Industry News
While parts of the U.S. are still praying for snow to grace their slopes this season, Finland’s resorts have finally received a blessing from the snow gods. After weeks of warm weather and dwindling snowpack, both Ruka and Levi, two of Finland’s premier ski destinations, have seen a much-needed arrival of natural snow, marking a pivotal moment for the Arctic Circle ski scene.
Ruka and Levi are the first non-glacier resorts to open each year, usually by the first week of October. Both resorts rely on snow left over from the previous season, which is carefully preserved during the summer months by piling it together and covering it with sawdust and felt for insulation against the sun’s warmth—a process known as snow farming. While the resorts opened on October 5 as scheduled this season, unseasonably warm temperatures wreaked havoc on the spread-out snow, forcing both resorts to close their cross-country tracks temporarily. The lower areas, typically home to Nordic skiing, were especially vulnerable as the snow cover continued to erode. Thankfully, downhill skiing remained a viable option, though some international moguls teams preparing for the World Cup and Olympics, made the decision to relocate to Hintertux, Austria, where snow conditions were more stable and the moguls course still set from the FIS Open last week.
Enter Ullr, the Norse god of snow, who seems to have heard the prayers of Finnish skiers and riders. In the past 24 hours, both Levi and Ruka have received 18 centimeters (7 inches) of fresh snow, with more continuing to fall. While 18 centimeters might seem modest by the standards of Utah’s legendary powder, it’s actually a game-changer for these resorts. In fact, it’s the largest single-day snowfall Levi has experienced in over a decade, and a huge blessing for the resort’s early season prospects. For context, a “big snowfall” day in Levi typically registers in the high single digits (centimeters, not inches), so an 18-centimeter dump is the equivalent of a 3-foot powder day in other areas. On average, Levi receives just 67 centimeters (26 inches) of snow per season. So, receiving 18 centimeters that just fell in 24 hours is a rare, almost unheard-of occurrence in Finland. For those unfamiliar with the region, close to the Arctic Circle, snowfall doesn’t melt away in a matter of hours or days as it might in the Alps or the American Rockies. Instead, the snow will stick around for the season, blanketing the resort in white for months on end. The trees stay frosted, the roads remain covered, and the landscape takes on a permanent wintry beauty that feels like stepping into Narnia.
However, the timing of this snowstorm presents a bit of a logistical challenge for Levi. With only two days remaining before the first World Cup slalom race, the resort staff had to scramble to clear excess snow that had accumulated on the carefully prepared course, which had been given the green light from the FIS snow control earlier this month. Levi’s slopes are well-known for being meticulously maintained, and as dozens of coaches and team staff descended on the Black Levi slope to clear the fresh snow, the pressure was on to ensure that the course would meet FIS racing standards.
The arrival of this fresh snow not only sets up a promising early season for Finnish resorts, but it also serves as a reminder that, even when conditions seem bleak (Hello there Colorado, California, and Utah), the snow gods are never too far away. So keep dancing that snow dance in the west and Ullr might just deliver the goods!
