Hyppää sisältöön

Winter Sports Highlights

Since the 1950s, in Kuusamo, tourism and winter sports have grown in parallel into an organizer of international Nordic winter sports competitions

The collaboration of a huge number of volunteers, Kuusamon Erä-Veikot and other clubs, Kuusamo town, and the tourism industry have made the Ruka Nordic competition into a significant event

The collaboration of a huge number of volunteers, Kuusamon Erä-Veikot and other clubs, Kuusamo town, and the tourism industry have made the Ruka Nordic competition into a significant event.

  • 1955
    The first slalom competition on the slopes of Ruka.

    1956
    Finnish Slalom Championships at Ruka.

    1957
    Erä-Veikot built the first ski lift at Ruka and started a ski school.

    1964
    Ruka large ski jumping hill was completed.
    The first Ruka Winter Games were a huge success with about 20,000 spectators.
    The patron of the Ruka Games, president of Finland Urho Kekkonen donated a silver President’s Cup for a perpetual trophy for the 30 km race

    1967
    Participants came from eight countries. Due to the large hill, the Ruka Winter Games became an international event.

    1973
    Ownership of the large ski jumping hill from Erä-Veikot to Kuusamo town.

  • 1982
    Kuusamo town started the extensive construction works of Ruka Ski Stadium.

    1986
    The stadium buildings, the ski track network, a new HS50 hill, and the renovated HS90 hill were completed

    1996
    The Ruka large hill was completely renewed.

    RUKA K120 HS 142

    Technical information

    – Length 90 m
    – Height  120 m
    – Take-off angle 11.5°
    – Landing hill angle 39°
    – Inrun angle 35°
    – Used year-round
    – Porcelain inrun track
    – Plastic matting in the landing hill
    – Lifts at landing hill and inrun

    Artificial snowmaking system

    A ski jumping World Cup competition was held at Ruka for the first time.
    Kuusamon Erä-Veikot became one the leading organizers of winter sports events in Finland.

    2002-
    World Cup competitions in all Nordic ski disciplines at Ruka Nordic.

Authors:
Riina Puurunen, Writer
Kari Kantola, MA  

Translations:
Jonna Lohi, MA, Pivot Translations