True Ski Heroes 2025 – Honouring The Unsung Heroes

This winter, Betsson, together with ski ambassador Emil Persson, set out on a mission to find the true ski heroes of Sweden. But who is a true ski hero? It’s someone who, with extraordinary dedication and heart, helps make cross-country skiing possible for others.

We received an overwhelming number of nominations from across the country. From these, ten individuals stood out and were named this year’s True Ski Heroes, recognised for their invaluable contributions to the sport.

This initiative, led by the Betsson Sports Foundation and Emil Persson, pays tribute to the unsung heroes of Swedish cross-country skiing.

The sport continues to thrive thanks to tireless volunteers who work behind the scenes—preparing trails, waxing skis, and doing whatever it takes to keep the momentum going. This award shines a light on those who dedicate their time and energy to the skiing community, often entirely voluntarily.

“We skiers are completely dependent on these passionate individuals. They’re the real heroes – the ones who make it possible for us to train, compete and enjoy the sport. It’s been incredibly moving to read all the nominations, and narrowing it down to just ten was no easy task,” says Emil Persson.

After an extensive nomination process via betssonsidrottsfond.se, the jury – comprising Emil Persson, Markus Laggar (head wax technician for the Lager 157 Ski Team), and Betsson’s Sponsorship manager in Sweden, Linus Endahl – selected this year’s ten winners. Each will receive a diploma and a gift voucher worth 5,000 SEK.

Emil Persson has been one of the standout athletes on the Ski Classics tour in recent years, winning the overall title in both 2020/21 and 2022/23, and finishing second in between. Since January, he has served as an ambassador for Betsson.

The Betsson Sports Foundation is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting sports at all levels across Sweden.

Discover more about the initiative and this year’s winners at betssonsidrottsfond.se.