The final day of Lahti Ski Games began in sunny weather early in the morning as the women’s 50-kilometer race started. Early in the race, Norway’s Therese Johaug and Astrid Øyre Slind broke away from the other skiers. Johaug’s pace was a bit too much for Slind, and in the end, Johaug took the win with a clear margin, with Slind finishing in second place. Ebba Andersson from Sweden fought her way to third place. Kerttu Niskanen was the best Finnish athlete.
Juha Mieto and Thomas Wassberg opened the afternoon by skiing a demonstration lap around the stadium, building up excitement for the men’s 50 km start. Their shared moment on the track brought back emotions, especially when they crossed the finish line hand in hand, celebrating together.
The men’s 50-kilometer race started with a large pack, leading to minor accidents during the opening kilometers. After five kilometers, the pace picked up, quickly stretching the field into a long line. Four Norwegians battled for the podium spots, with Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo sprinting to victory. Martin Loewstroem Nyenget secured second place, while Simen Hegstad Krueger claimed third. Iivo Niskanen finished sixth.
The final competition of the weekend was the men’s Ski Jumping HS130 Super Team event. Slovenia’s Lovro Kos and Anze Lanisek took the victory, with Austria and Japan close behind. Finnish jumpers Kasperi Valto and Antti Aalto also performed well, finishing sixth overall.
As the last jumps were completed, the competition venue quieted down. On Sunday, 11,000 spectators visited the games, bringing the total number of attendees over the weekend to approximately 57,000!
“We exceeded our visitor target and broke the attendance records of recent years! Several athletes also mentioned during the weekend that Lahti had the best atmosphere of all the World Cup events”, says the Secretary General of the Games, Tomi-Pekka Kolu.
“What an incredible weekend! Once again, Lahti proved why it is the heart of Nordic skiing. A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers, athletes, partners, staff, the City of Lahti, and of course, the fantastic audience who made these Games an unforgettable experience. All of us in Lahti should be proud – and appreciate that we have such an incredible venue, where emotions run high, people come together, and we experience both highs and lows. A special thanks also to our national heroes and legends who jumped right in – Toni Nieminen, Janne Ahonen, as well as Juha Mieto and Thomas Wassberg. This weekend will be remembered for a long time!”
Lahti Ski Games 2026 will take place from March 5–8. Mark your calendars now!
