Skiing the Planet

"Mongolia is kind of close, right?" Story about an attempt to ski everywhere in the world where there's snow. And in some places where there isn't. On and off-piste skiing on all continents, skiing into craters of live volcanoes, climbing, photography, and travel.

The blog about skiing around the world. The most recent blog articles can be found in Blogspot. This page lists all the skiing-related articles from this blog series.

Largest indoor ski hall... somewhere between North Korea and Siberia
I'm stuck at a meeting in northern China, somewhere between North Korea and Siberia. Abandoned concrete housing projects fill the rainy horizon in this city that no one seems to have heard of. But this does not mean that the locals cannot have nice things. Or me. World's largest indoor ski hall, for instance?
Full story
Alternate link

September 2018, Wanda Ski Park, Harbin, China
Skiing (Indoor)

Black Snow. Again.
I was again at Hintertux for summer skiing, at the low point of the yearly snow cycle. The glaciers were dark... black even.
Full story
Alternate link

August 2018, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Canadian Heatwave Snow
I had a great Sunday, starting with work work work, with some progress I think, then went skiing, and finally returned to have a nice sauna and a swim at the hotel. And afterwards met some fun new Argentinians from my meeting at a late reception.
Full story
Alternate link

July 2018, Mont Saint-Sauveur Versant Avila, Quebec, Canada
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Skiing San Marino... on the rocks
countries_skied++; San Marino!
Full story
Alternate link

July 2018, Cesta, Monte Titano, San Marino, San Marino
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain)

Ounasvaara
While in Rovaniemi, of course I needed to stop at Ounasvaara, the local and legendary ski hill. They were also equally obviously no longer open, but obviously I hiked up.
Full story
Alternate link

May 2018, Ounasvaaran hiihtokeskus, Rovaniemi, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Ski software update
Will software update be enough or should I stop at the repair shop?
Full story
Alternate link

May 2018, Pyhä, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Equipment

Salomon Driver Ski Helmet Review
To be honest, I did not expect much. My old helmet was broken in the back, I was flying to the Ylläs competition next day, and the Ski Service shop was closing. They had only helmet model that was even close to what I was looking for. I had to buy it.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2018, Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland; Ylläs, Finland
Equipment; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Ylläs 24H Live!
Tero and I are joining the Ylläs 24h race. They hold the ski lifts running for 24 hours straight... and whoever skis most vertical, wins. There will be no rest :-)
Full story
Alternate link

April 2018, Ylläs, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Holy Vappu!
Reject spring. Ski in Pyhä! Party glasses on and champagne in backpack!
Full story
Alternate link

April 2018, Pyhä, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Replacement Poles. Cutting them...
Ski pole bouquet, five poles! Should be enough for redundancy, now.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2018, Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland; Ylläs, Finland
Equipment; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Skiing in Romania
The winter is running out, and even the HR department though that I had too little vacation. So I decided to take some last-minute cheap flights to Romania to ski in my #57th country.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2018, Sinaia, Romania
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins)

When you have to make a call
When you have to make a call... you will find the way.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2018, Sinaia, Romania
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins)

Kazakhstan Pioneer Camp Skiing
Back in the Soviet times, pioneer camps were known to be a place for kids to have summer camps, as well as a forum for pushing socialism ideals. But can you find powder at a winter pioneer camp? Apparently you can, as long as you are ready to ride the death trap lifts. And pay your lift rides with vodka.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2018, Elik-Sai Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Almatau Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Switzerland ... in Hyvinkää
A quick set of runs in Switzerland... of Hyvinkää. Small local hill. I was here as a kid long time ago and it looked different. I only now understand why... they moved it :-)
Full story
Alternate link

January 2018, Hyvinkään Sveitsi, Hyvinkää, Finland; Hyvinkään Sveitsin hiihtokeskus, Hyvinkää, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Good morning, Kazakhstan!
Good morning Kazakhstan! More room to think about stuff. And search for that turn.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2018, Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Almaty Airport, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Travel

Hello, Hestra!
I was determined to find a few hours on some evening, even if my meeting seemed to be running from 8am to at least 8pm or even 10pm... but then the local ski hill closed.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2018, Isaberg ski area, Hestra, Sweden
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

This is the 12th set of articles. The previous sets were set 1, set 2, set 3, set 4, set 5, set 6, set 7, set 8, set 9, set 10, and set 11. The next sets are set 13, set 14, set 15, set 16, set 17, set 18, set 19, set 20, set 21, set 22, set 23, and set 24.

See also the Planetskier blog articles about caving, urban exploration, climbing, cycling, flying, swimming, and saunas. There is also a full list of all articles regardless of topic, a list of services "approved by the Planetskier, and a world map of all skiing related destinations from the blog series:

	Largest indoor ski hall... somewhere between North Korea and Siberia I'm stuck at a meeting in northern China, somewhere between North Korea and Siberia. Abandoned concrete housing projects fill the rainy horizon in this city that no one seems to have heard of. But this does not mean that the locals cannot have nice things. Or me. World's largest indoor ski hall, for instance? Full story Alternate link September 2018, Wanda Ski Park, Harbin, China Skiing (Indoor)

	Black Snow. Again. I was again at Hintertux for summer skiing, at the low point of the yearly snow cycle. The glaciers were dark... black even. Full story Alternate link August 2018, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Canadian Heatwave Snow I had a great Sunday, starting with work work work, with some progress I think, then went skiing, and finally returned to have a nice sauna and a swim at the hotel. And afterwards met some fun new Argentinians from my meeting at a late reception. Full story Alternate link July 2018, Mont Saint-Sauveur Versant Avila, Quebec, Canada Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Skiing San Marino... on the rocks countries_skied++; San Marino! Full story Alternate link July 2018, Cesta, Monte Titano, San Marino, San Marino Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain)

	Ounasvaara While in Rovaniemi, of course I needed to stop at Ounasvaara, the local and legendary ski hill. They were also equally obviously no longer open, but obviously I hiked up. Full story Alternate link May 2018, Ounasvaaran hiihtokeskus, Rovaniemi, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Ski software update Will software update be enough or should I stop at the repair shop? Full story Alternate link May 2018, Pyhä, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Equipment

	Salomon Driver Ski Helmet Review To be honest, I did not expect much. My old helmet was broken in the back, I was flying to the Ylläs competition next day, and the Ski Service shop was closing. They had only helmet model that was even close to what I was looking for. I had to buy it. Full story Alternate link April 2018, Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland; Ylläs, Finland Equipment; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Ylläs 24H Live! Tero and I are joining the Ylläs 24h race. They hold the ski lifts running for 24 hours straight... and whoever skis most vertical, wins. There will be no rest :-) Full story Alternate link April 2018, Ylläs, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Holy Vappu! Reject spring. Ski in Pyhä! Party glasses on and champagne in backpack! Full story Alternate link April 2018, Pyhä, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Replacement Poles. Cutting them... Ski pole bouquet, five poles! Should be enough for redundancy, now. Full story Alternate link April 2018, Ski Service, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, Finland; Ylläs, Finland Equipment; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Skiing in Romania The winter is running out, and even the HR department though that I had too little vacation. So I decided to take some last-minute cheap flights to Romania to ski in my #57th country. Full story Alternate link March 2018, Sinaia, Romania Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins)

	When you have to make a call When you have to make a call... you will find the way. Full story Alternate link March 2018, Sinaia, Romania Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins)

	Kazakhstan Pioneer Camp Skiing Back in the Soviet times, pioneer camps were known to be a place for kids to have summer camps, as well as a forum for pushing socialism ideals. But can you find powder at a winter pioneer camp? Apparently you can, as long as you are ready to ride the death trap lifts. And pay your lift rides with vodka. Full story Alternate link February 2018, Elik-Sai Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Almatau Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Switzerland ... in Hyvinkää A quick set of runs in Switzerland... of Hyvinkää. Small local hill. I was here as a kid long time ago and it looked different. I only now understand why... they moved it :-) Full story Alternate link January 2018, Hyvinkään Sveitsi, Hyvinkää, Finland; Hyvinkään Sveitsin hiihtokeskus, Hyvinkää, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Good morning, Kazakhstan! Good morning Kazakhstan! More room to think about stuff. And search for that turn. Full story Alternate link January 2018, Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Almaty Airport, Almaty, Kazakhstan Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Travel

	Hello, Hestra! I was determined to find a few hours on some evening, even if my meeting seemed to be running from 8am to at least 8pm or even 10pm... but then the local ski hill closed. Full story Alternate link January 2018, Isaberg ski area, Hestra, Sweden Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)