Shit! Helsinki Parks.

I am envious of Tero, because he managed to ski on horse shit. I still haven't managed that.

Helsinki city centre offers more than the usual things. When it has dumped snow, the city parks (or even the church steps) offer a good place for small ski runs.

We decided to tour the Helsinki city centre parks:

• Sinebrychoff: One of the best, and most compact parks in Helsinki, on a sloping hill. However, full of people with their kids and pulkkas (sledges), so we decided to go elsewhere.

• Kaivopuisto: The biggest, and next to the sea. The slopes on one side are mellow, and the other side is cliffs. Has anyone found a way to ski down the steeper side? Nevertheless, we try skiing on both sides a bit, and then decide to try the horse-drawn sledge that Jarmo had found. I sit on the sledge, but with his short blade skis Tero can hang on the back of the sledge, and ski. Also over the droppings that the horse decides to leave along the route. Very nice!

• Observatory Hill: I'm not sure I've actually been here before, but this 30-meter high hill next to the harbour was actually the best for skiing. While there were some pulkka's, there was still plenty of powder left. The hill was steep enough to be skied, and compact enough to walked back up again. And again. And again... as Tero perfected his photoshoot. Good exercise!

Photos and videos (c) 2016 by Jari Arkko and Tero Kivinen. This blog is also available at TGR. Tämä blogi löytyy myös suomeksi.