The opening weekend of Ensilumenlatu was record busy and the feedback was excellent

Imatra's first snow slope was opened last Friday. According to those who were there, there were more people compared to other years. 

Vice-president of Imatra athletes Kari Ahonen consider the opening weekend a success.

- Really good feelings. The best opening ever, he enthuses.

According to Ahonen's observations, in addition to the locals, at least the Hollola Athletes trained at Imatra over the weekend Lari Lehtonen led by, Espoo ski club, Orimattila Jymy, Mikkeli Hiihtäjät and of course Lappeen Riento.

Saimaa Sport, which serves skiers on site Johannes Kohonen the feedback received was very positive and it came from everything. Among other things, the company offering ski equipment and maintenance service had enough demand over the weekend in ways other than ticket sales. 

- I was allowed to work much longer than the agreed opening hours, Kohonen says.

The head of welfare services of the city of Imatra Arja Kujalan according to the ticket sales over the weekend was even surprising.

- We went over the weekend to take more of them to sales points.  

According to him, the season tickets are now mostly sold, because they could be bought until Sunday at a cheaper price. After the track opened, ticket sales returned to the previous year's level, while until then sales were slightly lower than last year. 

Ticket revenues cover about half of the track's annual costs of 130 euros. The effects of the track on the economy of the Imatra region however, take the lane keeping to the plus side.

The FIS Imatra Spa Skis will be contested on 31.10. – 1.11.

There is a skiing race at Imatra on the weekend, photo from January 2016

According to the organizers, the ski competitions that entitle to international FIS points are not in danger. 

Due to the corona situation, mostly domestic skiers are coming to the race. According to Kari Ahonen, the director of the competition, almost 150 participants are coming on the day of the competition. Exoticism is offered by the Mongolian national team, which tops FIS points from Imatra. 

- The Mongolian national team will come with seven people. They were at a camp in Imatra two or three years ago, Ahonen says.

Nine of the men of the Imatra athletes competing near the tip of Finland are seen on the track. At the same time, they qualified their club from the places of the relay teams for the opening of the Finnish Cup in Vuokatti, which will be skied the following weekend. Three team members, i.e. nine skiers, are leaving for the men's track.

Coaching at the Espoo ski club Timo Heinonen is bringing the club's juniors to Imatra. After the weekend's competition, the young people from Espoo stay in Imatra for a week to hold a training camp. According to Heinonen, Imatra is a justified choice as a campsite.

- I trust that the tracks will be in good condition after the race. Imatra is a good place and the accommodations are nearby. We have a few biathlon enthusiasts, so we can do that too. After all, Imatra is absolutely great as a campsite, roller skiing in the summer and skiing in the winter, Heinonen praises.

The public has free access to the skiing competitions. The competition's staff wear masks and the organizing club urges the public to take care of good hygiene and maintain safety distances or wear a protective mask.

Please find competition program from the website of Imatra athletes.

More information:

Ensilumenladusta, Head of Welfare Services Arja Kujala, 020 617 2227, arja.kujalaimatra.fi (arja[dot]kujala[at]imatra[dot]fi)

from the FIS Championships, Competition Director Kari Ahonen +358 400 716 386