Rebecka Harlaut: Healing Knees, Designing Skis, and Raising the Next Generation of Freeriders

Rebecka Harlaut grew up between Åre and Duved, skiing from an early age and always chasing the joy of movement. But her journey through the ski world hasn’t been a straight line. From alpine racing to moguls, from competitive freeriding to physiotherapy, Rebecka has carved her own route—with plenty of detours, injuries, and epiphanies along the way.

In this episode of What’s up Åre, Rebecka talks about growing up in Ullån, making peace with stepping away from elite racing, and how a major knee injury changed everything—sparking her interest in recovery, anatomy, and eventually becoming a physiotherapist.

She also shares the story behind Mother Tree skis, a freeride ski she helped design and develop in collaboration with Åre Skidfabrik. And we explore Inspire Us, the women’s ski community she co-founded to bring more connection, confidence, and representation to the slopes.

Whether you’ve battled injuries, felt out of place in competitive sports, or just love hearing real mountain stories from badass women—this conversation hits deep.

“I realised this was too serious for me.”

“We started a women’s community called Inspire Us.”

“I tore my ACL, and that led me to study physiotherapy.”

“We created a ski called Mother Tree.”

— Rebecka Harlaut

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:04:10) Leaving Alpine for Moguls and Freeride

(00:10:00) Growing Up in Ullån and Åre

(00:16:20) Discovering the Freeride World and Traveling

(00:23:00) Knee Injury and the Path to Physiotherapy

(00:30:10) Co-Founding Inspire Us

(00:36:40) Developing Mother Tree Skis with Åre Skidfabrik

(00:43:30) Life as a Mom in the Mountains

(00:50:50) Community, Shifting Priorities, and Finding Balance

(00:58:30) Reflections on Kids, Tech, and Freedom

(01:07:20) Creativity, Leathercraft, and Caribbean Dreams

Rebecka Harlaut: @rebeckaharlaut

Creative Director: Viktor Ohlin @allinvision.jpg

Hosts: Val Cook and Tim Boffe @thenomadsfamily

Interior Design by Theolin Interior Design

This episode is also available on YouTube and YouTube Music.

Subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who’s ever taken the scenic route—on skis or in life.

Ever bounced back from an injury, shifted paths, or started something new in the mountains? We’d love to hear your story.

🎿 Big thanks to Skisport Åre for sponsoring this episode!

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