Jukola 2025 was, once again, an unforgettable experience for our club. This year, the legendary Finnish orienteering relay took place in the serene forests near Mikkeli, providing both challenging terrain and a beautifully organized event. Our group consisted of seven teams in total—three men’s and four women’s—and each runner brought their own determination, spirit, and enthusiasm to the race.

Celebrating Fridas 25th birthday with some cakes.

Our journey began with a scenic ferry ride across the Baltic Sea. Traveling by ferry has become somewhat of a tradition for us. It not only adds to the adventure but also gives everyone a chance to relax, bond, and mentally prepare for the race ahead. With maps in hand and some final route planning discussions, the excitement steadily built as we approached Finland.

Luckily the boat was a bit bigger than the one on the picture.

A small group of our runners had already arrived earlier in the week for a precamp in the surrounding area. They used the opportunity to get used to the Finnish terrain— rough and partly green forests with some bigger hills and lakes in between. This early acclimatization proved valuable, not only for their own performance but also in helping to brief the rest of the team upon arrival. Their insights helped us all feel more confident and prepared when race day came.

Upon reaching the event center, the atmosphere was electric. Thousands of orienteers from across the globe had gathered, all buzzing with anticipation. We set up our windshelter near the arena and joined the hustle and bustle of last-minute preparations—checking equipment, pinning bibs, and reviewing start lists.

The women's Venla relay kicked off on Saturday afternoon under sunny skies, and our four teams delivered strong performances. The competition was fierce, but every runner gave their best, with smooth changes and solid navigation throughout.

As night fell, anticipation shifted toward the iconic Jukola relay. The mass start for the men’s teams in the late evening was, as always, a spectacle to behold—headlamps lighting up the forest as hundreds of runners surged into the night. All three of our men’s teams fought hard through the long night legs, facing misty woods, technical controls, and the unique mental challenge that night orienteering brings.

Both first teams did reach a new modern time best, with the women placing 78th and the men 43rd. One more step in the right direction, closer to the best teams. Especially on the mens side several runners were missing, for example Simon, Joschi, Elia, Brais and Peleg. Hopefully next year we can show our true potential with a complete team at the startline.

While not all our teams hit personal bests or perfect runs, the collective spirit and support among our runners stood out. Every finish was celebrated, every mistake turned into a learning experience, and every moment shared added to the richness of our Jukola adventure.

By Sunday morning, tired but proud, we gathered to watch the final leg runners come in and cross the finish line. The camaraderie, the Finnish hospitality, and the demanding forest and courses once again made Jukola a highlight of our orienteering year. (it is worth to mention, that the best mens team was about 55min! slower than the expected winning time. Which proofs how demanding the terrain was.)

We returned home tired, a bit muddy, but deeply satisfied—with new stories, stronger team bonds, and plenty of motivation to train for next year. Jukola 2025 was more than just a race—it was a celebration of orienteering, teamwork, and adventure.

I do not want to miss to thank all the people in the background organizing the trip. As well as those on place supporting the teams. As always everything worked out very smooth, so most probably do not even realize how much work has to be done beforehand or on place to assure that we just have to focus on their race.

See you at Kotka-Jukola 13.-14.6.2026!

written by chatgpt with some small aditions by the author
Pictures: Flavio Poltera, Chloé Haberkorn, Frida Hector, Stefan Svensson Gelius