Skiing season opens in Uusimaa with first trail at Vihti Ski in Finland

The skiing season in Uusimaa kicked off last Wednesday with the opening of the first ski trail at Vihti Ski in Ojakkala. On Monday morning, a handful of enthusiastic skiers hit the tracks. Vantaa resident Esko Vähäsöyrinki traveled 47 kilometers from Martinlaakso to Vihti. “The snow is excellent. I’d rate it a solid A+. It’s skiing euphoria, leading to a sort of addiction. When the season begins, you can’t skip the mornings,” he remarked.

Vähäsöyrinki is an avid skier, logging around 6,000 kilometers annually. He and other dedicated skiers view this pursuit as a way of life. Tomi Kuoppala, who has already skied several laps this Monday, recorded an impressive 7,255 kilometers last season. “It’s a lifestyle. Summers are for cycling and outdoor activities. As soon as the first snow arrives, it’s time to ski until it’s gone,” he said.

Kuoppala anticipates the season will last until May Day. “Then it’s time to put the skis away and get back on the bike. This has been my routine for life.” He believes the skiing conditions in Southern Finland are unmatched, with six months of skiing possible and hundreds of kilometers of maintained trails.

Vähäsöyrinki enjoys skiing at Petikko in Vantaa, as well as natural trails in Keimola and Serena. Notably, Vantaa now has Finland’s first Snow Factory, which is set to provide skiing trails for Father’s Day.

Using last year’s stored snow, Vihti Ski successfully opened the main slope last Saturday. Tiitus Nuolioja, the daily manager of the ski center, noted that favorable cold nights have kept the track in good condition despite warming weather forecasts. According to Sami Uotila, the operator at Vihti Ski, stored snow is the future of skiing, with 25,000 out of 30,000 cubic meters still available for use.

The first ski trails of the autumn season traditionally opened in early October at Kittilä’s Levi and Kuusamo’s Ruka, utilizing last spring’s stored snow.