While I’m the first to declare that my partner and I are NOT an adventurous couple compared to some, travelling from one country to another to try one new extreme activity after another, we do have a shared love of two adrenaline pumping sports; skiing and snowboarding.
We’re still snowboarding together and it’s still our favourite thing to do together. Ok, well maybe our second favourite thing to do together but let’s keep this for a family audience shall we?
In actual fact I’d go as far as to say that with all those layers, bruised bums and windswept hair, skiing and snowboarding are the least romantic things we do together, but it doesn’t mean we love it any less!
Reasons to Go Skiing or Snowboarding in Finland
When planning our current snowboarding adventures for this season, we wanted to experience something new and different. Between us we’ve covered an impressive amount of ground in Europe, in Canada and Japan snow so we felt like a change of scenery. I’m not sure when Finland popped into my head as possible destination but once it did and I found out that we would be snowboarding in Lapland, well, it was a difficult idea not to pursue.
There are two main resorts in Finnish Lapland for downhill skiing and snowboarding – Levi and Ylläs – and they are both within half an hour’s driving time from Kittilä airport, a well-connected hub with regular cheap flights from all over Europe. While the resorts are similar in size both are very different in style, conditions and appearance.
However, our experience is that the following is very true of snowboarding – or skiing – in both places; the pistes are wide, well-groomed and virtually empty. There is, of course, the added bonus that unlike the European Alps, snow is all but guaranteed and falls regularly.
Furthermore, both resorts offer some of the most dramatic scenery and stunning backdrops we’ve ever had the pleasure of snowboarding against. To say we’ve been impressed is an understatement.
Levi
Levi is the more modern of the two with purpose built hotels and chalets offering all the mod cons and luxury you would want to warm you up before and after a day on the slopes.
Many of Levi’s 43 pistes snake through the snow capped trees that Lapland is famous for and from the highest point you can see across many of the nearby fells, forests and frozen lakes. It’s quite simply stunning.
There are two huge snow parks for you to play in and the scariest of the two blacks runs was surprisingly pleasant to get down, and believe me when I say that I’m not a fan of black runs. We loved to warm up in the Alpine Cafe at the base of the gondola lift
Ylläs
Ylläs is higher than Levi and has longer runs as a result, however, thanks to the resort being based in a beautiful National Park – Finland’s third biggest – they aren’t allowed to cut down trees to create more runs. This means the pistes that are there are the wonderfully wide ones rolling off the top down into some of the seven fells that Ylläs is famous for.
Here you will find a terrifying but fierce slalom length black run and a handful of brilliant red pistes all leading to the bottom of the gondola in Ylläsjärvi, part of the resort that offers ski-in and ski-out accommodation.
There is a connecting route at the peak that allows you to explore the other side of the mountain and Ylläs is certainly one of the best spots for off-piste skiing in Finland. We happily found great apres-ski too in the bars in Taiga and in Bar Kaapi.
Book a Ski or Snowboard Trip to Finland
It should be said that both Ylläs and Levi are not on the same level – literally – as the Alps and other mountain resorts across the world. They are considerably lower and considerably smaller. However, they do have many advantages – perfect snow, reliable conditions and the most stunning views across a special place in the Arctic Circle.
Other bonuses of both resorts is that you have access to many other snow sports and Lappish activities – cross country skiing, husky dog-sledding, reindeer safaris, ice dipping, traditional saunas and snow shoeing. Oh and rumour has it that at night this special phenomenon called the Northern Lights can light up the sky… I know I said it wasn’t important to us, but let’s face it, snowboarding has never been so romantic…
View more recommendations on my travel guide to Finland.
