International names attracted to marginal sport competitions with cash prizes – The goal in Puolanka is to gain traction for the sport

The marginal sport of ski orienteering is attracting international competitors through cash prizes at the Kainuu Ski Orienteering Week, which takes place in Puolanka from December 6. This week of competitions aims to gain traction for the sport, aiming for an event comparable to the World Championships.

Following its launch last year, the Kainuu Ski Orienteering Week gathered interest among athletes, particularly due to the prize money offered in the main categories. Competition director Martti Köngäs predicts that ski orienteering could be a savior for winter sports. A total of participants from thirteen different countries have registered for the upcoming competitions, including teams from Bulgaria, France, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Many foreign national teams have organized training camps during the event week to practice under snowy conditions at the Paljakan Arctic Nest. Köngäs notes that there has been significant demand for the opening week of the ski orienteering season in Finland as well as across Europe.

Initially, the domestic competition season was set to commence in Muonio, but the Ensilumen Rastit event was canceled due to poor snow conditions. This led to a surge of ski orienteers heading to Puolanka, where over 300 competitors are now expected to compete.

Paljakka is well-known for being a reliable snow location where permanent snow typically falls early in the season, ensuring that severe frost does not hinder the skiing trails.

Köngäs emphasizes that this area is the world’s best for hosting ski orienteering events at the start of the winter season. Although the rainy weather has posed challenges for snow conditions in early December, some competition distances have been shortened accordingly.

This year, the winners of the main categories will receive prize pools of 2,500 euros, alongside substantial rewards for younger age competitions. The goal of these prize sums is to encourage young people to continue participating in the sport, aiming to increase the visibility of ski orienteering, which remains a relatively niche activity in Finland. Last season, there were 35 ski orienteering races in Finland that attracted around 1,100 participants.

As Köngäs states, merely skiing may not retain youth interest long-term, and innovations such as incorporating maps or other tactical elements could be key to keeping the sport engaging for new generations.