It is the ideal way to experience Finnish Lapland.

While there is a mad exodus come winter by Brits to the Alps, Rockies and just about anywhere else that allows them to throw themselves down black runs or show off their skills on a Super Pipe, but mention cross country skiing to them and they look at you as if you have gone mad!

As Lapland is usually the first place to see snow in Europe there is an influx of international Cross country Ski teams from all over the world desperate to get in some pre-season training. A first flurry of snow last October saw the arrival of 6 international teams to the resort of Saariselka in the far north of Finnish Lapland. Each team arrived with hundreds of pairs of skis, a huge support team and operated in great secrecy. They have experts to wax their skis, a chef to prepare their food, this is serious stuff. 
Having to gain access to one of the conference rooms a team was using to prepare and store their skis, the hotel manager rang the team manager on our behalf to ask permission. The team manager adamantly denied the request due to secrecy until he realised we were British, when between chuckles he changed his response implying that we were no threat as Brits know nothing about cross-country skiing! Hurtful but on the whole true.
As the days warmed once again the snow quickly began to disappear leaving the teams competing for an ever shrinking short distance of track! We had the last laugh the following day when we passed all six teams out jogging along tarmac roads in glorious sunshine!

I have to admit that in the past the mere mention of cross country skiing would be met by a rolling of eyes and yawns but after many years visiting Finnish Lapland during its long beautiful winters I have  slowly been won over. Not by the Finns, I think they quite like our indifference as it means all the more never ending trails for them, but by nature. Come spring, not your British spring of daffodils and gambling lambs but the Lappish variety, metres of snow, crystal clear blue skies and long sunny days, there is nothing more amazing than setting out on a trail through the silent forests for a days trek.  

I guess the equivalent in the UK is hiking or rambling. The Finns take their cross country skiing seriously, there isn’t a village in Lapland that can’t boast at least a 250km network of trails, all lovingly cared for and maintained. For those crazy people that wish to ski on the short winter days of November to January there are also illuminated tracks. Along the network of trails you find small Kotas (Lapp tepees) where you can rest, make a fire to prepare lunch, or in the middle of nowhere cabins where coffee, soup and cakes are on offer.

There are a small number of people in the UK that have discovered cross-country skiing. Put the skis on children and they are off, making it look so easy. For many people that hike it is not the process of walking that they love but the scenery along the way. Once they had mastered the basics of cross country skiing they would soon love exploring, Finnish style!

In Finnish Lapland you are spoilt for choice when it comes to cross-country skiing, to learn more about the villages and resorts click here.