Valle is already a popular figure in Åre where he has his very own shows and ski school and his role has been extended as official mascot for the Championships, scheduled to take place between February 5 and 17, next year. 

During the Championships, Valle will be present both in town and in the Arena. 

He will have his own VIP area in the finish for children, where they can meet him but also experience the world’s best ski racers from the front row. 

Valle will also visit schools in Åre and Undersåker before the Championships. 

As part of the cooperation between Åre 2019 and the municipality of Åre, all school children in the municipality will be well prepared to come and cheer for the world’s best racers, it is promised. 

The more than 70 entered nations will be studied in geography and social studies classes, and all the facts and figures essential in ski racing will be covered in math. 

To really feel part of the World Championships, the youngest visitors aged between three and nine can also participate in Valle’s World Championships that are staged in Björnen, Duved and Rödkullen every Wednesday over the entire ski season.

The vision of Åre 2019, officials claim, is to inspire the world to ski and that necessitates a special emphasis on youngsters. 

Åre is due to stage most of the Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboard medal events if Stockholm's bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games is successful, even though it is located 400 miles northwest of the Swedish capital.