This is the first day of the year, and I am at my first ski resort. Not just the first of the year, but my actual first ski resort that I skied at age 7 ... or 8, can't quite remember. In any case, a few years ago. A few decades ago... five. Uh. Anyway, a really nice experience once again. And a very nice local ski hill that trains little kids to ski and to race, like it did back when I was here the last time. Wonderful.
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January 2026, Kokonniemen hiihtokeskus, Porvoo, Finland; Kokonniemen tykkiaseman rauniot, Porvoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Military)
We flew to the Finnish north and drove to Pyhä just before the big winter storm of the end of 2025 hit. And came back after it, missing the storm impact on our flights. However, it did it the skiing time. I was wondering if something was wrong with my helmet visor setup, because I couldn't keep it clear... could see almost nothing. But it wasn't the visor or my use of it, it was the supercooled water flying around and freezing on everything. Even the tops of my skis froze up with an ice layer. Clothing. Helmet. Everything.
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December 2025, Pyhä, Finland; Hotelli Pyhätunturi, Pyhä, Finland; Kairankutsu husky farm, Pyhä, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal); Travel
First I thought of driving to Jyväskylä's Laajavuori (4 hours away) to experience one melting slope.. but then I found out that I can drive only 1.5 hours to another melting slope in Messilä near Lahti... win! And it only rained a bit. But it was actually quite a lot of fun!
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December 2025, Messilä, Lahti, Finland; Lahden uimahalli, Lahti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal, Steam); Swimming (Indoor, Waterbody-Pool, Water)
On Saturday I flew back from the Montreal IETF but not before some pre-season (or pre-school?) skiing at Préski in Quebec City, cave hunting in Parc de Naturel de Portneuf, and airport waiting at the AF lounge for the BA flight that was six hours late.
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November 2025, Préski, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Skiing (Indoor, Substance-Other)
The free skiing evening was a popular ski movie and gear event in the 2000s, but has not been around in recent years. But this year Jan-Erik "Blomi" Blomberg organized this again, in Helsinki's Suvilahti. As a charity event benefitting the Doctors Without Borders, and showcasing ski movies and talks.
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November 2025, Peloton Cycling Eatery, Suvilahti, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (None)
It has been a while since I skied properly. I skied in July at an indoor ski resort in Madrid and Oslo, and in June also in Oslo. But after that in August and September only on some snow piles outside ice skating halls... so it was time to ski again! Last year for October I went for a day trip to Levi (alt. link), but while fun that was a gruelingly tiresome travel and way too short time in Levi. So this year I went for the whole weekend.
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October 2025, Levi, Kittilä, Finland; Levi Hotel, Kittilä, Finland; Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Kittilän lentokenttä, Kittilä, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Walking; Hiking; Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam); Flying; Travel
For many years, I went to see the Skiexpo event, often organized in the biggest fair place, the Messukeskus. But for the last fifteen years I've often not been able to go, traveling typically around the time that it happens, being too busy, or just not as interested. This year I went to the much smaller event, organized in the Tripla shopping mall in Pasila, Helsinki. I liked it!
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October 2025, Tripla, Pasila, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (None)
Decided to drive to Lohja for a quick swim at the Neidonkeidas, the local public swimming hall.
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October 2025, Virkistysuimala Neidonkeidas, Lohja, Finland; Lohjan jäähalli, Lohja, Finland
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Skiing (None)
These are challenging times, these are September times.
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September 2025, Ritorps ishall, Ulriksdahls idrottsplats, Solna, Sweden; Cyloq Arena, Sollentuna, Sweden; Medley Solna Simhall, Ulriksdahls idrottsplats, Solna, Sweden; Medley Sollentuna sim- och sporthall, Sollentuna, Sweden; Sundbybergs Simhall & Gym, Sundbyberg, Sweden; Arlanda, Sweden
Skiing (None); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking); Swimming (Indoor, Waterbody-Pool, Water, None); Sauna (Normal, None); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Flying
An active day, for sure. I needed to fly out today, but before that I wanted to get my August ski turns in the massive snow mountains of Myyrmäki's ice skating hall (picture above), visit my mom, and do a quick swim at a swimming place near her in Pornainen's Hietasen uimaranta (Hietasen's beach) in Vähä-Laukkokoski. A nice package for the day! The skating hall was open and there was a pile of snow, saw my mom, visited the beach with warm water and sunshine and no one else around, and had a pleasant flying experience in the air and at the airports.
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August 2025, Myyrmäen jäähalli, Myyrmäki, Vantaa, Finland; Hietasen uimaranta, Vähä-Laukkokoski, Pornainen, Finland; Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Split Airport, Split, Croatia
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Outdoor, Waterbody-Lake, Beach); Flying
After having skied in Snø on the last days of June, now I was about to fly out from Norway, but had some time. I decided to go to Snø again, to cover my July skiing :-)
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July 2025, Snø, Oslo, Norway
Skiing (Indoor, Snow, Lifts)
Snow in Madrid??? I didn't believe it was possible, so I wasn't prepared. I should have had faith... of course there's snow. There always has been and always will be. Everywhere.
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July 2025, Snozone Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Skiing (Indoor, Snow, Lifts)
Ski trip in the surroundings of Kista is going badly. Can’t find open skating rinks or their excess snow piles. And I dragged my mini-skis all the way to Sweden for this! Sigh. But, as you know we have ice bears walking on the streets of Helsinki... and they bring the cold, good stuff.
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June 2025, Ritorps ishall, Ulriksdahls idrottsplats, Solna, Sweden; Medley Solna Simhall, Ulriksdahls idrottsplats, Solna, Sweden; Myyrmäen jäähalli, Myyrmäki, Vantaa, Finland
Skiing (None); Sauna (Normal); Swimming (Waterbody-Pool, Indoor); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)
Can you imagine an indoor ski hall that has a 500-meter slope, is regularly used by World Cup teams for practice, has a separate elevated pathways for cross-country skiing, a park for the snowboarders, a snow castle for parties, a hotel, a game area, restaurants... and an indoor ice climbing wall. No? Well you guessed it, such a thing can only exist in oil-rich countries. Norway in this case. Seriously though, Snø and Snøbyen (the village) are a major destination and a delight for skiers. I wonder why I have not been here before. Well done, Norway!
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June 2025, Snø, Oslo, Norway
Skiing (Indoor, Snow, Lifts)
I did my first proper visit to the summer cottage in early May, did a quick dip to the lake from the cottage sauna, but a more proper swim was on the way to the cottage in Tampere, at the Tesoma swimming hall. This is a small swimming hall, but quite a positive surprise. Five pools, including a cold dip pool and a jumping platform pool that doubles as a warm therapy pool. Nice.
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May 2025, Tesoman uimahalli, Tampere, Finland; Arkko summer cottage, Teisko, Finland; Tesoman jäähalli, Tampere, Finland
Swimming (Indoor, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Swimming (Outdoor, Waterbody-Lake); Sauna (Normal); Skiing (None)
Kauniainen has melted... almost. Some snow-hoarding evil people have taken much of the snow though under their own blanket. Sigh.
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May 2025, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (None)
