"Midpacker Marathons" in Finland, 2026-27

"Citizen Racing" is alive and well in Finland. The main schedule ramps up in February, running through early April with the Lapland events. Get a real Nordic racing experience under your belt with 100s of like-minded friends! Don't be intimidated by the lycra-clad folks at the front - they'll be out of the way quickly! These events are for YOU.

Yes, Finns love classic skiing, but race organizers are practical and most events offer opportunities for skaters as well.

= Moose has completed this event on wood skis (and so should you!)

= look for antlered skier in 2027!

= Event is accessible using Finland's lovely national rail system, VR

= Finnair flies to an airport nearby. Other airlines may too

Links are to English-language event pages where available

"(est.)" to the right of the date means we ain't sure yet - date has not been announced

Joulukuu / December, 2026

12.12.2026 - Saariselkä (Lapland). Kiilopäähiihto. Who needs sunlight? Strap on a headlamp and ski!

Tammikuu / January, 2027

Helmikuu / February, 2027

13.2.2027 (est.) - Mikkeli (about 2.5 hours northeast of Helsinki. Drive past Lahti). Savonia Hiihto. Hey WWII history fans! Mikkeli was the site of Mannerheim's HQ during the WWII period. In fact, he had a meeting with Hitler there, in a box car now preserved as a museum. At that meeting, a crafty YLE recording engineer managed to yoink the only known recording of Hitler's voice other than his nutty speeches. It's fascinating to hear this. We all know who the CRAZY person was between Hitler and Mannerheim, but you wouldn't know that listening to the audio clip of them! Oh, and Finland has a VERY complicated WWII era history. Not all rainbows and unicorns for sure. All their moves were influenced by the "napurit" to the east.

20.2.2027 (est.) - Kempele (near Oulu). Pertin Hiihto.

20-21.2.2027 - Lahti (1:15 hrs north of Helsinki). Finlandia-Hiihto. The Big One. Tick that WorldLoppet box. Masochist? Ski both days.

21.2.2027 - Kauhajoki (4 hours northwest of Helsinki. On the way to Vaasa). Kauha-Hiihto.

27.2.2027 - Oulu (way up at the top of the Gulf of Bothnia). Tervhiihto. Terva means tar in Finnish, which means this event is a MUST for a wood-skiing moose. Some day!

27-28.2.2027 - Koli (6 hours northeast of Helsinki. On the 6 highway. Past Joensuu & Kontiolahti). Kolin Maisemahiihto. (via connections from Joensuu)

Maaliskuu / March, 2027

6.3.2027 - Vuokatti (sort of smack dab in the middle of the country). Vuokatti Hiihto. (via bus connection from Kajaani)

6.3.2027 - Ilomantsi (an hour to the right of Joensuu). Pogostan Hiihto. Race has been canceled the last 2 years due to snow conditions. Cowboy up, folks!! (via connections from Joensuu)

12-13.3.2027 - Koli (6 hours northeast of Helsinki. On the 6 highway. Past Joensuu & Kontiolahti). Ahmanhiihto. (via connections from Joensuu)

13.3.2027 - Jyväskylä (3 hours north of Helsinki). Jyväskylä Ski Marathon. If you see my fanny pack, can you grab it for me?

20.3.2027 (est.) - Rovaniemi (Lapland, right on Arctic circle!). Jätkänynttilä Ski Marathon. Don't forget to visit Santa Claus!

Huhtikuu / April, 2027

3-4.4.2027 - Greater Kittilä Metropolitan Area (Lapland). Ylläs-Levi Hiihto. (via bus from Kolari)

5-9.4.2027 - Muonio (Lapland). Lapponia-hiihto/Lapponia Ski Week. Wow this looks cool. Muonio is where the US Nordic team has kicked off the on-snow season in past years, prior to the Ruka races. is going to bookmark this for a future year! (via bus from Kolari)

10.4.2027 (est.) - Syöte (Lapland). Syötehiihto. (via bus from Oulu)

Not Sure About:

- BotniaVasan (Vöyri)
- Polvijärvi-hiihto (Polvijärvi)
- Vantaa-hiihto (Vantaa)
- Kiteen Rajahiihto (Kitee)
- Siirin hiihto (Tohmajärvi)
- Pyhäselän Jäähiihto (Joensuu)

Other Noteworthy Baltic/Nordic Region Events

11-14.2.2027 - Lahti, Finland. Salpausselän Kisat/Lahti Ski Games. Come cheer on the kids! Skiathlon on Saturday! LIT. Beer available.

24.2-7.3.2027 - Falun, Sweden. FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Come cheer on the kids again!

27-28.2.2027 - Tartu, Estonia. Tartu Maraton/Tartu Vintage. Tartu is Estonia's intellectual capital. Except for people who ski a race there in February!

7.3.2027 - Sälen to Mora, Sweden. Vasaloppet. What can I say. If you can conquer this bad boy you're one tough mother. I tip my antlers to you.

20.3.2027 - Rena to Lillehammer, Norway. Da Birken. Come and destroy any confidence in your abililty to wax your skis. Actually, forget it, just use skins. Curse your way through this suffer-fest, cross the finish line, and sign up again for next year.

18.4.2027 - Up in the mountains kinda near Bergen, Norway. Skarverennet. Party hearty, dude. Day trips available from Oslo and Bergen.