Skiing the Planet

"Mongolia is kind of close, right?" Story about an attempt to ski everywhere in the world where there's snow. And in some places where there isn't. On and off-piste skiing on all continents, skiing into craters of live volcanoes, climbing, photography, and travel.

The blog about skiing around the world. The most recent blog articles can be found in Blogspot. This page lists all the skiing-related articles from this blog series.

Last day of lift-assisted skiing in Southern Finland
On April 3 I was wondering if I'd done my last lift-assisted turns in Southern Finland. But no, they were done today on April 12, at Vihti Ski. I was on the tail end of a flu, so only showed up half an hour before they would close (at 12!) and was one the last lifts up. Wonderful skiing though.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2026, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Last lift-serviced skiing in the Helsinki region this spring?
Could this be the last lift-serviced skiing in the Helsinki region for me this season? Most ski resorts, such as Swinghill or Kauniainen have already closed... Vihti and Hyvinkää are still going, but not on all days, so today I chose to go to Serena instead of further away Vihti. And I'm away next few days, so when I come back, there may not be anything else than hiking left. But hiking up is always good! Let the season be long :-)
Full story
Alternate link

April 2026, Serena, Espoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Port Ainé and Espot Esquí
I've already been to multiple ski resorts in this corner of the world, in Andorra, and also here on the Spanish side: Port del Comte, La Molina. But now I had an opportunity to take a day and a half off after my meetings in Barcelona, could I score some more ski resorts?
Full story
Alternate link

March 2026, Port Ainé, Rialp, Spain; Espot Esquí, Espot, Spain
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Qianhai Snow World - Largest indoor ski hall in the world
Wow. It is new, just opened four months ago. I knew there was an indoor ski place in Shenzhen where I was traveling for a conference, but I did not know that they would have the world's largest indoor ski hall. Now I *had* to find an evening to visit it.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2026, Qianhai Snow World, Shenzhen, China
Skiing (Indoor)

Flottsbrobacken
Quick stop at Flottsbro ski hill south of Stockholm before heading to the airport and back home. End of a busy week with demos etc. in Kista. Nice ski moment, but a bit bittersweet as I kept remembering a recently lost local friend who I knew also loved to ski …
Full story
Alternate link

February 2026, Flottsbrobacken, Huddinge, Sweden
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Hetan Hiihtomaa
Wow, a ski resort in Finland that I have not even heard of ... Hetan Hiihtomaa is a small ski resort run by the Enontekiö community, high up north. On their best day they may get only 100 skiers. Must visit some day!
Full story
Alternate link

February 2026, Hetan Hiihtomaa, Enontekiö, Finland
Skiing (None)

Purnu
Day trip to Purnu ski hill (Hiihtokeskus Purnu), a medium-sized ski hill south of Jyväskylä. Wonderful winter day and light! Trees with snow cover were amazing. It was a great ski mountain too. This was my first trip with the fixed Volvo, it faired well, no breakages. On the way back I stopped at the Vierumäki sports academy swimming hall, which was also a nice experience. I thought it would have been crowded on a weekend, but by seven pm it was more or less empty.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2026, Hiihtokeskus Purnu, Hartola, Finland; Vierumäen uimahalli, Vierumäki, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal)

Day trip to Latvia, part one Ski resorts
Day trip to Riga for two ski hills and couple of caves. Full day but very nice hills and caves!. First up, Riekstukalns ski resort southeast of the city... then Ozolkalns ski resort 90 mins northeast. Both were superb! Riekstukalns felt like Les 3 Vallees of Latvia with its multiple bases and skiing long stretches to the other side of the large ski resort. Ozolkalns shone with its chair lift and river views.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2026, Riekstukalns, Baldones, Latvia; Ozolkalns, Cēsis, Latvia
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Busy Wednesday at Peuramaa
Surprisingly busy evening at the Peuramaa ski resort today. A Wednesday. Maybe there's tourists from a bit further up Finland who still have ski vacations this week? Or was it the race event that they were having. Anyway, our company ski club was having an event ... that's why we were there. Nice! Superb slopes, very nice to run on the well prepared snow surfaces, and enjoy the (cold) sunshine.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2026, Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

National Alpine Skiing Day Celebrations
To celebrate today’s National Alpine Skiing Day, I did a tour of four ski resorts that I have not been to: Ellivuori in Sastamala, Hiitteenharju in Harjavalta, Ruosniemi in Pori, and Salomonkallio hill at the Nakkila Golf resort in Nakkila. It took two days though 🙂The resorts are between Pori and Tampere, a cornerof Finland that I haven’t spent much time in.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2026, Ellivuoren hiihtokeskus, Sastamala, Finland; Hiitteenharjun hiihtokeskus, Harjavalta, Finland; Rantakartano, Pori, Finland; Ruosniemen hiihtokeskus, Pori, Finland; Salomonkallion hiihtokeskus, Nakkila Golf, Nakkila, Finland; Harjavallan uimahalli, Harjavalta, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Car

First day, first ski resort
This is the first day of the year, and I am at my first ski resort. Not just the first of the year, but my actual first ski resort that I skied at age 7 ... or 8, can't quite remember. In any case, a few years ago. A few decades ago... five. Uh. Anyway, a really nice experience once again. And a very nice local ski hill that trains little kids to ski and to race, like it did back when I was here the last time. Wonderful.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2026, Kokonniemen hiihtokeskus, Porvoo, Finland; Kokonniemen tykkiaseman rauniot, Porvoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Military)

Sitting is believing
Another day, another swimming hall :-) This time I went to Kärkölä's swimming hall -- mostly because I had not been there, and it was close-ish to my previous stop at Talma Ski.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2026, Talma Ski, Talma, Sipoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Day trip to Tallinn snow, caves, and water
I'm collecting things. Or rather experiences. Or visits to places. Ski resorts, swimming halls, caves... preferably as many as possible. Could I do a one day trip to Tallinn for some of the closest ski hills, caves, and spas that I had not yet visited? How many could I do in one day?
Full story
Alternate link

January 2026, Vimka - Viimsi Mäepark, Lubja, Viimsi, Estonia; Nõmme Lumepark, Mustamäe, Tallinn, Estonia; Viimsi Koobas, Lubja, Viimsi, Estonia; Naage Koopad, Naage, Estonia; Elamus Spa, Tallinn, Estonia
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Man-Made, Rock, Surveying); Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Basic, Rock, Surveying); Swimming (Water, Waterbody-Pool, Indoor); Sauna (Normal, Steam)

Skiing in the cold storm at Pyhä
We flew to the Finnish north and drove to Pyhä just before the big winter storm of the end of 2025 hit. And came back after it, missing the storm impact on our flights. However, it did it the skiing time. I was wondering if something was wrong with my helmet visor setup, because I couldn't keep it clear... could see almost nothing. But it wasn't the visor or my use of it, it was the supercooled water flying around and freezing on everything. Even the tops of my skis froze up with an ice layer. Clothing. Helmet. Everything.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2025, Pyhä, Finland; Hotelli Pyhätunturi, Pyhä, Finland; Kairankutsu husky farm, Pyhä, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal); Travel

Messilä opening weekend and a Lahti swim
First I thought of driving to Jyväskylä's Laajavuori (4 hours away) to experience one melting slope.. but then I found out that I can drive only 1.5 hours to another melting slope in Messilä near Lahti... win! And it only rained a bit. But it was actually quite a lot of fun!
Full story
Alternate link

December 2025, Messilä, Lahti, Finland; Lahden uimahalli, Lahti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal, Steam); Swimming (Indoor, Waterbody-Pool, Water)

Pre-season skiing at Préski, Quebec
On Saturday I flew back from the Montreal IETF but not before some pre-season (or pre-school?) skiing at Préski in Quebec City, cave hunting in Parc de Naturel de Portneuf, and airport waiting at the AF lounge for the BA flight that was six hours late.
Full story
Alternate link

November 2025, Préski, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Skiing (Indoor, Substance-Other)

This is the 1th set of articles. The next sets are set 2, set 3, set 4, set 5, set 6, set 7, set 8, set 9, set 10, set 11, set 12, set 13, set 14, set 15, set 16, set 17, set 18, set 19, set 20, set 21, set 22, set 23, set 24, and set 25.

See also the Planetskier blog articles about caving, urban exploration, climbing, cycling, flying, swimming, and saunas. There is also a full list of all articles regardless of topic, a list of services "approved by the Planetskier, and a world map of all skiing related destinations from the blog series:

	Last day of lift-assisted skiing in Southern Finland On April 3 I was wondering if I'd done my last lift-assisted turns in Southern Finland. But no, they were done today on April 12, at Vihti Ski. I was on the tail end of a flu, so only showed up half an hour before they would close (at 12!) and was one the last lifts up. Wonderful skiing though. Full story Alternate link April 2026, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Last lift-serviced skiing in the Helsinki region this spring? Could this be the last lift-serviced skiing in the Helsinki region for me this season? Most ski resorts, such as Swinghill or Kauniainen have already closed... Vihti and Hyvinkää are still going, but not on all days, so today I chose to go to Serena instead of further away Vihti. And I'm away next few days, so when I come back, there may not be anything else than hiking left. But hiking up is always good! Let the season be long :-) Full story Alternate link April 2026, Serena, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Port Ainé and Espot Esquí I've already been to multiple ski resorts in this corner of the world, in Andorra, and also here on the Spanish side: Port del Comte, La Molina. But now I had an opportunity to take a day and a half off after my meetings in Barcelona, could I score some more ski resorts? Full story Alternate link March 2026, Port Ainé, Rialp, Spain; Espot Esquí, Espot, Spain Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Qianhai Snow World - Largest indoor ski hall in the world Wow. It is new, just opened four months ago. I knew there was an indoor ski place in Shenzhen where I was traveling for a conference, but I did not know that they would have the world's largest indoor ski hall. Now I had to find an evening to visit it. Full story Alternate link March 2026, Qianhai Snow World, Shenzhen, China Skiing (Indoor)

	Flottsbrobacken Quick stop at Flottsbro ski hill south of Stockholm before heading to the airport and back home. End of a busy week with demos etc. in Kista. Nice ski moment, but a bit bittersweet as I kept remembering a recently lost local friend who I knew also loved to ski … Full story Alternate link February 2026, Flottsbrobacken, Huddinge, Sweden Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Hetan Hiihtomaa Wow, a ski resort in Finland that I have not even heard of ... Hetan Hiihtomaa is a small ski resort run by the Enontekiö community, high up north. On their best day they may get only 100 skiers. Must visit some day! Full story Alternate link February 2026, Hetan Hiihtomaa, Enontekiö, Finland Skiing (None)

	Purnu Day trip to Purnu ski hill (Hiihtokeskus Purnu), a medium-sized ski hill south of Jyväskylä. Wonderful winter day and light! Trees with snow cover were amazing. It was a great ski mountain too. This was my first trip with the fixed Volvo, it faired well, no breakages. On the way back I stopped at the Vierumäki sports academy swimming hall, which was also a nice experience. I thought it would have been crowded on a weekend, but by seven pm it was more or less empty. Full story Alternate link February 2026, Hiihtokeskus Purnu, Hartola, Finland; Vierumäen uimahalli, Vierumäki, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal)

	Day trip to Latvia, part one Ski resorts Day trip to Riga for two ski hills and couple of caves. Full day but very nice hills and caves!. First up, Riekstukalns ski resort southeast of the city... then Ozolkalns ski resort 90 mins northeast. Both were superb! Riekstukalns felt like Les 3 Vallees of Latvia with its multiple bases and skiing long stretches to the other side of the large ski resort. Ozolkalns shone with its chair lift and river views. Full story Alternate link February 2026, Riekstukalns, Baldones, Latvia; Ozolkalns, Cēsis, Latvia Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Busy Wednesday at Peuramaa Surprisingly busy evening at the Peuramaa ski resort today. A Wednesday. Maybe there's tourists from a bit further up Finland who still have ski vacations this week? Or was it the race event that they were having. Anyway, our company ski club was having an event ... that's why we were there. Nice! Superb slopes, very nice to run on the well prepared snow surfaces, and enjoy the (cold) sunshine. Full story Alternate link February 2026, Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	National Alpine Skiing Day Celebrations To celebrate today’s National Alpine Skiing Day, I did a tour of four ski resorts that I have not been to: Ellivuori in Sastamala, Hiitteenharju in Harjavalta, Ruosniemi in Pori, and Salomonkallio hill at the Nakkila Golf resort in Nakkila. It took two days though 🙂The resorts are between Pori and Tampere, a cornerof Finland that I haven’t spent much time in. Full story Alternate link January 2026, Ellivuoren hiihtokeskus, Sastamala, Finland; Hiitteenharjun hiihtokeskus, Harjavalta, Finland; Rantakartano, Pori, Finland; Ruosniemen hiihtokeskus, Pori, Finland; Salomonkallion hiihtokeskus, Nakkila Golf, Nakkila, Finland; Harjavallan uimahalli, Harjavalta, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Car

	First day, first ski resort This is the first day of the year, and I am at my first ski resort. Not just the first of the year, but my actual first ski resort that I skied at age 7 ... or 8, can't quite remember. In any case, a few years ago. A few decades ago... five. Uh. Anyway, a really nice experience once again. And a very nice local ski hill that trains little kids to ski and to race, like it did back when I was here the last time. Wonderful. Full story Alternate link January 2026, Kokonniemen hiihtokeskus, Porvoo, Finland; Kokonniemen tykkiaseman rauniot, Porvoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Military)

	Sitting is believing Another day, another swimming hall :-) This time I went to Kärkölä's swimming hall -- mostly because I had not been there, and it was close-ish to my previous stop at Talma Ski. Full story Alternate link January 2026, Talma Ski, Talma, Sipoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Day trip to Tallinn snow, caves, and water I'm collecting things. Or rather experiences. Or visits to places. Ski resorts, swimming halls, caves... preferably as many as possible. Could I do a one day trip to Tallinn for some of the closest ski hills, caves, and spas that I had not yet visited? How many could I do in one day? Full story Alternate link January 2026, Vimka - Viimsi Mäepark, Lubja, Viimsi, Estonia; Nõmme Lumepark, Mustamäe, Tallinn, Estonia; Viimsi Koobas, Lubja, Viimsi, Estonia; Naage Koopad, Naage, Estonia; Elamus Spa, Tallinn, Estonia Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Man-Made, Rock, Surveying); Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Basic, Rock, Surveying); Swimming (Water, Waterbody-Pool, Indoor); Sauna (Normal, Steam)

	Skiing in the cold storm at Pyhä We flew to the Finnish north and drove to Pyhä just before the big winter storm of the end of 2025 hit. And came back after it, missing the storm impact on our flights. However, it did it the skiing time. I was wondering if something was wrong with my helmet visor setup, because I couldn't keep it clear... could see almost nothing. But it wasn't the visor or my use of it, it was the supercooled water flying around and freezing on everything. Even the tops of my skis froze up with an ice layer. Clothing. Helmet. Everything. Full story Alternate link December 2025, Pyhä, Finland; Hotelli Pyhätunturi, Pyhä, Finland; Kairankutsu husky farm, Pyhä, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal); Travel

	Messilä opening weekend and a Lahti swim First I thought of driving to Jyväskylä's Laajavuori (4 hours away) to experience one melting slope.. but then I found out that I can drive only 1.5 hours to another melting slope in Messilä near Lahti... win! And it only rained a bit. But it was actually quite a lot of fun! Full story Alternate link December 2025, Messilä, Lahti, Finland; Lahden uimahalli, Lahti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal, Steam); Swimming (Indoor, Waterbody-Pool, Water)

	Pre-season skiing at Préski, Quebec On Saturday I flew back from the Montreal IETF but not before some pre-season (or pre-school?) skiing at Préski in Quebec City, cave hunting in Parc de Naturel de Portneuf, and airport waiting at the AF lounge for the BA flight that was six hours late. Full story Alternate link November 2025, Préski, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Skiing (Indoor, Substance-Other)