Annelie Pompe – guided by curiosity
For Annelie, it was obvious from a young age that motorbikes would be her thing. “I knew even then that I’d love it, but I also realised that I like speed a lot – so it was probably best to wait a while before getting my licence,” she says. With travels, adventures and a lifestyle that often unfolded far from home, the licence had to wait.
During her expeditions, Annelie was frequently flown by helicopter to remote mountains or places without roads. Each time, the thought grew stronger: this was a machine she wanted to learn to master herself. She heard a voice inside whispering: one day I’ll do that. When she finally began training for her helicopter licence, she quickly realised it was impractical not to be able to get to and from the airfield on her own.
So, four years ago, she first took her driving test, then her helicopter licence, and a year later her motorcycle licence. “It was a lot of engines in a short time,” Annelie laughs.
First taste of riding joy
She remembers vividly how it felt during her very first riding lesson. It was one of those experiences that instantly imprints itself on the body – bold, unexpected, and so much more fun than she had imagined. “To be able to ride the bike myself on the very first go… it was absolutely incredible. I went around smiling for a whole week afterwards.”
She also recalls weaving through cones in slalom and feeling as if she was going really fast. Then she looked down and saw it was only 40 km/h. “It doesn’t take much speed to feel like you’re flying,” she laughs.
The most challenging part when she first started working towards her licence was riding at low speeds. The slow-riding course was really tough – especially the fact that she couldn’t quite reach the ground. Whenever she had to stop and put a foot down, she ended up toppling over instead. Later, when she bought her very first motorbike, it was one she could properly reach the ground on. The difference was remarkable.
Some bikes just feel right. For Annelie, the Svartpilen 801 was exactly that. After first starting out on the smaller Svartpilen 401, she has now found her match in a model she describes as both powerful and forgiving – and so stylish that just seeing it makes her happy. This year, as a Husqvarna ambassador, she’s had it lowered slightly so it fits her perfectly.
- Age: 43
- Lives in: Gothenburg
- Background: Adventurer, speaker and inspirer
- Achievements: Summited Mount Everest and set a freediving world record – 126 metres on a single breath in the Red Sea, Dahab
- Works as: Speaker, helicopter pilot and instructor, freediving teacher, yoga instructor and trekking guide
- Currently: Appearing in Elitstyrkans hemligheter
- Next up: Serving in the Swedish Home Guard and training as a part-time firefighter
If she could pick any bike for her garage, it would undoubtedly be the Svartpilen 801. Still, there’s a spark of curiosity about bigger machines, such as the Husqvarna 901 Expedition – even if it’s so tall she’s not entirely sure how she’d manage it.
The feeling of freedom
Just like in her other sports, riding is about closeness to nature. When Annelie dives or climbs, she is fully immersed in the elements – and it’s the same on a motorbike. There are no barriers, no windows shutting out the world.
“For me, experiencing nature is tied to the feeling of freedom. On a motorbike, I feel as close to nature as I do on an expedition.”
There are still things she longs to try: off-road riding, track days. “That really excites me. I want to become a better rider, not necessarily a faster one.”
At the beginning, there was also a touch of fear – as there always is when starting something new. Riding can feel thrilling and a little scary at first, and that’s part of its charm.
“When you face that discomfort enough times, it eventually becomes normal. And along the way, you grow a little,” Annelie reflects. “Motorcycling itself is a feeling of freedom. It makes me more present. I feel more alive.”
Another thing she enjoys about riding is the sense of community. Even when you’re out alone, riders nod to one another on the road, and at fuel stops you chat with strangers simply because you share the same passion.
Now, she often longs for the ride itself when the bike is parked.
Just to get on and set off – it’s almost a feeling of relief. That’s something I really miss when I’m not riding.
At a crossroad
Annelie is currently appearing in the TV show Elitstyrkans hemligheter (Sweden’s equivalent of SAS: Who Dares Wins), one of the toughest challenges you can take on. In the middle of the physical and mental trials, something became clear: she was standing at a crossroads.
“I had got stuck in a routine that didn’t feel like me. I almost thought, maybe this is just what life is now – a bit quieter, a bit duller. But deep down, it didn’t feel right.”
That was a year ago, and much has changed since. Annelie chose to leave a relationship that no longer matched her drive. “He was wonderful in many ways, but also more comfortable by nature. I realised I was adapting too much and losing myself.”
They used to ride together, chatting through their helmets. But their ways of travelling were different. He preferred short trips close to home with plenty of café stops, while Annelie yearned for something more – longer journeys, overnight stays, using the bike instead of a car. She wanted to explore small, unknown roads rather than circle the same route. Listening to her instincts, she chose a new direction.
She recalls her first long solo trip: six hours on the bike to a work engagement, a night in a helicopter hangar, then onwards the next day.
It felt wonderful to set out on my first solo adventure. I realised I enjoy riding alone – you grow from doing things independently.
Looking ahead
New adventures beckon. Annelie dreams of longer tours with her tent packed on the back, combining motorcycling with the outdoor life that has always been part of her. At home, she already has a favourite road: a winding S-curve through the beech forest in Söderåsen National Park. For her, it’s worth a detour every time.
“When you ride there, the leaves form a green canopy over the road. You come downhill into the beech forest and see this perfect bend ahead of you. It’s so beautiful that I try to go there at least a couple of times a year.”
And further afield lies the big dream: Patagonia.
“It’s such an incredibly beautiful place, with so much to discover. Imagine riding on those endless, lonely roads. Combining riding with nature, camping along the way, simply being on the road. That would be an extraordinary journey.”
Curiosity as compass
Annelie’s advice to anyone on the verge of something new is simple: don’t hesitate too long. Take a step, in any direction. That’s how momentum, new ideas and new encounters come about. And as long as you stay curious, life will always be a little more exciting.
Perhaps that is exactly where Annelie Pompe always finds her way – in curiosity. She has climbed the world’s highest mountains and explored the depths of the oceans, but she has also faced crossroads where life demanded new choices. For her, it is rarely about speed or achievement. Rather, it is about presence, courage, and the will to always take one more step.
Anna Haglund