The 51st classic style race of the Finlandia-hiihto was held on National Ski Day.
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, 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.
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.
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.
The men's 32-kilometer traditional winner was Leevi Passila, followed by Tobias Akerlund in second and Juho Westerlund in third. In the women's race on the same distance, Tiia Maria Rauttola was the best, with Milka Reponen finishing second and Johanna Liukkonen third. The top trio in the men's 20-kilometer traditional ski race were Jani Mikkonen, Tuomo Kovari, and Juha Sikanen. The top three in the women's 20-kilometer race were Heini Suopanki, Heidi Saarela, and Patryjca Fidorowicz. The best three young men were Luka Wallenius, Noa Hänninen, and Eero Enkovaara, with the girls' winning trio being Lydia Salonen, Oona Ek, and Saara Pohjonen.
Focusing on customer experience in the traditional ski event
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. Categories for competitive and elite groups have been combined, and more distances for youth have been added. Additionally, the event is being livestreamed for the first time. The event square has been alos developed and more partners present than before. The Worldloppet lounge brings comfort and social encounters for people touring international skiing events.
