Levi once again opens Finland’s longest winter sports season
Levi is known for Finland’s longest, seven-month winter sports season, which runs from early October until late May.
This winter will once again open on the Front Slopes with recycled stored snow – a demonstration of Levi Ski Resort’s snow management expertise. Thanks to snow storage, the season can begin early and extend well into spring, offering over 200 days of skiing.
“Opening the season is always a special moment. Thanks to efficient snow recycling, we are able to kick off the winter in early October, which benefits both recreational skiers and top-level winter sport athletes,” says Marko Mustonen, Commercial Director of Levi Ski Resort.
In addition to alpine skiing, the cross-country skiing season will also begin on October 3, when the stored-snow track at Draivi opens for the first kilometers of the season.
Opening Weekend at Levi’s slopes:
Open slopes: Front Slope N.1, ICE.1, ICE.2, Fun Park terrain park and mogul run
Open lifts: Glacier Express chairlift, North chairlift, Express cabin lift, and the Front Slope magic carpet
The Levi winter season begins in early October – with stored snow, for the eighth time.
New developments for the upcoming season at Levi
For the coming winter, Levi’s snowmaking capacity has been significantly increased with the construction of a new waterline from the Ounasjoki River to the fell. This enables more efficient snowmaking over a wider area of the mountain, further strengthening snow reliability.
The South Slopes, a popular area for families, have been expanded and modernized. Slopes 8.3 and 8.2 have been combined, creating a slope nearly 60 meters wide. The area has also been connected to the automatic snowmaking system, and energy-efficient LED lighting has been installed.
Olympic Training Center strengthens Levi’s role
As the season begins, Levi also looks to the top. The resort is committed to supporting both Finnish and international elite sports by developing the Olympic Training Center concept, which provides optimal training conditions for competitive athletes.
“The Olympic Training Center concept is about long-term development. By building the best possible training conditions for athletes, we also gain valuable expertise for developing conditions across all our slopes. This ensures we can serve all our guests at a high level throughout the long winter season. At the core of our work is listening to our customers and working together, with the goal of providing a springboard from first steps in the sport all the way to the international stage. Our investment in world-class conditions and an extended season also contributes positively to Levi’s year-round appeal,” Mustonen says.
“The Olympic Training Center concept is all about long-term development. By creating the best possible training conditions for athletes, we gain valuable experience that helps us improve facilities across all our slopes and enhance our ability to serve customers throughout the long winter season. Our investment in top-level conditions and an extended winter season also supports the positive year-round development of the entire Levi area,” says Mustonen.
The start of the season attracts a large number of international alpine and freestyle athletes to Levi. As an Olympic year, this winter carries special significance and underscores Levi’s role as a provider of high-quality training conditions.
Levi Ski Resort committed to sustainable practices
On the international stage, Levi Ski Resort is part of the Global Sustainability Ski Alliance, founded in May 2025. The alliance includes eight leading ski resorts from Europe, the Nordics, and New Zealand. Its goal is to strengthen climate action across the industry, share expertise, and accelerate innovations that reduce emissions, modernize infrastructure, and create more sustainable operating models.
Levi is also a participant in the White Winters programme, led by Ski Sport Finland and Solved. The programme aims to develop sustainable solutions for winter sports events and destinations. It is part of the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) sustainable development strategy and brings together athletes, event organizers, federations, and destinations to advance environmentally responsible practices.
“Sustainability is present in everything we do – from snow management to energy use, from daily operations to projects of all sizes. It’s not about individual actions, but about continuous development, where we seek lasting solutions for nature, the climate, our customers, and athletes alike,” Mustonen emphasizes.
