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Skiing the extreme: FIS Ruka Nordic World Championship Tour faces biting cold

Posted : 10 December 2023

In the frigid city of Kvasmo, northeastern Finland, where temperatures hover between minus 7 and minus 14 degrees Celsius, with a biting wind making it feel even colder, extreme weather conditions are a norm.

 

Despite its harsh climate, Kvasmo is renowned for the ski resort "Ruka," drawing nearly a million tourists annually. Recently, the FIS Ruka Nordic World Championship Tour unfolded in this freezing locale, featuring 400 participants from 30 countries engaging in ten types of competitive skiing.

 

Recap of U.S. Cross Country World Cup Debut in Ruka

 

The bone-chilling temperatures posed significant challenges for the athletes, with the mercury plummeting to as low as minus 25 degrees. A striking example of the brutal conditions was observed in the 20-kilometer cross-country race, where Swedish skier Kala Helfversson finished 18th after enduring temperatures dropping from minus 15 to minus 18 degrees in just 50 minutes.

 

Helfversson, expressing the intense pain of the experience, humorously mentioned his relief about expecting his second child, contemplating the toll such extreme cold might have on future offspring.

 

While some may jest about the situation, the health risks associated with competing in such severe cold are undeniable. Skiers faced frostbite and hypothermia, with one competitor's eyes freezing and another losing sensation in hands and feet.

 

Despite the tour regulations allowing competitions only to be canceled when temperatures fall below minus 20 degrees Celsius, participants faced challenges of dizziness and sought refuge in saunas after completing the races. The determination to soldier through the bitter cold underscores the skiers' commitment, despite the physical toll and potential dangers they face.

 

As the competitions move to Galibar in Lapland County, northern Sweden, with temperatures ranging from minus 17 to minus 22 degrees, the athletes acknowledge the indescribable challenges. Despite the dangers, injuries, and grueling conditions, these dedicated skiers persevere, emphasizing their passion for the sport and the resilience required to navigate extreme circumstances.

 

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