Finlandia-hiihto
Address: WM-Skistadion, FIN-15110 Lahti, Finland
Tel: +358 44 975 7712
Fax:+358 44 975 7713
challenge factor: medium
HISTORY of Finlandia-Hiihto
First race: 24 February 1974, 75 km, 1334 participants
Highest number of participants in main race: 13226 (1984)
Worldloppet membership: founding member
After several unsuccsessful attempts, Erik Pihkala, one of the leader of Suomen Latu, the organisation promoting recreational sports in Finland, turned to Lahti Ski Club, as they already had the structure and experience to organise big sport events such as the Salpausselkä Games. Risto Rytökoski coordinated the first Finlandia-hiihto. The course led from Hämeenlinna to Lahti in 1974. Hämeenlinna was a great start place because of its accommodation possibilities. The organisation was carried out by Suomen Latu, Lahti Ski Club, Hämeenlinna Ski Club and the Finnish Ski Association. The patron of the event was the President of Finland Urho Kekkonen, who was known as an enthusiastic skier.
The number of participants surprised everyone except Risto Rytökoski, who was the only one who expected more than 1000 skiers and was convinced that soon the participation numbers would grow to 10.000. His aim was to make not the biggest skimarathon of the world but the best one. The strategy was to offer participants a better service that they were used to get anywhere else, with the help of experienced local volunteers. Before the event there was discussion about the entry fee but after the race everyone praised the service stations, medical aid, free transportation and finishers’ medal, designed by Raimo Heino, an artist from Hämeenlinna. Among the racers were Olympic winners Franco Nones of Italy and Ole Ellefsäter of Norway, as well as multiple Holmenkollen winner (1959, 1961, 1962) Sverre Stensheim.
LOCATION AND WHERE TO SLEEP
START / FINISH LOCATION OF THE RACE: Lahti Ski Stadium
Finlandia-Hiihto COURSE
Finlandia-Hiihto (Finlandia Ski Marathon) start and finish line is at legendary Lahti Ski Stadium, which has become well known from several World Championships and World Cup events. You can find it near the downtown Lahti, at Lahti Sports Center with it’s three ski jumping hills, highest of them being K116. The course wiggles over and around of the ridge Salpausselkä thus making Finlandia-hiihto one of the most demanding ski courses in the world because of the height differences. Above at the ridges you can see a glimpse of the vast lake of Vesijärvi. The course also goes through a large military area at one point. Finland is generally famous for its clean air and nature and Lahti is not an exception on that regard.
Additionally there is a 20 km and a 32 km competition in both styles on the program.
Course profile main race – total elevation gain 450 m
The course can also be seen in Google Maps.
HOW TO GET TO THE FINLANDIA-HIIHTO
By plane
Helsinki-Vantaa airport is the main airport of Finland located 20 kilometers from the Capital of Finland and around 100 kilometers south from Lahti with good bus connections. The nearest train station in Tikkurila is only 9 kilometers from the airport. You can reach it easily by bus or taxi.
By train
A train from Tikkurila (or Helsinki) to Lahti departs every half an hour – same for the opposite direction. The train travel duration from Tikkurila to Lahti is around 50 minutes and from Helsinki about one hour. Lahti Travel Center is located only a few hundred meters from Lahti downtown and 15 minutes walk from Finlandia-hiihto’s starting area. Find the train schedules here.
By bus
A bus from Helsinki-Vantaa airport to Lahti departs every half an hour / hourly. The bus travel duration from the airport to Lahti takes around 1,5 hours. Same from Helsinki to Lahti and to the opposite directions. The busses arrive/depart from Lahti Travel Center – the same building as the trains.Find the bus schedules here.
Lahti – all in walking distance
Lahti is a 10-min city. Good amount of accommodation, restaurants, cafés and sightseeing in walkable distance (no need for rental car) from the Ski stadium. As well, with small effort you may have a real Finnish experience with sauna and possibility to try cold swimming. More tips for your travel on the link below.
INTERESTING FACTS about Finlandia-Hiihto
- In 2023 Finlandia Hiihto is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Therefore two special events will be organized: The Perinne-Finlandia (original route) with 75 km CT and later in the evening the Moonlight Finlandia 32 km FT. Both on 25th February.
- The most prominent element in Lahti is the K116 ski jumping hill and it’s two little brothers next to Finlandia-hiihto’s starting area which makes the location easy to find as the ski jumping tower is 73 meters high.
- Lahti Ski Museum is located next to the Lahti Sports Center. In the Museum you can buy souvenirs. More information here.
- Sibelius Hall is one of the most popular attractions of Lahti and it’s located only 1,5 kilometers north from the Lahti Ski Stadium.
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