik came to Chamonix, France, where he found the perfect playground for all his interests: skiing, climbing, mountain biking and paragliding. Since then he’s stayed in Chamonix. Nowadays the winters are mixed with backcountry skiing, photo shoots and trips to remote mountain ranges like Sarek National Park, Svalbard and Hurrungane.

In the summer of 2003 Fredrik climbed the 7495 m high Peak Communism (Peak Somoni) in Tajikistan and descended the Borodkin route on skis. This trip opened his eyes and made him crave for more high mountains.

September 27, 2004, Fredrik became the first Swede ever to ski descend an 8000-meter peak when he skied down Shisha Pangma, 8012 m, in Tibet. During the year he was also named on the list of Sweden’s top 10 skiers by "Âka Skidor Magazine".

In 2005 he traveled to Svalbard, a group of islands in the arctic sea, to explore the skiing possibilities. He came home with several first ski descents and a close encounter with a Polar Bear. Fredrik didn’t want the ski season to end so in June he teamed up with Norwegian Jörgen Aamot and left for the Karakorams in Pakistan. They didn’t reach all the way to the summit of Laila Peak, 6069 meters, but from 5940 meters Fredrik and Jörgen made the first ever ski descent of the spectacular Laila Peak. That wasn’t enough, after Laila they continued up the Baltoro valley and ski descended the 8035 meter high Gasherbrum 2, Fredrik’s second 8000-meter peak.

In the future Fredrik is looking forward to continue traveling the world, exploring mountain ranges. For more information on Fredrik, check out his website www.fredrikericsson.com

Achievements:

First ski descent of the North Face of Centraltind in Hurrungane, Norway 2002

First ski descent of "Sör renna fra Gjertvasskaret" in Hurrungane, Norway 2003

Ski descent of Peak Communism, 7495m, Tajikistan 2003

Ski descent of Shisha Pangma, 8012m, Tibet 2004

Several first ski descents on Svalbard, Norway 2005

First ski descent of Laila Peak, from 5940m (6069m), Pakistan 2005

Ski descent of Gasherbrum 2, 8035m, Pakistan 2005

Ski descent of Dhaulagiri (8167m) from 7950m, Nepal 2007

Photo Gallery

[Click on images to enlarge]