Lapland’s skiing is badly damaged. Experts reveal the core of the problem.
The headlines of various media tell about the essentially dull situation: “Only 12 skiers on Muonio Kiri skis”, “Traditional Lapland gold cup ends” and “Skiers yearn for Lapland”.
The contradiction is confusing.
North of the Arctic Circle, Finland has the best conditions, even now 71–98 centimeters of snow. Several Finnish national team skiers have moved to Rovaniemi due to training conditions.
But there are only a few competitive skiers from Lapland.
– In recent years, the ski association has invested heavily in top sports, and the results have come, but at the same time, the focus on club activities has stopped. It can be seen concretely in Lapland, states Iltalehti’s skiing expert Reijo Jylhä.
– There are hardly any skiers from Tornio to Enontekiö and Muonio. Rovaniemi, Kemi and Inari are the only ones where athletes are coming, continues the Rovaniemi resident.
Population problem
Lapland has great skiing training spots, but many locals don’t take advantage of them. Photo from Juutuanvaara in Inari. Jussi Saarinen
Even at the turn of the 21st century, Lapland was a strong skiing region. They skied in the blue and white bunt at the Junior World Championships Sami Jauhojärvi, Pirjo Muranen, Jussi Ylimäki and Reijo Nykänen. The first two developed into medalists in the adult competition. There were a dozen Laplanders who finished in the points in the Junior Championship.
– It is due to the population base, when there are no more skiers from Lapland, says Jauhojärvi.
The population of Lapland has decreased and aged. In thirty years, the population has decreased by nearly 30,000. In the same time span, the annual birth rate has dropped from 2,800 to approximately 1,400 children. More than 175,000 people live in Finland’s largest province by area.
– Even in my youth, a busload of people from Aavasaksan Urheilijos would go to Sieppijärvi for the district competitions. Skiing interested me, while the other sport options were powerlifting, athletics and ice hockey. The fathers took the children skiing and stayed to smoke cigarettes and fight during the run, says Jauhojärvi, who was born in Ylitornio in 1981.
– Now the range of sports is much wider and parents’ everyday life has become more hectic. It’s much easier to take a child to the gym, the Olympic champion continues.
The youth world champion and the men’s relay World Cup silver medalist brought light to Lapland skiing with these snows Niko Anttola From the Tower. He has lived in Vuokatti for a few years.
Not interested
Jari Isometsä (left), Jussi Ylimäki, Sami Jauhojärvi and Ari Palolahti of Alatornio Pirkkoin formed an iron SM relay quartet in the 2000s. Esa Pyysalo
It is said that young people from Lapland are interested in snowmobiling, metal music, ice hockey and alcohol.
– I don’t underestimate reviews. In Lapland, according to research, booze is drunk briskly, Jauhojärvi makes it easier.
The most athletically talented boys take the team sports in many places. In Lapland, this is accentuated when there are few people.
– There are more girls in individual sports, because team sports are not so attractive, Jylhä comments.
By helicopter to the games
It is said that snowmobiling, metal music and ice hockey are the hobbies of young Lapland men. Jari Pekkarinen / AOP
Tornio, Ylitornio, Pello, Kolar’s Ylläs-tunturi and Kittilä were tough competition venues even in the last millennium. Markko was hit on the counter when the Swedish legend Torgny Mogren was brought by helicopter to the Ylläs Games.
Now the competition has died down. Tourists ski in Ylläki, Saariselä, Levi, Olos and Pallaki, national team athletes and local seniors in the first snow.
– Inari, Kemi and Rovaniemi are the last places where the games will be held. There are still woodcocks and men in these places, Jylhä estimates.
This weekend, Inari Yritys is hosting SM skiing. The engine of the operation is Kari Kyrö79.
“Only reindeer”
Reindeer skiing interests Lapland people more than cross-country skiing. Jussi Saarinen
In Jylhä’s opinion, the Ski Federation should give revival to Lapland’s clubs.
– The lowest threshold is that there are ski schools in the localities. Exciting content gives children a touch of cross-country skiing. The task of the ski association is to train instructors and guides.
Jauhojärvi is more skeptical. He estimates that the best skiing conditions in Finland will continue to remain unused by the people of Lapland.
– I see this as a regional political problem, because livelihoods are scarce in remote areas. There are only reindeer at the ski resorts, says Jauhojärvi.