Snowboarding in Finland
Due to the logistics of planning a side trip to Japan on our way home from France in January, we have had to reconsider our options. Instead we are now planning to go to Finland, more specifically Lapland! The idea is that we will be spending a few weeks in France over Christmas and New Years, including a week snowboarding in the French Alps (Manigod) with my dad before heading to Russia. We will then get the train up to Helsinki via Saint Petersburg and then travel up to Lapland. Once we get to Lapland the idea is to fill the trip with snowboarding, dog sledding and (hopefully) northern lights!
From what I can see there seem to be two main resorts Ruka and Levi
http://www.ruka.fi/winter_eng/
http://www.levi.fi/en/
Just wondering if by any chance anyone has been to either, heard anything about either and can maybe give us some suggestions about where to go?
Howdy,
I never got to myself when I was in Finland due to being in Switzerland for snowboarding before going to Finland. My girlfriend is Finnish and she has been to both resorts mentioned and says they are fun but don’t expect the steep terrain like you get in France. Plenty of park action on the UP side.
It’s super cold and depending on the day you might have to hit up a few runs and come inside for the warm up. Just make sure you prep up for it and make sure you pack thermals and face masks.
Might even see you there this year. I’m planning on going back for Xmas to Finland and would love to get the chance to see Ruka myself.
Thanks for the tips 
will have to stock up on thermals in France before we go from the sound of it.
The most I’ve seen of Finland so far is Helsinki airport so I’m pretty keen to check out a bit more of it!
Hey Air,
my ski “club” went to Bjorklinden in 2009. here are some photo. Trip Photos
If you have any specific questions I can feed them to some of the people who went.
I really wanted to go to the Ice Hotel in Finland, that could be a fun honeymoon story!
My wife is 1/2 finish and i believe she wants us to move there at some point in the future so ill be keen to see what info pops up in this thread, besides ruka having a whole heap of lights for night / but its actually daytime above the artic circle, boarding!!
Mmmmmm .... Put me down for some drool over this thread. It’s on my bucket list for sure. 
After much researching it is looking like we will be spending a few days at Levi in January. I was initially leaning towards Ruka but traveling there seemed more difficult and pricey and Levi has a lot of the other stuff we want to do like dog sledding and northern lights as well.
Apparently in Levi in early-mid January there is only about 2-3 hours between sunrise and sunset. No wonder they have such epic lighting on the slopes! Think I’m going to have to invest in some clear lenses for my goggles….
Flights are booked! We fly to Finland from France on the 7th January and return to Paris on the 15th January. Due to there only being one flight to/from Helsinki to Kuusamo (near Ruka) each day it means we will be staying over night in Helsinki on the way there and back. Gives us a good chance to check out Helsinki at least We will be in Ruka from the 8th-14th of January for a week full of snowboarding, dog sledding and snowmobiles!
Cannot wait to check out Ruka and see what Finland has to offer 
Now i just need to book my flights to France!
You will have a great trip!
Flights are booked! We fly to Finland from France on the 7th January and return to Paris on the 15th January. Due to there only being one flight to/from Helsinki to Kuusamo (near Ruka) each day it means we will be staying over night in Helsinki on the way there and back. Gives us a good chance to check out Helsinki at least
Cannot wait to check out Ruka and see what Finland has to offer
WHOO!!! Sounds great
I will be heading 16th December 2014 - 7th January 2015. Don’t think ill go to far north due to the girl wanting to spend time with the family. Sounds like an adventure.
My wife is 1/2 finish and i believe she wants us to move there at some point in the future so ill be keen to see what info pops up in this thread, besides ruka having a whole heap of lights for night / but its actually daytime above the artic circle, boarding!!
Time to start the Finnish lessons Trent
Accommodation in Ruka is booked we will be staying in an apartment right in the middle of the village, about 50m from one of the lifts. To top it off our apartment has it’s own sauna (apparently that is quite common in Ruka!).
Also found out that the day we land in Helsinki (7th Jan) is the second last night of the Lux festival! Similar to white nights in Melbourne or vivid in Sydney so that should be pretty cool to check out as well and a great way to see Helsinki for the first time!
apparently that is quite common in Ruka!)
it common in Finland everywhere!
My parents befriended a couple years ago who work for the Finish Embassy in various countries (they are still friends with them!) and every embassy/consulate around the globe must have a sauna for staff.
I have been in the Canberra one!
Finland, norway, sweden - if you go to a house in the mountains and it doesn’t have a sauna - something is wrong!
Plenty of snow in Ruka by the looks of things!
