Skiing season begins with new track opening in Vuokatti, Finland

Early-season ski tracks are essential for domestic athletes, according to national team skier Perttu Hyvärinen. He emphasizes that gaining access to these tracks is a highly anticipated phase following the summer training period. The traditional early-season track opened on October 11 in Vuokatti, where Hyvärinen is currently training.

“Skiing kilometers at this stage of the season are incredibly important, and in Vuokatti, we can start skiing earlier, even at sea level,” he explains. The first phase of the track construction has provided nearly two kilometers of skiing lanes, and even a shorter route offers valuable training. The snow also enhances the training ambiance, highlighting Hyvärinen’s excitement: “I am not good at anything else but gliding on skis, so I enjoy finally hitting the snow.”

On the opening day, fellow skiers Perttu Hyvärinen and Miska Poikkimäki took to the new track in Vuokatti. The early-season track in Vuokatti has been a staple for the past twenty years. This year’s ski season commenced in rainy and warm weather. Miska Poikkimäki, who represents Vuokatti Ski Team and is involved in the track’s preparation, notes that the construction team actively considers athlete feedback.

Before his own training runs, Poikkimäki even drives the grooming machine over the same paths to ensure they are well-maintained. “Having used the tracks myself, it’s important to keep them in good condition,” he says.