The start of the ski season up in Finland is now just days away. Levi and Ruka ski resorts have unwrapped their massive stockpiles of snow, stored under covers from last winter, and begun spreading it out on the slopes ready to open for the first weekend of October.
Both will create 2-3km of slopes and terrain park features. Last year natural snowfall arrived within days of the white ribbons being laid on the brown hillsides turning everything full winter by mid-October. This late summer/early autumn so far has been a little warm.
Both resorts aim to make much more of this huge effort than just saying the slopes are open and leaving skiers to it.
In Ruka's case Thursday, October 3rd sees the start of the Arctic Weekend with lots of events lined up in the Ruka ski centre, on the snow-covered Saarua slopes and in the Restaurant Piste.
The long-weekend through to the 6th includes ski movie screenings, talks by figures in the ski and snow world, the chance to test the season's new equipment on snow,
"During the weekend, we enjoy a good atmosphere and meet old and new friends. The perfect way to kick off the new season.," a resort spokesperson said.