Hopeasompa youth ski races saved by volunteer effort after warm weather threat

The Hopeasompa cross-country skiing championships for children and youth in Ristijärvi, Finland, faced cancellation due to unseasonably warm weather and rain, but were rescued by an extensive volunteer operation, competition director Arto Tolonen told public broadcaster Yle on Friday.

Over 500 young skiers aged 12–16 are competing this weekend at Saukkovaara ski centre in Kainuu for the national Hopeasompa titles. Sprint races took place Friday, with distance events scheduled for Saturday and relays on Sunday.

Tolonen described the volunteer workforce as “unyielding,” adding: “They’ve stretched beyond their limits—and then stretched some more.” More than 200 people participated in snow-gathering and trail preparation, using tractors and manual labour to collect and compact snow onto the racecourse before it melted.

“Our timing was perfect,” Tolonen said. “We started moving snow from the edges to the centre while there was still some left. If we’d waited any longer, we’d have lost the race against the weather.”

He expressed confidence that the finals would proceed as planned through Sunday, citing overnight frost forecasts and shaded trail sections where conditions remain good. The Hopeasompa series, organised by the Finnish Ski Association, includes cross-country, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events, with the youngest competitors aged 10.

Early spring thaw has disrupted skiing across northern Finland, forcing cancellations or relocations of multiple events. Earlier this week, national biathlon championships in Oulu were moved to Vuokatti due to poor snow conditions.