Nordic Skating in Ice Paradise

Nordic skating in unbelievably good conditions in the beauty of the Finnish Archipelago which has the most islands in the world. The ice was amazing and the views of the islands of Iniö and Keistiö are very beautiful, especially in sunny weather. The tour was a Nordic skater's dream come true. The tour took place at 15.2.2021. The morning was cold. We took a one hour ferry ride to the island where we started skating. At the start of the ferry ride, the temperature was -18 degrees Celsius (-0.4 Fahrenheit). 🥶 The temperature rose a few degrees during the ferry ride. The sunshine was already warming at this point of winter. ☀️ In the afternoon, it was only -3 to -1 degrees Celsius (26-30 Fahrenheit). We traveled a distance of 101 kilometers during 7.5 hours, including breaks. #nordicskating #retkiluistelu #långfärdsskridskor ─── THE PURSUIT OF WILD ICE ─── The search for high-quality natural ice is a technical discipline. "Black ice" is an ephemeral medium, appearing in the narrow window between the first freeze and the next snowfall. The skating you see in these videos is rarely accidental; it is the result of a coordinated community effort. We identify potential surfaces through a careful process of digital discovery — relying primarily on satellite radar to gauge surface evenness, while using optical imagery on clearer days to isolate snow-free zones. This allows us to pinpoint windows of opportunity often just hours before a fresh snowfall renders the surface unskatable. However, these digital tools are limited to scouting; they cannot evaluate ice thickness or structural integrity. Verifying the ice’s maturity remains a physical, on-site process of rigorous observation and manual testing. ⚠️ THE DISCIPLINE OF SAFETY Natural ice is as unpredictable as it is beautiful. Moving across unmaintained surfaces is life-threatening without the proper technical kit, situational awareness, and — most importantly — a team. Never skate alone. The most fundamental safety measure is the presence of others who are trained to perform a rescue if you break through the ice or provide immediate first aid if you are injured by a fall. THE ESSENTIAL KIT Required safety gear: ▸ Ice Safety Picks (Ice Claws): Your primary tool for self-rescue. ▸ Ice Pole: A heavy-duty probe for testing structural integrity (sturdier than a standard ski pole). ▸ Throw Line & Rescue Link: Must be anchored at shoulder height to provide the necessary mechanical leverage — lifting the torso onto the ice shelf during a rescue rather than pinning it against the edge. The deployment end must be positioned for immediate, instinctive access. ▸ Emergency Dry Kit & Buoyancy: A full change of clothes sealed in a waterproof dry bag, stored inside a backpack equipped with a crotch strap. This system is dual-purpose: the dry layers are your critical defense against post-rescue hypothermia, while the trapped air inside the dry bag provides the displacement needed to keep your torso high in the water. The crotch strap is needed to prevent the buoyant pack from riding up over your head. ▸ Emergency Whistle: For high-decibel signaling when voice communication is insufficient or obscured by wind. ▸ Comms: A smartphone secured in a dedicated waterproof pouch. PROCEED WITH INTENTION If you are new to the ice, do not go out solo. Join a local Nordic skating club for safety training and company, or book a guided tour with a professional operator. Safety is a shared responsibility rooted in community knowledge.