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.

Sunny, Extremely Icy
Birthday. I needed some skiing for that. And, the only real skiing on this side of the planet was in Hintertux, the friendly location for year-around skiing on the glaciers. Sadly, the glaciers are shrinking. Now on first of October their state in Hintertux was worse than last year in the worst of the summer in the end of August. That's not good. But, some ice left. A bit of snow also on top in some places, even some unskied snow! But wow, were the main slopes icy. Extremely icy, as the weather forecast indicated.
Full story
Alternate link

October 2023, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Husby Ishall September Skiing
I had a much needed trip to see colleagues in Kista. Took the train and the boat and the bus this time... not too bad of a travel mode. Also, since the month is soon over I had to find a place to ski. Mini-skis and the snow pile by the Husby ice skating rink did the trick. Maybe three turns. At least. All obviously on different runs on this half a meter high mountain. September skiing is now done!
Full story
Alternate link

September 2023, Husby Ishall, Husby, Stockholm, Sweden
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

August turns Check
Mini skis. Lapland. Helicopter. Heli-mini-skiing? And big mistakes and miracle rescues. In any case, the turns for August have been completed. I have to ski every month because not doing so would break the long streak.
Full story
Alternate link

August 2023, Kopmajoken sivurotko, Enontekiö, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

Venice again, no skiing, just heat
Many years ago, I tried to find some skiing inVenice. No luck, could not score any snow from local skating rinks, so was unable to plaster the Calatrava Bridge with snow... sad... or maybe good. This year we went back there.
Full story
Alternate link

July 2023, Venice, Italy
Skiing (None); Urban-Exploration (Historic-Sites)

July Desperation
This is a difficult month. Again. But, Leppävaara to the rescue! A constant stream of fresh snow is being delivered outside the ice skating rink. So why not make a ski hill on the nearby slope?
Full story
Alternate link

July 2023, Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

Skiing in San Francisco... in a garage... on a treadmill
Wow. I did not plan for this. But when I learned that this was possible, I just had to go. One hour of my Sunday.... spent skiing in downtown San Francisco. In what looks like a garage. And a sloping treadmill. But, make no mistake. Contrary to my usual style, this is not a crackpot hobbyist scheme, but a commercial operation, the Adventurous Sports. And a place to spot and correct your technique, for the treadmill gives you no room to be sloppy with your form.
Full story
Alternate link

July 2023, Adventurous Sports, San Francisco, California, USA
Skiing (Indoor, Substance-Other)

It's a turn! Really!
Midsummer is difficult time for finding snow. Going through the local skating rinks, only one of them had excess snow, and that was just a tiny bit. But I can always pour drink ice cubes on my yard and ski them, right? I think it counts, because technically, the skis were on ice, and there was a turn. Or at least I claim it was a turn.
Full story
Alternate link

June 2023, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Happy 1st of May!
Traditional 1st of May celebration, on skis. This time on my local hill.
Full story
Alternate link

May 2023, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

Sun Meadows Kiyosata ... no skiing for me
It was a great plan. Take trains to the Sun Meadows ski resort in Kiyosata, Nagano prefecture, Japan. And then come back at the end of the day, pick up my luggage from the hotel and head to the airport. In the words, I was on a deadline. And I was illiterate...
Full story
Alternate link

April 2023, Sun Meadows Kiyosato Ski Area, Yamanashi, Japan
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, None)

Tale of three ski ... attempts
A tale of three ski … attempts. First, the nice one was in the evening with Dan and Tero in the Snova Shin Yokohama, an indoor facility with interesting “polymer snow” that is complete harmless to human but should be thoroughly washed before leaving 🙂
Full story
Alternate link

April 2023, Snova Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan; Sun Meadows Kiyosato Ski Area, Yamanashi, Japan; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Snow, Indoor); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, None); Skiing (Snow, Outdoor)

March Swinghill Madness
My March was super busy at work, and I was also away for extended part of the month. I had to put in my March skiing in early. A Saturday with decent weather seemed like what I should do. I opted for going to Swinghill in Nuuksio, a small but nice hill. The visit turned out to be really nice. The restaurant was booked for some private event, so no snacks for me. But there was a fire in the fire pit outside, which I loved.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2023, Swinghill, Espoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

More Yokohama Forever Snow
I've been here before. But now I was again in Yokohama for conference, and also had some friends eager to go skiing. After our meetings were over in Friday evening, Dan, Tero, and me got into a taxi and headed to Snova Shin Yokohama.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2023, Snova Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

I love the smell of ...
... ski boots in the morning.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2023, Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland
Skiing (None); Travel; Flying

Grani, WTF?
Apparently, there's "no winter maintenance" at the Grani ski hill in Kauniainen. Weird. But ok...
Full story
Alternate link

February 2023, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Kalavrita Highest vertical ski resort in Greece
Greece: I have always pictured it as a land of sunshine, warm beaches, and white sand. I clearly had no idea. It is those things, too, particularly in the summer. But in the winter it is surprisingly cold, has a lot of mountainous areas, and yes, IT HAS SNOW AND SKI RESORTS! I tried two of them in February 2023...
Full story
Alternate link

February 2023, Kalavrita Ski Resort, Kalavrita, Greece
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Skiing the Mount Parnassus
Early morning by the olive trees. Too early, but I have a long drive, 3-4 hours from my hotel to Mount Parnassus, a premier ski resort in Greece. It is perhaps the resort that is known, if anyone has heard of any. A quite magnificent ski resort, I think. Slightly lover than the other one that I visited, Kalavrita, but with more slopes, lifts, and because Mount Parnassus stands alone (prominence: 1,590 m) it feels a much bigger mountain. There is a vast area of snow up there, and only tiny fraction of it is in the ski resort. This would be a wonderful place to do so ski touring!
Full story
Alternate link

February 2023, Parnassos Ski Centre, Polidrosos, Greece
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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

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:

	Sunny, Extremely Icy Birthday. I needed some skiing for that. And, the only real skiing on this side of the planet was in Hintertux, the friendly location for year-around skiing on the glaciers. Sadly, the glaciers are shrinking. Now on first of October their state in Hintertux was worse than last year in the worst of the summer in the end of August. That's not good. But, some ice left. A bit of snow also on top in some places, even some unskied snow! But wow, were the main slopes icy. Extremely icy, as the weather forecast indicated. Full story Alternate link October 2023, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Husby Ishall September Skiing I had a much needed trip to see colleagues in Kista. Took the train and the boat and the bus this time... not too bad of a travel mode. Also, since the month is soon over I had to find a place to ski. Mini-skis and the snow pile by the Husby ice skating rink did the trick. Maybe three turns. At least. All obviously on different runs on this half a meter high mountain. September skiing is now done! Full story Alternate link September 2023, Husby Ishall, Husby, Stockholm, Sweden Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	August turns Check Mini skis. Lapland. Helicopter. Heli-mini-skiing? And big mistakes and miracle rescues. In any case, the turns for August have been completed. I have to ski every month because not doing so would break the long streak. Full story Alternate link August 2023, Kopmajoken sivurotko, Enontekiö, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	Venice again, no skiing, just heat Many years ago, I tried to find some skiing inVenice. No luck, could not score any snow from local skating rinks, so was unable to plaster the Calatrava Bridge with snow... sad... or maybe good. This year we went back there. Full story Alternate link July 2023, Venice, Italy Skiing (None); Urban-Exploration (Historic-Sites)

	July Desperation This is a difficult month. Again. But, Leppävaara to the rescue! A constant stream of fresh snow is being delivered outside the ice skating rink. So why not make a ski hill on the nearby slope? Full story Alternate link July 2023, Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	Skiing in San Francisco... in a garage... on a treadmill Wow. I did not plan for this. But when I learned that this was possible, I just had to go. One hour of my Sunday.... spent skiing in downtown San Francisco. In what looks like a garage. And a sloping treadmill. But, make no mistake. Contrary to my usual style, this is not a crackpot hobbyist scheme, but a commercial operation, the Adventurous Sports. And a place to spot and correct your technique, for the treadmill gives you no room to be sloppy with your form. Full story Alternate link July 2023, Adventurous Sports, San Francisco, California, USA Skiing (Indoor, Substance-Other)

	It's a turn! Really! Midsummer is difficult time for finding snow. Going through the local skating rinks, only one of them had excess snow, and that was just a tiny bit. But I can always pour drink ice cubes on my yard and ski them, right? I think it counts, because technically, the skis were on ice, and there was a turn. Or at least I claim it was a turn. Full story Alternate link June 2023, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Happy 1st of May! Traditional 1st of May celebration, on skis. This time on my local hill. Full story Alternate link May 2023, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	Sun Meadows Kiyosata ... no skiing for me It was a great plan. Take trains to the Sun Meadows ski resort in Kiyosata, Nagano prefecture, Japan. And then come back at the end of the day, pick up my luggage from the hotel and head to the airport. In the words, I was on a deadline. And I was illiterate... Full story Alternate link April 2023, Sun Meadows Kiyosato Ski Area, Yamanashi, Japan Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, None)

	Tale of three ski ... attempts A tale of three ski … attempts. First, the nice one was in the evening with Dan and Tero in the Snova Shin Yokohama, an indoor facility with interesting “polymer snow” that is complete harmless to human but should be thoroughly washed before leaving 🙂 Full story Alternate link April 2023, Snova Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan; Sun Meadows Kiyosato Ski Area, Yamanashi, Japan; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Snow, Indoor); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, None); Skiing (Snow, Outdoor)

	March Swinghill Madness My March was super busy at work, and I was also away for extended part of the month. I had to put in my March skiing in early. A Saturday with decent weather seemed like what I should do. I opted for going to Swinghill in Nuuksio, a small but nice hill. The visit turned out to be really nice. The restaurant was booked for some private event, so no snacks for me. But there was a fire in the fire pit outside, which I loved. Full story Alternate link March 2023, Swinghill, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	More Yokohama Forever Snow I've been here before. But now I was again in Yokohama for conference, and also had some friends eager to go skiing. After our meetings were over in Friday evening, Dan, Tero, and me got into a taxi and headed to Snova Shin Yokohama. Full story Alternate link March 2023, Snova Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

	I love the smell of ... ... ski boots in the morning. Full story Alternate link February 2023, Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland Skiing (None); Travel; Flying

	Grani, WTF? Apparently, there's "no winter maintenance" at the Grani ski hill in Kauniainen. Weird. But ok... Full story Alternate link February 2023, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Kalavrita Highest vertical ski resort in Greece Greece: I have always pictured it as a land of sunshine, warm beaches, and white sand. I clearly had no idea. It is those things, too, particularly in the summer. But in the winter it is surprisingly cold, has a lot of mountainous areas, and yes, IT HAS SNOW AND SKI RESORTS! I tried two of them in February 2023... Full story Alternate link February 2023, Kalavrita Ski Resort, Kalavrita, Greece Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Skiing the Mount Parnassus Early morning by the olive trees. Too early, but I have a long drive, 3-4 hours from my hotel to Mount Parnassus, a premier ski resort in Greece. It is perhaps the resort that is known, if anyone has heard of any. A quite magnificent ski resort, I think. Slightly lover than the other one that I visited, Kalavrita, but with more slopes, lifts, and because Mount Parnassus stands alone (prominence: 1,590 m) it feels a much bigger mountain. There is a vast area of snow up there, and only tiny fraction of it is in the ski resort. This would be a wonderful place to do so ski touring! Full story Alternate link February 2023, Parnassos Ski Centre, Polidrosos, Greece Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)