TL;DR
Levi and Ruka ski areas in Finland are set to open on 3 October, leveraging snow farming techniques to overcome climate challenges and kick off the northern hemisphere's non-glacial ski season.
Finnish Resorts Lead Early Season Openings with Snow Farming
Levi and Ruka, two of Finland's largest ski areas, are set to open on 3 October, marking the earliest non-glacial resort openings in the northern hemisphere for the 2025-26 season. This early start, a full 18 days before traditional opening dates, is made possible through the use of snow farming - a technique that's gaining traction as ski resorts grapple with the impacts of climate change.
While the ski industry often touts these early openings as cause for celebration, it's worth examining the broader implications and sustainability of such practices. Snow farming, which involves storing large quantities of snow from the previous season under insulating covers, allows resorts to open regardless of current temperatures or natural snowfall. Levi reports storing nearly 300,000 cubic meters of snow from the 2024-25 season, with the majority earmarked for their front slope and World Cup run.
