Finnish National Ski Day celebrated at 51st Finlandia Ski Marathon
What could be a more fitting day for Finland’s largest mass skiing event than National Ski Day? The 51st Finlandia Ski Marathon took place on this festive day, Saturday, February 24, 2024, with over 2100 skiers participating in the celebration. On the first day of the Finlandia Ski Marathon, traditional style races of 62, 32, and 20 kilometers were skied in the enchanting landscapes of Salpausselkä. The weather favored the skiers, offering temperatures of +1 to +2 degrees Celsius and mild air, a pleasant surprise following the rain of the previous evening and night.
A victorious day for Veli-Matti Räsänen
The winner of the 62-kilometer race was last year’s champion, Veli-Matti Räsänen, who splendidly defended his title with a time of 3:04:11. He was closely challenged by Juuso Mattila, who finished just 17 seconds behind Räsänen, and Tuomas Kaukola, who completed the top three with a time of 3:04:35.
In an interview, Team Kaskipuu’s Veli-Matti Räsänen shared that his goal in the race was to defend last year’s victory, and he was pleased that his strategy to strike 4-5 kilometers before the finish line was successful, securing the win. He also intends to return in the future to chase more victories in the Finlandia Ski.
A clear victory for Niina Virtanen
Niina Virtanen won the women’s race with a time of 3:32:40, showing strong performance throughout the course. Lotta Kirvesmies finished second with a time of 3:40:40, and Laura Salmela came in third with a time of 3:53:53.
In her interview, Niina Virtanen revealed that she skied to victory for the first time without grip waxes. Her strategy was to go faster on the flats and slower on the climbs, which ensured her a clear gold medal. She was overall very satisfied with her progressively improving condition following illnesses around Christmas.
Focusing on customer experience
The Finlandia-hiihto is known for its community spirit and how it unites ski enthusiasts from all over. This year’s event was no exception, and the organizers are grateful to all participants, volunteers, and partners who made this day unforgettable. Approximately 3700 skiers will enjoy the atmosphere over the weekend.
According to Event Director Markku Levanen, Finlandia-hiihto has undergone significant updates this year. One of them was The Worldloppet lounge, bringing comfort and social encounters for Passportholders. Also several new Master Diplomas were handed over this weekend.
