HOME - EXTRA CURRICULAR - SKI TRIPS - 2003

Ruka, Finland

Just after Christmas the intrepid skiiers from the college headed not for the Alps but north to the Artic Circle to the resort of Ruka in Finland. Yes thats correct the Artic Circle where the temperatures are 34 degrees below freezing!

We flew from Dublin to Helsinki and then caught a connecting flight to the Oulu and from there we travelled by coach to the resort. The Omena apartments were fully fitted and the large drying machine was a a life saver as all your damp clothes were dried in minutes ready for the next day. We were the first group to visit the resort from Ireland and all the ski equipment was straight out of the box! As it was dark for most of the day with only about 1 hours light it was a strange but unforgettable experience. All the slopes were fully floodlit and this was really amazing.

Ski school was 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon but with temperatures so cole and balaclavas worn by all it was hard totell who you were talking to at times. The snow conditions were perfect with powder everywhere and none of that dreaded ICE that you have to negociate in the Alps.

As people gained in confidence they headed for the more demending runs but the slope resembled a battle field and the teachers called it "Saving Private Ryan Run" as very few could negociate it without a spill! Reindeer was the order of the day in you burgers, stew, etc Not everyone could adjust to it quickly.

On the last evening 26 of the older students headed for a trip of a life time across frozen lakes and through forests to the Russian border which was only 25km away, here they cooked sausages and warmed up at an open fire before heading back to Ruka.

Even though the temperatures pushed your limits everyone was really up for going back again.

- Back to Top -

Ski Trips

- Ski 1997
- Ski 1999
- Ski 2000
- Ski 2001
- Ski 2002
- Ski 2003
- Ski 2004
- Ski 2005
- Ski 2006
- Ski 2007

- Gallery 03