Finland's 26-27 Season Underway

Finland’s 26-27 ski season opened this morning at two of the country's leading resorts of Levi and Ruka.

Both resorts once again relying on their long‑established snow‑farming systems, storing snow through summer, to guarantee an early October start. Levi is reported to have stored close to 300,000 m³ of snow through summer, insulated on its Front Slopes and Levi Black race terrain, while Ruka is reported to have preserved roughly 150,000 m³ using sawdust, white fabric and Snow Secure’s plastic insulation, retaining up to 80% of its winter stockpile.

At Levi, Zero Point opened at 09:00, followed by the Front Slopes at 09:30, including Levi Glacier, the terrain park and moguls. Ruka launched skiing on its Saarua slopes with the Saarua Express, Saarua III and Village‑2‑Valley gondola running.

Conditions were murky and misty across Lapland at opening time, but visibility remained sufficient for early‑season operations. Along with a few kilometres of downhill slopes and terrain park features, cross‑country loops opened at both resorts, with Levi offering 4 km of First Snow Track and morning testing events.

Both centres will be open until May next year for seven-month plus seasons, amongst the world's longest.

In addition a terrain park has opened, using the same snowfarming technique, at Kläppen in Sweden.