Winter holiday-makers enjoy crisp, sunny weather at Levi
“Head and shoulders, knees and toes...”. Ronnie Neva-aho and daughter Sani Neva-aho chant as they exercise to keep while queueing for the ski lift.
The Levi resort in Finnish Lapland has filled up with ski holiday-makers from the south of Finland. The hotels are full, ski boots thump on the floors of slope cafes, and shelves in equipment rental centres are emptied of their goods, which have been in high demand.
This week has been the annual winter holiday at schools in the south of Finland. Also known as the “ski holiday”, the break is held during different weeks in schools in different parts of the country.
With temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius or colder, an exercise break is one way to keep warm, especially as the queue to the lifts is fairly long.
There are three queues at the lifts of the south slope, each of which stretch out more than 100 metres.
“The wait is about half an hour”, Ronnie Neva-aho says, based on experience from the previous days.
The Neva-ahos are warmed somewhat by the sun that is shining bright on the southern slope. At the top of the Levi Fell, the intensity of the sun is stronger.
“The day before yesterday the temperature at the bottom of the slope was -22. At the top, at the same time it was -8. Yesterday on the lower slope it was -23 down below, and -14 at the top”, says Jukka Naukkarinen.
In addition to exercise, ways to keep warm include putting on an extra layer warm clothing, and drinking an occasional cup of hot cocoa.
“I burned my tongue”, laments 9-year-old Nelli Naukkarinen. In addition to skiing, she has been on a dog sled ride, and would like to take a ride on a snowmobile.
“The snowmobile is next to the cabin. We’ll wait to see if the temperature would rise to above -15 or so”, ponders Nelli’s father, Jukka Naukkarinen.
The greatest amount of the time is spent on skis, however.
“The slopes are in good condition”, says Tony Klingberg, 13.
“I have been skiing downhill 5-7 hours a day during my holiday. I have also skied four kilometres cross-country”, says 12-year-old Valtteri Helaakoski.
A surprising number of British tourists are also at the ski resort, including James Garrett and Lou Petch.
“I am a teacher, and there is a one-week holiday at school”, Garrett explains.
“I have warm clothes, so I am not cold. In fact, this is very nice weather”, Garrett mumbles through the woolen scarf covering his face.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 19.2.2009 - TODAY |
 Winter holiday-makers enjoy crisp, sunny weather at Levi |
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