Nissinen and Tossavainen winners in Sunday's race - Free Races Skied in Sunshine with High-Speed
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, the freestyle races of the Finlandia Ski Marathon took place in spectacular conditions. The first skiers set off at 8:00 AM, greeted by a beautiful purple sunrise. The temperature was -3°C, with an average wind speed of 4 m/s, reaching 9 m/s in gusts.
Vilma Nissinen won the women’s race.
Photo: Marianna Sarén
This year, 1,051 skiers participated in the freestyle long-distance race. Just like on Saturday, the traditional 62 km course was adjusted due to the poor snow conditions earlier in February, with skiers completing two laps of approximately 30 km, making the actual distance around 66 km. The race featured several high-profile names, including Remi Lindholm and Vilma Nissinen, who are set to compete in the upcoming FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, last week’s Tartu Marathon winner Lauri Lepistö, and multiple championship medalist Riitta-Liisa Roponen.
Tossavainen Sprints to Victory in a Thrilling Finish
The men’s elite race was decided in a dramatic final sprint. As the race reached its final kilometers, the leading group consisted of Lauri Lepistö, Juuso Tossavainen, Remi Lindholm, and Petteri Koivisto. Juuso Tossavainen, who had stayed with the group throughout, made his decisive move on Intiaanikukkula and surged ahead to claim victory in 2:42:13.
Remi Lindholm of Hiihtokulma secured second place in a fierce sprint finish, crossing the line just one second behind in 2:42:14. Lauri Lepistö claimed third place, finishing in 2:42:15.
Tossavainen, who suffered stomach issues during the race, admitted that he wasn’t able to lead the pack but managed to stay with the front group:
"I just hung on and hoped for the best at the end. I know I have a decent kick on Intiaanikukkula, so I decided to go for it if needed."
Winning Finlandia Ski Marathon was a childhood dream come true for Tossavainen, who recalled watching the race as a young boy from the sidelines. He credited his knowledge of his competitors and confidence in his final sprint for the victory.
"Considering the snow conditions, the track was perfect," Tossavainen added.
Runner-up Remi Lindholm said he used the race as preparation for the Trondheim World Championships. He told that he had planned to take more control of the race, but it didn’t go exactly as expected. “Second place is still a good result. A special thanks to Petteri Koivisto, who led most of the race," Lindholm said.
Lauri Lepistö and Petteri Koivisto led most of the time.
Photo: Marianna Sarén
Lauri Lepistö, who had raced in Norway on Friday, admitted that the course felt long and the conditions were not as fast as expected.
"I felt strong on the first lap, but towards the end, my muscles started cramping, and I couldn’t respond in the sprint," he explained.
Nissinen Conquers Intiaanikukkula for the Win
The women’s race featured a remarkable comeback from Rebecca Immonen (Electrofit), who had fallen behind by almost 1.5 minutes around the 20 km mark. She managed to catch up with the leading group and fought for victory all the way to Intiaanikukkula.
In the final kilometers, Vilma Nissinen (Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu) and Rebecca Immonen emerged as the top two contenders. Nissinen executed a decisive surge on Intiaanikukkula and crossed the finish line in 3:06:53 to take victory.
Immonen secured second place in 3:06:57, while Anna-Kaisa Saari, who had been part of the lead group for most of the race, finished third in 3:07:39.
Race winner Vilma Nissinen explained that she had struggled to keep up when the pace increased on the second lap, but she stayed in contention.
"I trusted my sprint and wasn’t worried even if we reached the final straight together," Nissinen said.
With the Trondheim World Championships approaching, Nissinen considered Finlandia Ski Marathon an excellent warm-up for the season’s main event.
"Winning here is special. This is a legendary event with a long history," she added.
Rebecca Immonen was satisfied with her final push and result. "I have exercise-induced vocal cord dysfunction, which made it difficult to breathe early on. Towards the end of the first lap, my breathing improved, and I heard I was one minute behind the leaders," Immonen explained.
She managed to catch up, but the effort took a toll on her body.
"I knew Vilma (Nissinen) would be strong at the end, so I focused on dropping Anna-Kaisa (Saari) first," she laughed.
Ekström and Yli-Futka Victorious Over 32 km
A total of 317 participants skied the 32 km freestyle race.
In the men’s category, Niklas Ekström (Pargas IF) won in 1:32:23, followed by Miska Tervala (CustomSki, 1:33:06) and Valtteri Liukkonen (1:40:58).
In the women’s category, Amanda Yli-Futka claimed victory in 1:42:37, narrowly beating Heta Jalonen (Kyrönlahden Porakaivo Oy) by just 0.5 seconds (1:42:37). Alina Virtanen finished third in 1:50:28.
Young Skiers Shine in the 20 km Race
The 20 km freestyle race featured 177 competitors.
In the men’s race, Tuomas Latvalahti took first place in 58:01, with Topi Kukkonen (Vantaan Hiihtoseura, 1:00:47) finishing second and Antti Suuronen third (1:02:58).
In the women’s race, Linda Vahela claimed victory in 1:09:00, followed by Venla Metsänvuori (Hollolan Urheilijat, 1:09:53) and Veera Väisänen (1:15:03).
The youth categories saw nearly 40 competitors.
In the U16 boys' category, Eikka Kiljunen (Lahden Hiihtoseura) won in 1:04:51, ahead of Anton Majander (1:05:15) and Nicholas Koskinen (WL-Skiers Finland, 1:11:00).
In the U16 girls' category, Olga Kauko (Noormarkun Nopsa) finished first in 1:16:29, followed by Eevi Valjus (1:22:00) and Elsa Myllymäki (1:23:00).
Fair Competition Ensured with Fluorine Testing
Finlandia Ski Marathon became the first mass skiing event in Finland to implement fluorine testing after banning fluorinated waxes in 2024. The top ten finishers in each category were tested at the finish line, along with random checks throughout the weekend. Some violations resulted in disqualifications.
Finlandia Ski Marathon also made a major step forward by joining the Ski Classics Challengers series, allowing skiers to earn Pro Tour points in the 62 km classic and freestyle races.
Trails in Good Condition During the Event Weekend
Despite challenging snow conditions, Finlandia Ski Marathon welcomed approximately 3,800 enrollees, enjoying stunning ski trails and sunny weather.
Event director Markku Levanen was pleased with the growing participation and the introduction of team and relay categories, making the event more accessible.
"The world-famous Lahti Ski Stadium is a sight worth seeing for many recreational skiers," Levanen concluded.
