Two of the world’s most reliable resorts for snow cover, Finland’s Levi and Ruka, have got their 26-27 ski seasons started this morning and they’ll be staying open now right through to May next year, more than seven months!
The two areas manage their early October opening by recycling huge piles of snow they stockpiled last spring and have stored under covers through the summer. Ruka has refined the method since the late 1990s, storing around 150,000 m³ of snow under sawdust, white fabric and Snow Secure insulation, preserving up to 80% of the pile through summer. Levi operates at even greater scale, entering the season with nearly 300,000 m³ in storage on its Front Slopes and World Cup terrain.
Both resorts spread the snow back out as early autumn temperatures drop close to freezing at their northerly latitudes in Lapland, up near the Arctic Circle. They create a few kilometres of downhill slopes, some terrain park features and several kilometres of cross-country tracks.
Levi kicked off at Zero Point at 09:00 this morning, with the Front Slopes, Levi Glacier, the park and moguls opening at 09:30. Ruka mirrored the timing, unveiling its Saarua area with three lifts spinning. Despite the murky skies, both resorts reported steady early‑season turnout.
A number of British tour operators including Heidi and Inghams offer ski holidays to Finland once the main season gets underway in December.