Featured Picture: Arttu Heikkinen | Skier: Joona Kangas

As many people within the U.S. are itching to get again on skis, the season is already properly underway in Finland. At Ruka, they’ve been open for driving since early October. They’re at the moment serving up a implausible providing of options from rails to a small soar line. Situated simply south of Article Circle, a few four-hour drive from the nation’s capital metropolis of Helsinki, Ruka is thought for internet hosting an annual migration of freeskiers within the fall and spring every season.

The resort’s park choices all through the winter are world-class, nevertheless it’s in these shoulder seasons that the tradition right here actually shines. The operations group at Ruka has been crafting freestyle setups for 30 years, and so they’ve been a key half in serving to develop the Finnish freeski scene into the sturdy epicenter that it’s immediately.

Due to chilly temps and a transparent presence of passionate skiers, Ruka has grow to be recognized all through Scandinavia as being a premier spot to hit jumps and rails earlier than and after a lot of the Northern Hemisphere. However we didn’t need to speculate on what it’s like at this distant vacation spot. No, we needed to get the data straight from the supply. That’s why we hit up one in all our favourite skier/filmer duos round; Joona Kangas and Arttu Heikkinen.

Each initially from Finland, Kangas and Heikkinen have been out getting clips at Ruka for a number of days in October. Kangas is likely one of the most inventive and technical riders on the already-stacked K2 roster. Heikkinen is a well-established filmmaker and photographer whose work was even featured on the cowl of FREESKIER Quantity 25 Situation 4 three years again. We lobbed them a number of inquiries to get a really feel for what it’s like proper now at this Finnish hotspot.

Thanks for speaking, guys. The early-season arrange at Ruka at all times appears to be like enjoyable, and this yr isn’t any exception. Is it your house resort? 

Joona Kangas: No, it’s not. My dwelling resort is Levi in Finnish Lapland. Ruka is a few four-hour drive south slightly below the Arctic Circle.

Arttu Heikkinen: I stay fairly near Helsinki so Talma is my dwelling resort. It’s round a ten hour drive to Ruka. 

That’s a trek. What retains you each coming again annually?

JK: I often go to Ruka like every year nowadays, largely for the season-opening when there are movie premieres occurring and all the nice homies are round. It’s an amazing spot early within the season, with so many nice skiers gathering there and an amazing presence of freeski tradition.

AH: The early-season park is simply the perfect. And the homies are there. You probably have the possibility to go throughout this time of the yr, I can’t advocate it sufficient.

When did Ruka open for snowboarding this yr? Are there another resorts close by that provide a comparable expertise and are open?

JK: They opened on the 4^th of October, similtaneously my dwelling resort Levi. Ruka and Levi are the 2 resorts in Finland that provide early-season shredding! Each are glorious, with Ruka simply being extra centrally situated within the nation.

AH: Yeah, I’d say Levi is the opposite most suitable choice nevertheless it’s distant.

Most individuals know that the Finnish freeski tradition is alive and rising. It is perhaps one of many strongest epicenters for the game on this planet. What elements make it so distinctive and vibrant? 

JK: The early generations of Finnish freeskiers paved the way in which. They left a mark you possibly can nonetheless see within the tradition immediately, and it’s unbelievable to have the ability to carry that on. Finnish skiers do issues correctly, and we’re very specific. We use what we’ve and don’t make an excessive amount of noise about it. The skiers listed here are simply so true to it, doing it for love and at all times with a inventive method. Finland doesn’t have the identical massive mountains as different locations in Europe and doesn’t get as a lot consideration. I believe this is the reason the skiers listed here are so passionate; as a result of they do it for love and never for another cause.

AH: We’ve fairly small ski resorts right here with tremendous good snowparks. You may get so many laps a day that it permits skiers to get actually good in a brief period of time. And the season right here at Ruka is sort of eight months. 

What’s your favourite function of this early-season setup?

JK: The knuckle of the soar. So many prospects for enjoyable tips!

AH: I believe the soar line appears to be like so good on video. All of the options are enjoyable, however sort of small. Due to that we often movie the whole lot as one line, which will be robust nevertheless it’s nice follow for the remainder of the season.

What’s the perfect a part of driving at Ruka?

JK: For me, the highlights are hitting the snow cannon knuckles, which actually construct up in November/December, and the slushy park snowboarding within the spring, usually April and Could. The identical goes for once I’m driving at Levi. Each of these are cornerstones of Finnish freeskiing. You received’t discover the identical kind of snowboarding at the start and finish of the season in lots of different locations.

AH: I like the truth that the chairlift is so quick. One lap is barely about 5 minutes and you may hit eight options in a run. There aren’t too many individuals driving on weekdays, so there isn’t a rush and filming is fairly chill. The one unhealthy factor is the climate. It may be so inconsistent this time of the yr. It was snowing yesterday, however it will likely be 10 levels Celsius [50 degrees Fahrenheit] in a number of days. 

If somebody goes to ski at Ruka, what’s one factor they must do off the hill?

JK: Carry a headlamp, go for a hike within the darkness, make a hearth at a wilderness hut and watch the northern lights. There’s a lot room to roam in Finland and close to Ruka, it’s best to make the most of it for those who’re on the market.

AH: Remember to hit the sauna after snowboarding after which head to the Bar Zone karaoke. It’s unbeatable.

Any massive plans or tasks for 2025 that FREESKIER readers needs to be taking note of?

JK: We’re lastly releasing Keesh Film 3! Keep tuned for the premiere and launch.

AH: We began the second yr of filming for the brand new Forre venture, titled “Forrever”. It’s tiring however so thrilling to be engaged on a movie for this lengthy. I’m additionally engaged on the brand new Armada Skis group film. I can’t say a lot about both in the meanwhile, however each will drop subsequent fall and are shaping as much as be unbelievable.

We’ll maintain an eye fixed out for these! Joona, favourite ski you’ve been driving?

JK: K2 Reckoner 102, all day. It’s simply the perfect for my fashion of snowboarding. Mushy ideas and steady underfoot. I find it irresistible a lot!

Arttu, finest digital camera that you simply love for taking pictures stills in the marketplace proper now?

AH: Sony A7 IV. Additionally love the Fujifilm xt100iv for journey pictures once I’m on the transfer.

Greatest tune to hearken to whereas lapping the early-season park?

JK: [laughs] I simply desire the character sounds, truthfully.

AH: Haaveissa vainko oot mun by Riki Sorsa.

Final however not least, title one skier and one filmer you suppose folks needs to be taking note of proper now.

JK: Tormod Frostad in snowboarding and Reid Ferguson in filming. Each are simply crushing proper now and I like their work.

AH: For a skier, I’ll say Jussi Pallaskivi, and the filmer is Calle Hasselblatt.