"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 here:
This web page lists some of the recent and most popular blog entries below. A full list of all skiing-related articles in chronological order can be found here (and all articles regardless of topic here). here is also a list of services "approved by the Planetskier". The Planetskier has skied in 66 countries (55 outdoors on snow, 7 of the remaining indoors on snow, and 4 on some other material) in 324 places. The world map below shows these places:
See also the Planetskier blog articles about caving, urban exploration, climbing, cycling, flying, swimming, and saunas.
| Pre-season skiing at Préski, Quebec On Saturday I flew back from the Montreal IETF but not before some pre-season (or pre-school?) skiing at Préski in Quebec City, cave hunting in Parc de Naturel de Portneuf, and airport waiting at the AF lounge for the BA flight that was six hours late. Full story November 2025, Préski, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Skiing (Indoor, Substance-Other) | |
| Vapaalaskuiltamat 2025 - free skiing event in Suvilahti The free skiing evening was a popular ski movie and gear event in the 2000s, but has not been around in recent years. But this year Jan-Erik "Blomi" Blomberg organized this again, in Helsinki's Suvilahti. As a charity event benefitting the Doctors Without Borders, and showcasing ski movies and talks. Full story November 2025, Peloton Cycling Eatery, Suvilahti, Helsinki, Finland Skiing (None) | |
| Swim at the Neidonkeidas... a public swimming hall with food-fired sauna! Decided to drive to Lohja for a quick swim at the Neidonkeidas, the local public swimming hall. Full story October 2025, Virkistysuimala Neidonkeidas, Lohja, Finland; Lohjan jäähalli, Lohja, Finland Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Skiing (None) | |
| Skiexpo 2025 For many years, I went to see the Skiexpo event, often organized in the biggest fair place, the Messukeskus. But for the last fifteen years I've often not been able to go, traveling typically around the time that it happens, being too busy, or just not as interested. This year I went to the much smaller event, organized in the Tripla shopping mall in Pasila, Helsinki. I liked it! Full story October 2025, Tripla, Pasila, Helsinki, Finland Skiing (None) | |
| October ski weekend at Levi It has been a while since I skied properly. I skied in July at an indoor ski resort in Madrid and Oslo, and in June also in Oslo. But after that in August and September only on some snow piles outside ice skating halls... so it was time to ski again! Last year for October I went for a day trip to Levi (alt. link), but while fun that was a gruelingly tiresome travel and way too short time in Levi. So this year I went for the whole weekend. Full story October 2025, Levi, Kittilä, Finland; Levi Hotel, Kittilä, Finland; Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Kittilän lentokenttä, Kittilä, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Walking; Hiking; Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam); Flying; Travel | |
| I ordered a snow taxi, again These are challenging times, these are September times. Full story September 2025, Ritorps ishall, Ulriksdahls idrottsplats, Solna, Sweden; Cyloq Arena, Sollentuna, Sweden; Medley Solna Simhall, Ulriksdahls idrottsplats, Solna, Sweden; Medley Sollentuna sim- och sporthall, Sollentuna, Sweden; Sundbybergs Simhall & Gym, Sundbyberg, Sweden; Arlanda, Sweden Skiing (None); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking); Swimming (Indoor, Waterbody-Pool, Water, None); Sauna (Normal, None); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Flying | |
| Singapore Skiing. Finally. I've been trying to do this for almost six years. Obviously, it is not easy to find skiing in Singapore. I've been forbidden to ski when there was snow, arrived right after a skiing place had bankrupted, found alternative skiing on off-limits sand, and hidden in despair in caves and abandoned bunkers. But Sport Quest to the rescue! Today I finally managed to ski in Singapore with the help of Sport Quest's indoor facilities at the Snow City. Snow, ice, cold, and on skis. Wonderful! Full story (TGR version) (Suomenkielinen versio) November 2019, Snow City, Singapore, Singapore Skiing (Indoor) | |
| So close, yet so far I saw snow today! Outside the Leppävaara skating rink... behind bars. What did that snow do, and why is it locked up, and we're not allowed to play? Full story (TGR version) April 2019, Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts) | |
| Tokyo commute. With skis. I only have an evening, not enough to take a Shinkansen to the real mountains. But I do have time to visit yet another Tokyo indoor ski place. This time, the Snova Mizonokuchi! It was fun to ride through downtown Tokyo with my skis and boots, through the train system. Full story (TGR version) (Suomenkielinen versio) January 2019, Snova Mizonokuchi, Kawasaki, Tokyo, Japan Skiing (Indoor) | |
| Slow start to the season Hahnenkamm The season's first run on the Streif, the famous downhill run from the Hahnenkamm. Why first? Because it was partly on grass... Full story (TGR version) November 2018, Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts) | |
| Black Snow. Again. I was again at Hintertux for summer skiing, at the low point of the yearly snow cycle. The glaciers were dark... black even. Full story (TGR version) (Suomenkielinen versio) August 2018, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts) | |
| Canadian Heatwave Snow I had a great Sunday, starting with work work work, with some progress I think, then went skiing, and finally returned to have a nice sauna and a swim at the hotel. And afterwards met some fun new Argentinians from my meeting at a late reception. Full story (TGR version) July 2018, Mont Saint-Sauveur Versant Avila, Quebec, Canada Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts) | |
| Skiing in Aland It is mid April and the sun is shining. Is there still some snow left somewhere? There is, at Aland! The Aland islands between Sweden and Finland are known for their sunny summers and flat landscape. I took a boat there to investigate if there'd be any skiing. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) April 2013, Germundo Alpin, Aland, Finland; Hotel Savoy, Maarianhamina, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal) | |
| Seasons in Kauniainen My local hill may soon be opening, as they predicted over a foot of snow today. It has not yet arrived, but lets hope it will. Anyone want to join for a pre-season ski run this evening? Bring your old skis... could be grassy or even rocky. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) November 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Grass) | |
| Two Feet High We went to Matinkylä, southern Espoo today. One of the largest shopping malls in Finland, Iso Omena ("Big Apple") is located in Matinkylä. But they are also known as the site of M2, a mountain with icy slopes even in the middle of the summer. The steep slopes of M2 rise a whopping two feet above the surrounding landscape, scaring skiers and mountaineers alike. Indeed, very few climbers have climbed it. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) June 2012, Matinkyla, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Imported-Snow); Urban-Exploration (Skating-Rinks) | |
| Carrying Skis to 17,000 ft I don't know where to start. Skiing at 17,000 ft? Ice climbing? A night in a tent at 5 kilometers? No acclimatization? The close call with tragedy? Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) May 2012, Tarija Peak, Cordillera Real, Bolivia Climbing (Mountain, Ice); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking) |
Skiing at 17,000 ft in Bolivia from The Planetskier on Vimeo. |
| Spring in Chamonix Chamonix is arguably one of the best ski destinations in the world. If not the best. But can you ski in there in early April, when the rest of France sports sunshine and temperatures nearing +20 degrees? Full story April 2012, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts) | |
| Africa. Snow. AK-47s. I'm glad to be back home in Finland. It was so damn cold in Africa! Full story August 2011, Afriski, Lesotho Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins) | |