Kallin Hiihtokeskus, the resort closest to Oulu, has only one lift and one slope – not the choice for an advanced skier, then, but a very nice place to learn. The slope has an end and you can get off the skilift at several points to avoid its steep parts. A day ticket for the lift is €14; to rent ski/ snowboard equipment is €17. The one slope is split into two sides by the ski lift, one a normal slope and the other a ‘stunt slope’ where you can practice tricks and jumps, and maybe even break an arm.
As the name implies this is a more of a centre than a resort. There’s no accommodation and only a small café that serves hot chocolate tasting of cardboard. If you don’t have a car or a good friend with a car, getting there is tricky. Take the train to Kemi and the bus to Keminmaa and you still have to walk three kilometres.
Photo by Irene Pleym Jakola
Iso-Syöte is a lot bigger than Keminmaa and offers about eight slopes that vary in difficulty, including special slopes for kids, a half pipe, and some other cool extras for the bigger ‘uns. Although there are hotels, restaurants, and cottages in the area, if you’re more of a ground trooper than a speed loving snowboarder Iso-Syöte itself won’t keep you occupied. You’ll either ski or sit in the bar, drinking slightly better cocoa than in Kallin Hiihtokeskus.
Though perfect for a day trip or weekend, the Iso-Syöte slopes might bore you after a day. The drive there of around two hours (depending on weather conditions) can be navigated by Ski Bus, which takes you there and back for €38 including lift ticket. Unfortunately it arrives at 11 o’clock and leaves again at 4 o’clock, leaving only four hours skiing. Otherwise you pay €27 a day for a lift ticket, €32 for a snowboard, and €25 for skis.
Vuokatti is further away at about 190 kilometres, but larger again. Thirteen slopes varying in difficulty should present a challenge for anyone. More slopes also mean a higher price, especially for gear: skiing/ snowboard equipment comes at €40 a day and the lift ticket at another €30.
Photo by Irene Pleym Jakola
So what makes Vuokatti worth the long drive and the stiff prices? The slopes are better, they have chair lifts, and did we mention it’s bigger. When it comes to ski resorts, size does actually matter. This doesn’t only offer nice slopes and a bar, but an all year open indoor halfpipe, a husky sled, and, for the motor freaks, snow-safaris, all of which makes it a nice day or weekend trip for the economically less-challenged.
At about two and a half hours, the long drive to Vuokatti is better with a co-pilot sharing the burden. You can take the bus of course, but that’s even longer and makes your wallet even lighter. A weekend trip is better if you don’t have a car, and plenty of cottages, hotels, and youth hostels offer a good night’s rest after partying.
Ruka, close to Kuusamo, is the biggest ski-resort of them all and within reasonable distance from Oulu. Almost 30 slopes at your disposal rate from very easy to very advanced. This place has everything: plenty of surrounding hotels, cottages for up to 20 people, an absolutely beautiful location, and perfect snow. A day ticket’ll set you back about 30€ and the gear another 30€.
At a good three hour drive, Ruka’s problem is distance: plan a day trip and expect to sit in a car for about 6 hours. Stay longer – 2 days, say – and this resort becomes rather pricy. But if you’re an experienced skier whose pockets go deep enough, we strongly recommend it. Plenty of slopes keep you busy for days, and plenty of entertainment at night.
We do not recommend that rookies try Ruka for a whole weekend. It’s always possible skiing or boarding is just not your thing, in which case it is an awful waste of money to spend on a weekend. Of course you can cross-country ski and drink beer at the bar, but you can do that at home.
To sum up: if you are an experienced skier looking for a day trip, head for Iso-Syöte or Vuokatti. For a longer trip go to Ruka, it’s worth the extra penny. As a second choice Vuokatti isn’t a bad weekend trip either. Very new with all of this and just want to know what skiing or boarding is like? Do Keminmaa. It’ll cost you hardly anything, it's not the longest drive, and if you don't like it you can still visit the icecastle.
Photo by Irene Pleym Jakola
Finland’s winter’s great and the snow excellent compared to the findings south in Europe, so go break a leg!! If you get hooked, keep your eyes open at the sports-store for reasonably-priced clothing or equipment, Second-hand snowboards are advertised in the newspaper and in the ski resorts, and it’s worth asking at the resorts if and when they are selling gear.
We got our hands on an excellent, hardly-used snowboard in Iso-Syöte for a mere €150, less then half the price of a medium quality board. For another way to save, go out of season: go in January rather than in March. Pack your own lunches and for Pete’s sake bring extra clothes. After falling on your ass for the whole day you’ll long for dry underwear.
