Ruka Opening Weekend 2010

2°C and a north-westerly wind crossing the Angry Birds Slopestyle Course. The layout stretched 495 metres from start to finish, 30 metres wide, with 110 metres of vertical drop and a 15-degree gradient. Antti-Jussi Kemppainen moved through a course built around slopestyle rather than the halfpipe that had shaped his earlier FIS seasons.... Read more on the Athlete page

Ruka Ski Resort in northern Finland near the Arctic Circle | Known for: Ruka Park, more than 200 ski days, stored-snow October openings, FIS competition terrain and long freestyle training seasons | Best for: park progression, early-season laps, competition training and spring freestyle sessions Rukatunturi And 201 Vertical Metres Of Repetition Rukatunturi reaches 492 metres above sea level near Kuusamo, with the resort spreading across the fell through 41 groomed runs and a maximum vertical drop of 201 metres. Those figures place Ruka far below an Alpine resort in absolute relief, but they explain only part of its freeski value. The hill is compact enough for repeated laps, heavily served by lifts, extensively lit and engineered around a winter that starts before most European mountains have reliable natural snow.... Read more on the Location page