Lapponia Ski Week got underway in Olos with a strong opening stage.

Miro Karppanen claimed a narrow victory in the men’s race after a dramatic sprint finish. In the women’s race, Sini Alusniemi delivered a dominant performance, securing a clear win and taking early control of the overall standings.

The traditional long-distance skiing event Lapponia Ski Week started on Tuesday in Olos, Muonio. First held in 1978, the event is now organized for the 47th time and has established itself as one of the most demanding mass-participation ski events in Finland. The three-day stage race brings together both elite athletes and recreational skiers, with the overall standings decided by the combined times of all stages.

This year’s competition began with the 60-kilometer Keimiö Kiekerö. On Wednesday, skiers will take on the 50-kilometer Himmelriikki Ski, and the event concludes on Friday with the 80-kilometer Karra Huikonen. The courses run through demanding fell landscapes, where long climbs, variable conditions, and spring snow make each stage a unique challenge.

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Karppanen wins men’s race in a sprint finish

The men’s race immediately delivered a thrilling battle for victory. Miro Karppanen and Remi Lindholm settled the race only on the finishing stretch, with Karppanen taking the win by just 0.7 seconds.

1. Miro Karppanen 2:29:35.3
2. Remi Lindholm +0.7
3. Arttu Heikkinen +1:54.7

The tiny margin between the top two promises an exciting continuation, as such small differences can easily shift over the coming stages. Third-place finisher Arttu Heikkinen was already nearly two minutes behind, but over multiple stages, gaps can still change significantly.

Alusniemi dominant in women’s race

In the women’s competition, Sini Alusniemi delivered a strong performance to take a clear victory. She controlled the race from the early stages and steadily increased her lead throughout the course.

1. Sini Alusniemi 2:57:00.6
2. Jenny Vuori +6:33.4
3. Eevi Karppinen +15:48.9

Alusniemi’s margin of over six minutes gives her a strong position in the overall standings. However, Lapponia is known for being decided only on the final stage, and the long distances and recovery demands can still reshape the leaderboard.

Decisive stages still to come

Lapponia Ski Week covers nearly 190 kilometers in total, emphasizing endurance, pacing, and recovery. The opening stage sets the tone, but it does not decide the outcome.

Wednesday’s Himmelriikki Ski can already bring significant changes as fatigue begins to build. Friday’s Karra Huikonen is traditionally the toughest and most decisive stage, where the overall winners are ultimately determined.

Based on the first day, the men’s race is shaping up to be a battle decided by seconds, while in the women’s race, Alusniemi heads into the next stages with a clear lead.

Read more about the event here.