Närpes - Molpe 18.1.2009

Distance: 41,6 km
Duration: 5 hours
Company: Five skaters from Vaasa longdistance skatingclub

Comments: We planned the trip in south-northern direction to benefit from the strong southerly wind. In the outer parts of the archipelago we ran into open sea (not literally though) and we expereinced wave movements in the ice shelf. A new and exciting experience to most of us. We passed the open water by walking a few kilometers over islands and stumbling along the uneven ice along the shoreline. The trip was very rewarding and we managed to complete the whole route to every bodies excitement.

Tenojoki 30.8-5.9.2008

Route: Angeli - Nuorgam
Distance: 219 km
Duration: 7 days
Company: Haggi my brother

Comments: Learning by doing. After me taking up kayaking just a few months before the trip we covered a good piece of the Finnish Lappland. Teno-river is the border river between Finland and Norway in the "head" of Finland. Fabulous sceenery with fells, rapids, raindeers and salmon.

Vaasa - Molpe 15.3.2008

Distance: 41,5 km
Duration: 5 hours
Company: Petter Lingonblad

Comments: We start off with the kites pulling us, but due to the unreliable ice conditions and the strong wind we decide to wrap the kites and pull them ourselves for a change. We run into open water in some straits and we pass them over land. We meet some fishermen in Sundom archipelago laying nets under the ice. A good 10 m/s tailwind gives us a comfortable ride even without any sails!

Oulu-Kuivaniemi & Oulu-Siikajoki 1-2.3.2008

Distance: 160 km

Duration: 2 days

Company: Petter Lingonblad, Lasse as support team

Comments: The ice conditions were lousy this year so to find reliable ice we head north to the city of Oulu. Day one we sail north and reach Kuivaniemi, roughly 90 kilometers. Due to change in wind conditions and direction we head back to Oulu and sail south the second day. We reach Tauvo harbour in Siikajok. We are accompanied by Lasse my fateher who follows us along the coast by car and trailer. We also run into a curious coastguard patrol on snowmobiles. For this part of the coast we use kites.

My Speed Record on Ice 13.1.2008

Max speed: 82,3 km/h
Place: Gerby, Vaasa
Company: Solo

Comments:
13.1.2008 I managed to set a new personal speed record on skates using a kite wing. The ice was wet, soft and smooth giving a perfect grip with zero friction. Around twelve a clock the wind reaches the forecasted 15 m/s.

I managed to pull a few SCARINGLY good rounds, and the GPS showed a maximum speed of 82,3 km/h. A significant improvement from the old record of 63,3 on the Karperö lake. Picture 2, 3 and 4 are from 2006. Nowadays I always use a helmet. Naturally.

Archipelago Running 2007

Distance: 5-13 km per race

Duration: 3-5 hours per race

Company: Petter Lingonblad, Björn Höglund & Mika Palosaari

Comments: Archipelago running is an odd sport we invented 2007. The target is to run and swim a pre-planned route over islands and straits. Instead of searching checkpoints, like in orienteering you seek the shortest crossing over to the next island. In 2007 we did a total of 8 races. The longest one was 42 kilometers with 13 strait crossings around the island of Houtskär in Turku archipelago. It took three days to complete though... The most fun race took us to Jannes Saloon outside Vaasa for a well deserved beer.

Halti 1-5.4.2007

Distance: 134 km

Duration: 5 days

Company: Katarina my wife

Comments: Halti is the highest mountain in Finland. Though very modest in heght and with its highest peak on the Norwegian side it is fairly remotely located in the arm of Finland. Kilpisjärvi (Gilbbesjavri in Sámi) is the place where you start, and sking back and forth takes 5 days. Lovely highland scenery and extremely fast changing weather conditions. The saying goes, if you don't like the weather in Kilpisjärvi, wait five minutes. We were the 88449th and 88450th visitors on the top.

Umpihanki MM / WC in Off Track Skiing 10-11.2.2007

Distance: 43 + 13 km
Duration: 2 days
Company: Other odd fellows

Comments: This interesting race is arranged annually in the county of Pudasjärvi in northern Finland. During the first day the goal is to ski as long a distance as possible and solve practical problems to gather extra points. You carry your equipment, including food, water and sleeping bag. The skiing requires continues navigation and a large part you race in the dark with a small head light. The night is spent outdoor in the forest in front of a campfire or in a bivouac. To dress right, stay dray and warm, and refuel continuously is important in order to make it to the finish line. 46 out of 93 starting teams never did.

Bear Trail (Karhunkierros) 14-17.9.2006

Distance: 70 km
Duration: 4 days
Company: Katarina

Comments: The Bear Trail (Karhunkerros in Finnish) is the most popular hiking trail in Finland. The route passes through Oulanka national park in the North eastern parts of Finland, in the county of Kuusamo. The name comes from the saying that while hiking the trail you will have circumnavigate at least one bear on your way. The beer you will have to carry yourself.

Replot Circumnavigation on bikes 12.8.2006

Distance: 65km

Duration: 8:40

Company: Haggi

Comments: We are probably the first and only to have completed this route unassisted on bikes. Björkö - Panike hiking path wich is a quite popular hike noramlly requires boat transportation at two different places. We built a light weight raft out of five garbage bags and a few twigs. The raft was steady enough to carry our bikes and backpacks, but left no room for us.

Vaasa - Utö - Vaasa 2-26.7.2006

Distance: 565 Nautical miles

Duration: Three weeks

Company: The family, Leif & Raffu

Comments: 2006 we spent three weeks sailing with the family and we did our longest sailing trip ever. The goal was to sail to the beautiful Turku archipelago and experience places that Katarina had visited in her childhood such as Jurmo, Utö and a lot of other nice islands.

Vaasa - Pietarsaari 24-25.2.2006

Distance: 98 km
Duration: 2 days
Company: Solo

Comments: This part was the first to include an overnight stay on the ice. Finally I had some use of the equipment I had been pulling so often just for practice. First day I get lost in the fog and second day I get two little wind for the only rig I'm carrying. Beautiful scenery in the outer parts of the archipelago.

Larsmo - Kokkola 29.1.2006

Distance: 33 km
Duration: 3 hours
Company: Haggi

Comments: This time Haggi joins on his mountain bike. He is not as fast as me on the open ice, but he definitely has an advantage in the narrow passages along the small canals between the Larsmo lake and Kokkola where there is zero wind.

Replot Island Circumnavigation 21.2.2004

Distance: 98 km

Duration: 10 hours

Company: Solo

Comments: This was the first longer ice windsurfing tour I accomplished solo. I had been planning and preparing for the tour for over ten years. That's a lot for a one day tour, you could argue. Though an accomplishment in itself it took me zero kilometres on my west coast project. However, it created the mental foundation for the project: Long distance windsurfing is possible -and FUN.

Hanko - Ahvenanmaa - Houtskari 6-12.7.2003

Distance: ? Nm
Duration: 6 days
Company: Kristoffer, Henkka, Katarina

Comments:
We sailed Kristoffer's boat Arneta from Hanko (which is the most southern point of Finland) to Maarianhamina in the Åland islands to participate in the Nordic championchips for 6mR yachts. After the race we sailed Arneta back to Houtskari in the Turku archipelago where Katarina and I got ashore.

Fäboda - Mässkär 19.1.2003 -PART 1-

Distance: 21 km

Duration: 3 hours

Company: My brother Haggi

Comments

Our long distance ice windsurfing starts evolving. We get tired of sailing back and forth on the same spots and decide to aim for a longer tour. Despite the modest result of 21 kilometres the tour can be considered a success. We start testing different sledge systems for transporting extra rigs and sails. Without realising it we have completed the first part of something which will become the 'Finland West Coast Ice Race', and eventually 'Finland Head to Toe.