Results of the eight month feasibility study have been presented.

The Fédération Internationale de Ski ("FIS"), have reported on plans to create an indoor ski jumping facility in Ylitornio in Finnish Lapland.

The area is trying to develop plans to become the first venue to stage indoor Ski Jumping competitions. The municipality, close to the Swedish broder in western Finnish Lapland, presented the results of an eight-month long feasibility study to the representatives of the Finnish Ski Association on Tuesday.

The innovative plan calls for building three hills side-by-side, a Ski Flying hill (K 185) enabling jumps of up to 250 meters, a large hill (K 120) with jumps of approx. 140 m, and a normal hill (K 90).

The top part of the in-run track is planned in a tunnel to be dug into the Aavasaksa mountain. The rest of the facility would also be covered to ensure that weather conditions have no impact on the competition results and that safe and equal conditions can be ensured for all competitors. Given the indoor set-up, the hills could be in use almost ten months a year.

The estimated budget for the project amounts to €30 million and financing is expected to be available by the end of 2007. The construction is estimated to begin in 2009 and last 2-2.5 years.

“The Aavasaksa project is very interesting and innovative. I have followed the project’s planning phase carefully,” said Janne Marvaila, Director of Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined at the Finnish Ski Association. “Having the will to push things forward is very positive. The Ski Jumping Committee of the Finnish Ski Association will review the detailed proposal this Friday and formulate its official stance.”

In addition to the Aavasaksa project, a competing Ski Flying hill project is underway at Suomu, Kemijärvi, in the eastern part of Finnish Lapland. This plan foresees a normal Ski Flying hill with construction completed by 2011. There is currently no Ski Flying hill in Finland.

you can take a dip!

After an exciting day of husky safaris, snowmobiling, ice fishing and of course meeting Santa we return to our hotel.

For many there is no such thing as too much snow and they head straight back outside to go tobogganing, skiing or making snowmen.

Others they reach a point where they can’t spend another second in all of those layers of thermals, jumpers and safari clothing. Some head for the bar for a well earned drink while others decide they are off for a dip.

Taking a dip varies dramatically depending where you are……….

In Saariselka, north eastern Lapland, in the Holiday Club Hotel is the fabulous  swimming pool with slides, spa pools and wave machine. Entrance to the pool is free to Holiday Club guests. Guests from other hotels are welcome but pay an entrance fee.

At Hotel Iso-Syote in Northern Finland guests can enjoy a relaxing warming sauna and take a dip in their cooling indoor pool.

At Hotel Jeris, western Lapland, taking a dip can involve more of a challenge if you are feeling brave.

While most guests choose to soak in the wonderful warm lakeside spa pools the crazier guests take a short swim in the outdoor lake pool!

At Hotel Harriniva, in western Lapland, there isn’t a pool but clients can hire an outdoor hot tub in a snowy riverside setting. The braver adults can take a dip in an ice hole!

It goes without saying that as this is Lapland all of the locations have a warming sauna to hop into after your dip!

The anniversary season will start with Sibelius symphonies.

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO), a superb ensemble of 98 players begins its 125th anniversary season with a series of Sibelius concerts at Finlandia Hall on September 20 and 22. These ‘Jean Sibelius in memoriam’ concerts are a tribute to the maestro who died 50 years ago. All seven symphonies will be performed in the three-concert series under the Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Leif Segerstam.

The celebrations will continue in October with concerts and a broad presentation of its work. An 125^th anniversary disc called Picures from Finland will be released to mark the occasion.

Leif Segerstam was appointed Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in the autumn of 1995.

The Helsinki Philharmonic is based in magnificent Finlandia Hall (seating capacity 1,700), designed by Finland most famous architect, Alvar Aalto.

A unique gastronomic event in Finnish Lapland.

On Saturday 29 September 2007 Levi in western Finnish Lapland will spend a day celebrating the gastronomic delight that is reindeer.

The day that is organised by the Reindeer Herders’ Association and companies at Levi area will start with an indoor Lappish market where handicrafts, reindeer meat and delicacies will be on sale. During the day there will be cooking demonstrations and an exhibition will be held depicting “Reindeer life by the fell Levi”.

To round off the special day the highlight will be a reindeer dinner cooked the regions top chefs.

Jack and the recruits experience extreme Finnish Lapland with Emagine UK Ltd.

As well as arranging holidays to Finnish Lapland to meet Santa, Lapland winter activity holidays and general travel to Scandinavia here at Emagine we are sometime approached to put our Arctic expertise to other uses. When Ginger TV, part of the Scottish Media Group, were looking for a cold location to challenge Jack Osbourne as part of the Adrenaline Junky 3 series they came to us.

We knew just the place and set about putting together a journey through one of Europe’s last true wildernesses, in north western Finnish Lapland. The journey was to use husky teams and would cover over 100km, setting up camp on fells and frozen lakes along the way.

Filming took place in late April 2007 to make the most of the already long Lapland Arctic days, when it stays light until after 10pm, when there is hopefully lots of sun and the area is still covered in several metres of snow.

The program, currently being aired on ITV2, shows Jack and the recruits experiencing some extreme conditions and taking in some breathtaking sights during the journey.  Prior to arriving in Finnish Lapland they had already been filming in New Zealand and the steaming jungles of Sarawak so the Arctic conditions seemed even more extreme.

After kitting them out with essential cold weather clothing, suits, boots, mitts and hats they were ready to face the Arctic.

The journey started in Kilpisjarvi (Finnish Lapland), over 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. The region they travelled through is above the tree line so the only vegetation poking through the snow is shrub but certainly not trees therefore allowing vast breathtaking uninterrupted snowy vistas.

This really is the middle of nowhere so all equipment and supplies have to be taken in with you.

Jack and his recruits were put through their paces at Harriniva, one of Europes largest Husky farms. Experts gave them advice on handling their husky sleds and tips on motivating their team of huskies which would be essential once in the wilderness.

After a day of training in calm weather conditions they harnessed up their husky teams, loaded their sleds and set off towards the fells. It wasn’t long before they found themselves in the middle of a blizzard with strong winds swirling snow, limiting visibility and making going tough. The only option was to set up an emergency camp making the most of the limited shelter in this open terrain.

The team fought to put up their tents in gusting conditions. Once this was achieved all they could do was crawl into their sleeping bags, exhausted, and hope that mother nature would be kinder to them the following morning.

The following morning brought a spectacular cold bright Arctic day. Crystal clear blue skies, perfect visibility, a warming sun and never ending pure white snow.

For the rest of the adventure you will have to tune in to ITV2 next week to see how Jack and his recruits coped in the Arctic.

If you want a taste of what Jack and the recruits experienced, in possibly less extreme conditions why not join one of our husky safaris this coming winter.   Click here for details.

Taking place in Levi, Finnish Lapland on 8 September 2007.

On Saturday competitors will meet in Levi in western Finnish Lapland for the 24^th Ruska (Autumn) Marathon.  The route starts in Levi and runs between two fells to the village of Kittilla before they turn back north for the return leg.

For many runners in Lapland this is seen as the final event of the season but for international runners the Ruska Marathon is part of the Northern Marathon series taking in four races in Tromso, Reykjavik, Levi and lastly Loch Ness in Scotland.

The event also features half and quarter marathon categories and junior races.

The first three winners in each category will win a cup.

Daytime temperatures in Lapland are currently at about +10°C during the day but dropping to as low as -6°C at night.

Research at the Kumpula Space Centre in Helsinki, Finland.