Kiiminki’s Kimmoke Park has become a haven for snowboarding and freestyle skiing.

photo:Kiimingin Urheilijat

Snowboarding and freestyle (‘new school’) skiing are popular activities among young people, but until last winter the Oulu region has lacked a place to practice them.

But this last winter, one was established in a Kiiminki park’s clubhouse, and it will hopefully be much improved by next winter.

According to Aki Happonen, the park’s handyman from the Kiimingin Urheilijat sports club, the entire project was carried out in consultation with the young people who would potentially use it.

‘The youngsters described the kinds of rails and other obstacles they wanted and gave instructions for the necessary earthwork, and the nature of the project submitted for tendering was also decided together,’ he said.

‘The building of the freestyle park was started already last spring. In conjunction with the building work, the area’s safety was improved by modifying the route of a passing ski trail in order to prevent any risk of collision between the park’s users and local cross-country skiers. Space was also reserved for a sledging hill next to the park,’ he added.

Kiiminki Council contributed to the costs of the equipment in the freestyle park, and this past winter the rails and boxes were in heavy use from the first night onwards. The aim is to carry out some further limited earthwork this summer. At the same time, a summer slope will be available, so skiers and snowboarders will be able to practise their slides during the warmer months as well.

“Next winter, the Kimmoke Park will be back again. We’ll carry out some improvements if our financial situation allows – our aim is to add one more rail. On the other hand, I’m looking into whether we could do this with the help of an unpaid, team effort. We intend to hold various events in the future and – resources permitting – to arrange freestyle training for young riders,” says Happonen.

The ski park is the 12^th of Oulu’s ‘100 Acts’ to improve quality of life in the region.