The Ice Experience
Issue 98 / Tue 11th Apr, 2023
Rita Arnaus embarked on the trip of a lifetime in Finland, an unforgettable experience with thrilling adventures and breathtaking landscapes. From drifting a Porsche on ice to snowkiting, split boarding, and witnessing the stunning Northern Lights; Read about her insane adventure in this exclusive feature article!
When I heard Porsche was planning a trip to Finland and I was invited, I had no idea what to expect. Before even hearing the itinerary, I was already excited! I'm accustomed to travelling to warm climates, though, so the first challenge was figuring out how much clothing to pack for the upcoming Finnish adventure. I had to be ready for subzero conditions and venture well outside my comfort zone. But, no matter the temperature, I knew this would be an adventure to remember!
From the moment I touched down in Lapland, Finland, I was unable to keep my mouth closed. The jaw-dropping beauty of those snow-covered landscapes astounded me. It was as if we were entering a movie.
When you think about a kiteboarder travelling to a snow-covered destination, you would naturally picture that person being pulled across the snow by a kite in front of steep mountains and wintry landscapes. But that image will have to wait because this trip started with a unique experience that we kiters don't often get to try!
Near Levi, a small town in Finland, I was driven by Porsche to their Ice Driving Experience. After a short drive, we arrived at a large, snow-covered area filled with tracks and cosy little houses where we could have lunch and relax. This would be the setting of our first excursion on ice in Finland.
It was a well-planned and organised experience that began with the Porsche engineers explaining how drifting works and how to manage the car on the snow and while drifting on ice. It is so different compared to normal roads; everything happens so fast!
Once I had my lesson and understood what I had to do, they put me behind the steering wheel of a Porsche 911 4S and let me tell you, I had one of the best experiences ever drifting and sliding on the snow. The instructors were helpful and professional and equipped me with a walkie-talkie so they could share instructions while I was driving.
We started on basic tracks to get the hang of it, and as we increased the difficulty, it got more insane! I could feel the moments when I was too stubborn and overthinking, but after many hours of practice, I began to gain confidence and believe in myself. By the final track, I was surging with adrenaline but up for the challenge.
The last track was the most challenging one, winding through a forest where there was no room for mistakes! Keeping in mind the indications from the teachers and trusting my instincts, I could navigate the track smoothly and enjoy the drive.
Learning how to control a car while drifting around the snow was a dream come true. It was surprisingly emotional, and I even had tears in my eyes. I remember that feeling of being overcome with absolute joy and freedom well, and I know I've felt that burst of emotion before - on a kite. It was incredible to feel it again in this environment; I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
Overall, it was an incredible experience and definitely one of the most epic moments I've had in my life; I still can't put into words all the fun I had! I'm already dreaming of the day I'll drive on snow again - I can only hope it will be in a car as powerful as this one!
After The Ice Experience was ticked off my bucket list, I was ready for the next challenge and one that I couldn't wait to try for the first time: snowkiting! We spent the next few days trying to snowkite with poor conditions and little visibility. Finally, we got the best weather we could have hoped for. Finland delivered us sunny skies with constant wind and soft powder. Well, it was sunny, but it was also -20°C! Luckily, I'd packed enough layers that I could forget about the cold and focus on what was about to be another incredible experience.
On this trip, I was fortunate to have a professional team that prepared me for the whole adventure, and we could make the most of my first time snowkiting. I was curious how the kite would react in such winds and temperatures, but it was beyond my expectations. I was blown away by how easy it felt to ride and jump! I felt immediately confident with basic jumps, back rolls and front rolls, so I tried unhooked tricks as I would normally do on the water.
The wind from the mountains gives you plenty of hang time, which makes jumping and floating in the air easier and super fun. Landing on the soft powder was a satisfying and unique experience, too! Another fun aspect of snowkiting is as the mountain shapes around you change, so does the wind. You can find yourself riding the mountain in all different wind directions on the same day, sometimes with the kite and other times just by harnessing gravity.
I enjoyed exploring this beautiful mountainous region with just my kite and the snowboard. The spot had more rounded mountains, which were not too tall or too steep. They were ideal for cruising uphill using the power of the kite and flying downhill on the snowboard, forgetting about the kite on the way down! On these hills, there were no roads, chair lifts, or any other way up, so being able to glide through this pristine scene with just my kite was incredible.
After that perfect day of snowkiting in the breathtaking Finnish mountains, the most fun and exciting activities were done. But travelling to a new country isn't all about action and adrenaline. I had never been that far north in the globe, so I spent the rest of my trip looking to try out as many new and fun activities as I could; I wanted to experience Finland properly.
One of the top goals for my trip was to see the Northern Lights, and late one night, I got my wish. It was a clear night, and we got the call that the Northern Lights would be visible. The whole team hurried to get ready, and as we drove towards the mountains, we could already see them! I was in absolute awe; it was as if the sky was alive and dancing with those lights. It was an incredibly beautiful and unforgettable moment.
With no more wind on the horizon, we decided to visit the ice baths, where you jump into a hole in the ice into freezing water and then go back into the sauna to warm up. We also went on a dog sledding tour, and seeing how the huskies manage the cold and snow so well was incredible. I was surprised to see the sled team so eager to run in the snow while pulling the sled.
I can't stay off a board for long, though, so we joined the local guides for another fun first: split boarding! They lent me a snowboard that splits down the middle into two halves, which look similar to skis. After splitting them, you put on textured 'skins' to get extra traction, allowing you to walk uphill. Once you reach the top, you take off the skins, click the two halves back together, and snowboard down. There was so much powder, and because the locals knew the place so well, we were able to navigate through the forest, weaving around trees and ducking under branches. This was another amazing experience for the memory books!
The team I travelled with was based in Levi, Finland, a town with a ski resort only 100m from the hotel we were staying in. On the day of my departure, before heading to the airport, I hit the slopes for one last bit of action before heading on to the next destination. It was the cherry on top of what was a week to remember!
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By Rita Arnaus
