Before I left for Sweden I was already thinking about Sweden's tennis heritage: Edberg and Björkman are the ones that come to mind. But there have been more recent Swedish players: Johansson won the Aussie in 2002, and Enqvist lost it in 1999. Most famously Björn Borg only played one Aus. Open because he's soft. Anyway... You'd thinking this great tennis playing nation might have a fair bit of tennis at the amateur (or more accurately: hack) level. Nup, it snows here so they play indoors - limiting the number of courts available.
This doesn't matter though as my work mates have taught me another game. Again, it's been influenced by the snow. It's called Innebandy (or Floorball in English), and it's basically indoor hockey, but also influenced by ice hockey too (you can go behind the goals for instance).
We play three on three, and with no goalie either. It's quick and scores come often.The other sport I've taken up while I'm here is a bit more ridiculous... I've travelled 15,000kms to join a footy club! Mind you, they've got a cool name: The Göteborg Berserkers! Would you want to play a sword wielding Viking berserker? I haven't played footy in a good 8 years, and it's fair to say I haven't got any better since high school. Luckily, they don't seem to be much better ;-)
Funny thing is footy here is played properly: in the mud! No drought to worry about here, there's plenty of soft turf to land in. Mind you I was doing that on my own accord as I don't have studded boots. Volley's don't have much grip in the mud... actually they have none. Might be time for a trip to the shops.
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