On New Year's Eve the celebrations usually involve fireworks. It seems appropriate to post a video about fire, pyrotechnics, and, of course, skiing. And sacrificial pagan rituals, naturally.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2012
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
My local hill may soon be opening, as they predicted over a foot of snow today. It has not yet arrived, but lets hope it will. Anyone want to join for a pre-season ski run this evening? Bring your old skis... could be grassy or even rocky.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2012
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing; Skiing (Outdoor,Grass)
I am on my way to Stone Summit, America's largest indoor climbing wall. My mission is to see how it compares to my local climbing hall, Toyota Kiipeilyareena back in Finland.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2012
Stone Summit, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Kiipeilyareena, Helsinki, Finland
Climbing (Wall)
Finland vs. USA on Big Wall Climbing from The Planetskier on Vimeo.
We lost all the instruments. The engines are not responding. I shout mayday to the radio, but the radio is silent. I curse my decision to ever enter the cockpit of this rusty 747-200. This night is going to end badly. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I decide that it is time to exit the cockpit, run down the stairs, and ... order a drink from the steward.
Full story
October 2012
Arlanda, Sweden
Flying
A night in the cockpit of a 747 from The Planetskier on Vimeo.
I don't know where to start. Skiing at 17,000 ft? Ice climbing? A night in a tent at 5 kilometers? No acclimatization? The close call with tragedy?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2012
Tarija Peak, Cordillera Real, Bolivia
Climbing (Mountain,Ice); Skiing (Outdoor,Snow,Hiking)
Skiing at 17,000 ft in Bolivia from The Planetskier on Vimeo.
Amsterdam. Such a nice place to go skiing.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
September 2012
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
Amsterdam, what a nice place to go skiing! from The Planetskier on Vimeo.
I'm on a ski trip to London. To the site of the 2012 winter Olympics. To the shades of the Tower of London, the highest peak in the country. To the powder fields of Paddington and the couloirs off the Big Ben... Dream on. But I am on a ski trip to London.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
September 2012
Hernel Hempstead, London, United Kingdom
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was a sunny, powder-filled day, touring the backcountry of Cerro Catedral (2405 m). And evening in the famous Bariloche after-ski scene. In five different bars, all the way to 4AM. But today I'm not feeling so good. A headache. Breakfast that wants to return. I must have caught some illness. And did I mention the powder? It is raining and the powder is gone. There's only mud in the ground.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2012
Cerro Catedral, Bariloche, Argentina
Skiing (Outdoor,Snow,Mud); Afterski
So close, yet so far. I wanted so much to ski down from Volcán Copahue (2953 meters), but despite trying very hard it was not going to happen.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
August 2012
Caviahue, Argentina
Skiing; Climbing; Urban-Exploration (Ruins,Buildings); Swimming (Outdoor,Thermal-Bath,Water,Waterbody-Lake)
I am on my way to Argentina and Patagonia for twelve days of snow fun. Well, six days of snow fun and six days of travel.
Full story
August 2012
Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain
Travel
This ski area is so hot that it melts your skis. Water would help, and also make the skiing faster. But their sprinkler system is being replaced, and this also happens to be the only day on our vacation when it does not rain.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
July 2012
Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Skiing (Outdoor,Plastic)
We are trying hard to reach the summit in time. But we are late. 350 million years late, to be exact. This volcano stopped breathing before the dinosaurs came to life.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
July 2012
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom; Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines; Etna, Italy; Stromboli, Sicily, Italy
Climbing
I like skiing, and my youngest son likes to visit aviation museums. When I booked a family trip to UK, both two randomly selected cities that we are staying at turned out to have an indoor ski hall and a museum with Concorde. What are the odds?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
July 2012
Chill Factore, Manchester, United Kingdom
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
To boldly go where no skier has gone before: Spain. And the really tough guys dress in ski clothes on the plane bound to Barcelona (not me).
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2012
La Molina, Catalonia, Spain
Skiing
Many of my friends are regulars at Riksgränsen. But I had never been to this place that calls itself "Sweden's most legendary ski area". The legends are true. It is an amazing place. For starters, we were there in midsummer, skiing at midnight. In bright sunshine! The ski area is far above the arctic circle, and for about two months in the summer the sun does not set.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2012
Riksgränsen, Sweden
Skiing; Afterski; Sauna (Normal); Urban-Exploration (Buildings)
It is the first time this has happened to me, honestly. I am embarrassed. I failed to find skiing on a trip.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2012
Venice, Italy
Travel; Urban-Exploration (Bridges,Skating-Rinks)
It is Sunday, +10 degrees, raining heavily, and it is the middle of summer in southern Finland. What should I do? Go ice climbing in Espoo, obviously.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2012
Mankkaan lumenkaatopaikka, Mankkaa, Espoo, Finland
Climbing (Ice); Urban-Exploration (Landfills)
We went to Matinkylä, southern Espoo today. One of the largest shopping malls in Finland, Iso Omena ("Big Apple") is located in Matinkylä. But they are also known as the site of M2, a mountain with icy slopes even in the middle of the summer. The steep slopes of M2 rise a whopping two feet above the surrounding landscape, scaring skiers and mountaineers alike. Indeed, very few climbers have climbed it.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
June 2012
Matinkyla, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor,Imported-Snow); Urban-Exploration (Skating-Rinks)
Something terrible happened last week. On Friday we learned that a friend lost his life skiing down from Mt. McKinley. I do not want to talk about the accident, writing this text alone is hard enough. But I thought I'd return to a few happy memories with Ilkka.
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May 2012
Oulu, Finland
People
Global warming is real. I can tell it by the speed that Glacier du Kauniainen is melting. Luckily the glacier always grows back in December for some reason. Maybe some temporary ice age that always hits us at that time.
Full story
May 2012
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor,Snow,Grass)
May 20, and we are still skiing in Kauniainen. Or Grani, as it is affectionately called. My local ski hill is a treasure that just keeps on giving. I have lost count how many times I have written about the last ski run of the season on this hill, just this year. And there is still snow!
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2012
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
I have finished my meeting in Washington DC and more work awaits me next week in California. But first things first. There's a weekend in between, and what better way to spend the weekend than to fly 16,000 kilometers to Bolivia?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2012
Tarija Peak, Cordillera Real, Bolivia
Skiing; Climbing (Mountain,Ice)
I am amazed how bad the snow situation is. I am in Oulu, 600 kilometers north from home, but there is much less snow here than on my local hill. But I have to try to find skiing, given that I dragged my skis along for this trip.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
May 2012
Köykkyrin hiihtokeskus, Oulu, Finland
Skiing
I am at the summer ski center in Kauniainen. It is +15 degrees Celcius in hot sunshine and a gentle, warm wind. It is a perfect day to go skiing, in my swimsuit. Today is First of May, a national holiday in Finland. Most people party hard or gather in crowds in the city center to do silly things. I've chosen to do my silly things here on my local ski hill.
Full story
May 2012
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing; Sauna (Normal)
While the opinions were split among the spectators that came to talk to me afterwards ("are you the guy who skied that?"), I think the answer is definitely "bonehead". This was just too dangerous. I need to go back to skiing safer slopes.
Full story
April 2012
Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun, Austria
Skiing; Climbing; Sauna (Normal)
Both of my skis went to the repair shop today, in anticipation of the shop closing after this week. I need my skis in good shape as - obviously - the season continues. The guys at the shop gave their expert opinion about my skis: they are in shit condition. Or "paskana" in Finnish. Oh well, maybe they are fixable.
Full story
April 2012
Kaprun, Austria
Skiing; Equipment
My 9-year old son was the first to ski the local hill at Kauniainen this winter. And now he announced that he wants to be the last one as well.
Full story
April 2012
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
The primary challenge with my trip was time. I could only burn one day on this and I had only one choice of flights in and out. But there was quite a bit of driving, not a lot of room for making navigation errors, and frankly too little time for the actual skiing. But in the end I was able to ski for one hour in the first place and a bit more than an hour in the second.
Full story
April 2012
Kakisklans, Latvia; Kuutsemae, Estonia
Skiing
Chamonix is arguably one of the best ski destinations in the world. If not the best. But can you ski in there in early April, when the rest of France sports sunshine and temperatures nearing +20 degrees?
Full story
April 2012
Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France
Skiing
Bike to train station with skis on your back, take the TGV, go skiing. That's what I did in Paris.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2012
Snowhall, Amneville, France
Skiing (Indoor,Snow); Biking (Bike-City,Track-City,Outdoor)
I hate my job. Now I have to go to Paris. In spring. What a dreadful city! Seriously though, I love Paris and the meetings are super interesting. But how to get to the ski slopes?
Full story
March 2012
Paris, France
Travel; Biking (Bike-City,Track-City,Outdoor)
I booked flights that give me 8 hours on site, with 4 hour drive from arrival airport (Riga) to departure airport (Tartu), and two countries and two ski areas in between. Doable?
Full story
March 2012
Kakisklans, Latvia; Kuutsemae, Estonia
Skiing (Indoor,Outdoor,Snow)
I'm thinking of making an excursion to Estonia on Sunday to see what kind of ski hills they have. Anyone want to join?
Full story
March 2012
Kuutsemae, Estonia
Skiing
Everyone has probably seen the Facebook meme on six pictures for what your friends think you do, what you think you, and what you really do. I wanted to make one for skiing.
Full story
March 2012
Val Thorens, France; Vallnord, Andorra
Skiing
For all my good friends at Cisco, the networking company: did you know that Cisco's is the best after ski bar in Andorra?
Full story
February 2012
Vallnord, Andorra
Skiing; Afterski
I'm heading out today for a two day trip to collect Spain and Andorra. But many countries left. It still feels like the planet has an unending supply of unexplored ski destinations.
Full story
February 2012
La Molina, Catalonia, Spain; Vallnord, Andorra
Skiing
I've written about Peuramaa and its playground before. But I noticed something new. What strikes me about these visits is the darkness.
Full story
February 2012
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing
Abo Hors Piste! Off-piste skiing in Turku, in the small but wonderful Hirvensalo ski area.
Full story
February 2012
Hirvensalo, Turku, Finland
Skiing
If I have to spend eight days per year in Moominland, it is clear that I need to come up with something interesting to do there. How about skiing down the President's Cliff? Fifteen meters of near vertical rock. Too bad I forgot my ice axes, because the return was even tricker.
Full story
February 2012
Moominworld, Naantali, Finland
Skiing; Urban-Exploration (Amusement-Parks)
I was more worried about falling on that vertical wall than the police catching me, but both were real concerns. And then I caused an avalanche. This is a story about my four day trip to Les Arcs, France.
Full story
February 2012
Les Arcs, France
Skiing; Climbing
I was depressed, alone and ready to hit the bed, walking towards my hotel when I saw the Ambiente Cafe.
Full story
February 2012
Les Arcs, France
Skiing; Sauna
Escargots de Bourgogne dans un cafe de piste de ski ... j'approuve
Full story
February 2012
Les Arcs, France
Skiing; Food
I climbed a mountain, and found a ski movie actress from Russia on the top!
Full story
January 2012
Courchevel, France
Skiing; Climbing
The best after-ski in the world? Could be. Who would have thought we'd find this in France?
Full story
January 2012
Val Thorens, France
Skiing; Afterski
A few pictures from Les 3 Vallees, and a link to a great (not!) video from Mikko Alatalo on the topic of fun in the alps
Full story
January 2012
Les Menuires, France
Skiing; Music
At 3.5 Euros, "Cafe Alpenhutte's Goulash index competes well with most western ski areas. Zillertal may boast a 1600m vertical against 50m in Kauniainen, but hey, their soup still costs 1 Euro more. Add pinaattilätyt and you know this is the destination for the gourmet skier
Full story
January 2012
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Saturday evening's exercise.
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January 2012
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing; Urban-Exploration (Castles)
The top of Helsinki is not that impressive, but we skied it anyway
Full story
December 2011
Malminkartano, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing
From my perspective, Alaska is close by if I'm already stopping in California. But as I was sitting for sixth hour in the Alaska Airlines plane bound for Anchorage it started to dawn on my that Alaska is far away.
Full story
November 2011
Alyeska, Alaska, USA
Skiing
"And there won't be any snow in Africa this Christmas time" Dude, there is no snow in Africa because you have the wrong time of the year. And its a damn warm place anyway.
Full story
December 2011
Afriski, Lesotho
Skiing
First and Last and Always is not just an album from Sisters of Mercy, but also my approach to skiing on the local hill. In May, I was the last person to ski there. Now I am about to be the first one to ski it this winter.
Full story
December 2011
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
Skiing in Karuizawa, Japan on artificially made snow
Full story
November 2011
Karuizawa, Japan
Skiing
This is not a word play on youtube. The snow in this ski area came from a tube. Video blog from Japan.
Full story
November 2011
Karuizawa, Japan
Skiing
Skiing in Hong Kong? An infinitely long ski slope? Skis that melt? Ski challenges indoors?
Full story
November 2011
Slope Infinity, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Skiing (Indoor,Plastic)
Plans for skiing on the opening day in Alaska and Japan, and at an infinitely long slope in Hong Kong. Oh, and a few meetings along the way, too.
Full story
November 2011
Slope Infinity, Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Karuizawa, Japan; Alyeska, Alaska, USA
Skiing
I am about to embark on a 38,000 km trip, for nothing. Although there is a tempting option to ski in Alts Bandai, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
Full story
October 2011
Slope Infinity, Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Karuizawa, Japan; Alyeska, Alaska, USA
Travel
How to ski in Germany and getting a speeding ticket for a souvenir.
Full story
October 2011
Jever Fun Skihalle, Neuss, Germany
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
No skiing. Made a mistake. A big mistake. But I did a very nice bike tour in Philadelphia!
Full story
October 2011
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Biking (Bike-Mountain,Track-Trail,Track-Road,Outdoor)
Skiing in Peer, Belgium
Full story
September 2011
Snowworld, Peer, Belgium
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
Opening of the 2011-2012 season
Full story
September 2011
Qiaobo, Beijing, China
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
Hiking through the 960 km2 park. Alone. And now we have run into two lions, on their freshly killed buffalo. We are in their territory. A tense moment that might end badly. But the tension clears: we decide not to eat the lions, as we had already had breakfast. You can see that the lions are relieved...
Full story
August 2011
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi national park, South Africa
Hiking
Falling in the no-fall zone and other interesting stories. Summary of my 156 000 kilometer ski year.
Full story
August 2011
Sani Pass, South Africa
Skiing
I'm glad to be back home in Finland. It was so damn cold in Africa!
Full story
August 2011
Afriski, Lesotho
Skiing; Urban-Exploration (Ruins)
I am armed with skis, ice axes, cameras, and plenty of memory cards. And I'm on a British Airways flight, on my way to South Africa in search of snow.
Full story
August 2011
Afriski, Lesotho
Skiing
Summer is for biking, not for skiing! Well, not really, but this week I had no other alternative.
Full story
July 2011
Tallinn, Estonia
Biking (Bike-Road,Track-City,Track-Road,Outdoor)
I almost booked my IETF flights via Iceland so that I could test the summer skiing on that glacier. Good thing I didn't, because the volcano underneath started erupting yesterday. Close call!
Full story
July 2011
Stromboli, Sicily, Italy
Climbing
You know that old story about pots of gold at the end of a rainbow? Well, I only found some wet sheep.
Full story
June 2011
Galdhøpiggen, Norway
Skiing
Midsummer. Skiing. Norway.
Full story
June 2011
Stryn, Norway
Skiing
No problem. I had never ridden a horse before, so practicing riding on steep, rocky paths at 3 to 4 kms while carrying ski gear and taking photos sounded like a fun thing to do.
Full story
June 2011
Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh, India
Skiing; Riding; Climbing; Travel
Landed in Delhi for some customer meetings. But first things first, Himalaya is kind of close. Sharing a taxi with my skis for the next 600 kilometers. Lets see if I'll find snow.
Full story
June 2011
Delhi, India
Travel
Dogs that climb. Dragging skis to top of mountains on our backs. Skiing Slovenia's last traces of snow. Meeting with the guy who skied down from the seven summits.
Full story
May 2011
Ceska Koca hut, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Slovenia
Skiing; Climbing
This was supposed to be a two helmet ski trip, where I could do both skiing and biking. Instead, it is quickly turning into a dreaded zero helmet ski trip.
Full story
May 2011
Snowplanet, Haarlem, Netherlands
Skiing (Indoor,Snow)
May 2011. Its 3AM and I'm about to ski on the local hill in Kauniainen.
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May 2011
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing
This is the end. Snow is melting, snowmaking is over, the cliffs are no longer covered by snow -- not that it prevented me from skiing them -- and the bar has run out of Pepsi Max. And the golfers are invading Peuramaa.
Full story
April 2011
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing
Fail. Noon, Saturday, somewhere in Poland mountains. Despite a 6am wakeup the weekend is quickly turning into a disaster.
Full story
April 2011
Zakopane, Poland; Strbske Pleso, Slovakia
Skiing
A couple of weeks ago it was northeast United States, now its eastern Europe. I have from Friday evening to Sunday evening and a car. Where could I go?
Full story
March 2011
Zakopane, Poland; Strbske Pleso, Slovakia
Skiing
Yesterday I skied at the Horny Donkey ski area. Well, Horni Domky. This is a small ski area in northeast Czech Republic near the border towards Poland. I was surprised that a wet, steep grass hill sticks to your skis and slows you down quite a bit. Steep is better in grass skiing then, too.
Full story
March 2011
Horni Domky, Czech Republic
Skiing
As far as I can tell, Are is the best family ski resort on the planet.
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March 2011
Are, Sweden
Skiing; Sauna (Normal,Steam); Swimming (Indoor,Water,Waterbody-Pool)
Peuramaa is a full service ski area: there's a parking lot, ticket sales booth, a couple of ski lifts, and even a bar. Seriously though, they have the playground.
Full story
March 2011
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing; Afterski
I had heard the stories about Mad River Glen, but seeing is believing. Their slogan is "Ski it if you can". The 700 meters of vertical on the icy bumps of the "Chute" crushed my belief in my skiing abilities and sent me skiing blue runs.
Full story
March 2011
Mad River Glen, Vermont, USA
Skiing
Cullen asked me how many countries I have skied in. I now have an answer. I have skied in 5 continents, 17 countries, 29 countries or states and been to about 80 different ski areas. This season I have been to 14 different countries or states.
Full story
March 2011
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Alpincenter Bottrop, Germany; Mall of Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Levi, Kittilä, Finland
Skiing
The 48 hour challenge: to ski in as many states as possible during 48 hours. My tour covered five states: Sundown (CT), Mad River Glen (VT), Bretton Woods (NH), Sunday River (ME), and Nashoba Valley (MA). I found some truly incredible skiing along the way. Mad River Glen: Just wow. And Nashoba Valley...
Full story
March 2011
Sundown, Connecticut, USA; Mad River Glen, Vermont, USA; Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA; Sunday River, Maine, USA; Nashoba Valley, Massachusetts, USA
Skiing
I had forgotten how good ski destination Austria is. While the highest altitudes in Austrian resorts are generally moderate, 1600 meters of vertical is nothing to be sneezed at. In fact, that tops any ski area in Northern America. And you can ski it top to the bottom on one, consistently steep run.
Full story
February 2011
Zillertal, Austria
Skiing; Afterski
How many states can you ski in during 48 hours? I'm about to find out...
Full story
February 2011
Mt. Ashland, Oregon, USA; Mount Shasta, California, USA
Skiing; Climbing
The mission is to ski in as many places in the world as you can. All countries where there's natural or man-made snow. In every major ski destination in the world. In at least some of the smaller places. On mountains, on hills, indoor, in winter and summer, on piste and off piste, on powder, slush, crust, and, occasionally - frequently, as my ski repair shop would say - on rocks. Going up by ski lift, on foot, on skins,crampons, cats, cars, or helicopters.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2011
Puijo, Kuopio, Finland; Treblecone, New Zealand; Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand; Valle Nevado, Chile
Skiing