Ruka, Finland – Ruka ski resort in far northern Finnish Lapland opened their ski season Monday to eager skiers and riders. Ruka has been the first resort in Europe to open its non-glacier ski slopes for the past 10 years, with its northerly location offering snow security throughout the season.nLocated only 30km from the Russian border, Ruka is Finland’s most popular ski resort. It’s ski season lasts for approximately 250 days — over eight months — and thus is popular amongst international World Cup ski teams for early season training. Ruka’s summer skiing slope is normally open until mid-June.

In November and December national ski teams from over 30 countries will visit Ruka to train and compete in World Cup events. Ruka has hosted the FIS World Cup Nordic Opening (Cross Country, Nordic Combined and Ski Jump) for nine years in a row. This year the FIS Freestyle Mogul Skiing World Cup will also open at Ruka on Dec. 12. In 2005, Ruka also hosted the Freestyle World Championships, slated this season for Utah’s Deer Valley Resort.

Ruka serves as a winter wonderland for families, with 23,000 beds on hand to support visitors on and off the slopes. Dozens of other activities are offered in unspoiled natural surroundings. Oulanka National Park is located just a few kilometers away. Approximately 20% of Ruka’s visitors come from outside of Finland, mainly from the UK, Netherlands, Germany and Russia. Kuusamo airport, 25 minutes from the slopes, is served daily by flights aboard Finnair and Blue1 from Helsinki, twice a week by Air Baltic and by charter operations from Brussels, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Next month marks the official opening of the Ruka pedestrian village, envisioned by Ecosign Mountain Planners of Canada. The Ruka pedestrian village consists of over 1,000 visitor beds in several hotels, 15 restaurants, 10 shops and underground parking for 320 cars.