24. huhtikuuta 2016

Statement for the skiing season - part 1


Couple of people were asking me if something happened as I put all my skis on sale some weeks ago. No it's not about that I'm going to quit skiing but after thinking how this season has been its maybe time to give my self a reward and change into a bit lighter gear. And how the season then has been so far? Although this is a statement it doesn't mean it would be already over. You never know what is going to happen in life like last summer. I have a kind of dilemma in thinking when my skiing season really starts or when it comes to an end or is it just on all the time.

The springtime 2015 was already pretty good but then I decided that the next one will be even better general in life and with skiing being big part of it.  The last turns on our Lyngen trip were quite much defining what we would look forward the next year too. Yes, I understand that in skiing you cannot just decide that how it will be as you are not mastering the weather but I guess positive thinking has quite much power in everything.


Last turns of our Lyngen trip in March 2015.

Who would have believed that one day after I turned to 36 I would be on my skis again and hiking up a mountain on 30th of June in Hurrungane, Norway. It was supposed to be a climbing trip but because of the snow situation we took our ski-touring gear with us and it was so rad! Let the pics tell you more....


On the way up to Store Ringstind (2124 moh.) -
the top on the right.
Hiking up on the glacier that was so full
of snow still in end of June 2015.
We went the last meters on foot to the top as
it was steep and a lot of slush snow.

If hiking up was a great adventure so was
the skiing down.
Our gourmet kitchen - everything tastes just so
great when you are outdoors.
The view from our tent in Turtagro on
1st of July 2015, Hurrungane, Norway.
Ski-touring on Steindalsnosi (2025 mho.)
on 1st of July 2015.
Skiing down from Blåtind in Geiranger/ Stryn area
on 2nd of July 2015.
Our cute cottage in Stryn.

From June and July 2015 it was kind of the longest break in many years, if not counting my knee injury in winter 2013, in skiing. Usually the season had started somewhere in Finland or Alps before Christmas but this time it was exactly Christmas eve that we had our skis on after the summer skiing in Norway. More about the magical end of the year on Lyngen Alps you read in my previous blog writings A kind of magic - part 1 and part 2.

Soon after Christmas it was mid January and time to see a totally new playground for me and my skis. I had changed all the holiday money to have more days off in the mountains if some one is wondering how we have so many holidays. A good plan also helps like almost in everything in life although a remind that you cannot plan the weather with that you also need some good luck too. And oh boy we were lucky again. It had been pretty pour days with snow in Engelberg and every where in the Alps before that weekend. Again let the pics talk how it was...


My first off piste in Engelberg - The Laub.
And it was snowing...
And it was deep & soft to cruise...
And it was our 7th wedding anniversary...
And it was a nice morning in Zurich before
traveling back home...
Thank you friends & Switzerland - we will be back!

After Switzerland it was time to concentrate to work hard again before the next skiing break in mid-March. Meanwhile waiting to get back to the mountains it was nice to enjoy skiing in the small hills with friends and their kids. Have to say it was a lot of fun to see the little ones learning to ski. I also took a part in my first ever SkiMo competition in Sappee on 31st of January 2016. Read more about Ski Mountaineering in hiihtoalppinismi.net. It was more for fun for me but for sure once you know its a competition you are at least trying to do your personal best. I participated the "toppahoususarja" and we were hiking 4 times up the Sappee hill and skiing down 3 times. I would say that with the shortest legs and heaviest gear I was doing pretty good and my time was 59,31 - so I was extremely happy as my goal was to make it in 1 hour! Well the winner in men's race series competition, Joonas Kortelainen, made 6 rounds in time 33,44.
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The start for the "toppahousu" class
in Sappee SkiMo competition.

Maybe some lighter gear would make me faster!

After SkiMo race I was already dreaming of you guess what... At least lighter bindings but not really any Ski Mountaineering equipment as I have to say I still prefer to do ski-touring in a kind of "peace and quiet" mode. But this was a great experience and as my attitude is like never say never, it might be that I will be competing next winter again just for fun!

My idea was to make one story of the whole season but I think its better to keep you waiting what the mid-March brought for us! Some of you might have followed me in Instagram and seen some pics like...


One of the great days out there - coming more soon!

Kuvat: Pauliina Sjölund, Robert Sjölund, Konsta Reunala (SkiMo Sappee)