Finland Outdoors: Part Two

The alpine skiing in Finland in now way compares to the alps or the rockies, or even Mont-Habitant. But what it lacks in elevation and fresh snow, it makes up for in, well, ok...Elevation and fresh powder has a lot to do with quality skiing.

But there is a certain charm to Laajavuori and Riihivuori, two hills in and around Jyväskylä. I mean, sure you probably get the same quality skiing on Mont-Royal in Montreal...Look, i don't really know where i'm going with this. But all I know, is that it's nice to get outside in the fresh air and see an overhead view of the city.

LAAJAVUORI

Laavuori is a hill located about a 20 minutes bike ride from my place and about 2 minutes from those students who live in the Official Student Village (I live in a privately owned student residence). It has four trails and lots of snowboarding jumps. The stable temperture and infrequent snowfall creates never-ending granular conditions.

Plus, you get to see the only ruins in Jyväskylä. No, it's not the ruin of a Medieval Cathedral like the ones cousin Nick showed my in Scotland, it's an old ski jump that isn't used anymore. Jyväskylä is home of a famous Olympic ski jumper. He was very popular a few years ago, but a less than stellar 'music career', problems with the law and general drunkeness have made him a national laughing stock - much like the ski jump.





I've been to Laajvuori twice so far. It was my first time using a T-bar lift in about 15 years.



RIIHIVUORI

This past Tuesday, I went skiing to Riihivuori with Dennis and Jaan from my program. We left one of our lectures early so we could be on time for the happy hour. I gave Rafael and Vasilis (the infamous greek guy who lives on top of me) a big grin, knowling full well that they would soon be heading off to their Finnish 2 course; a class i had dropped two weeks ago, those suckers!

The price was a little more than Laajavuori (26 euro for 4 hours). But then again, there are seven trails at this hill and the two of them are single-black-diamond. Amazing.






I am supposed to go back tomorrow to Laajavuori. I think I'll switch up a little and rent a snowboard. Never snowboarded before. Should be interesting...and hilarious.