Green light for Ruka Nordic in difficult conditions

Even though the conditions in Northern Finland are challenging with warm temperatures, rain and a lack of snow, the snow control for the World Cup Opening event was positive.

Snow Controller Pekka Hyvärinen, who is in charge of the controls for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined reported: “I have never seen this view in Ruka at this time of the year. The only snow present is on the cross-country track and in the jumping hill.” Still, the preparations are going according to a plan that is taking the difficult conditions into consideration.

Hyvärinen: “The inrun of the hill is in a good shape and will work well during the weekend. The landing hill and outrun are mostly covered in snow, with some parts still missing due to the warm and rainy weather. There are plans in place to rectify this situation and the hill will be ready for inspection on Thursday at the latest.”

Seppo Linjakumpu, Head of the Organising Committee adds: “3.3 km of cross-country tracks are prepared at the moment, with the stadium still being in progress. Everything will be ready in time for the Nordic Combined and Cross-Country Skiing official trainings.”

With the temperatures dropping over the past weekend, snow making was taken up again and plans are also in place to get snow from Ruka’s alpine centrum and from Vuokatti if extra snow is needed.

“This year will not be easy for Ruka but snow-wise, it will be okay for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined. The organising committee is looking forward to welcome the teams to Ruka”, Snow Controller Hyvärinen concluded.