By Timo Kunnari, Journalist
Today at 13:53
Despite the disappointing performances at the Olympic Games, Finnish sports enthusiasts can look forward to thrilling moments ahead, thanks to the talents of Eduard Hallberg and Elian Lehto.
Eduard Hallberg faced significant setbacks during the Olympics, failing to make his mark in both the giant slalom and slalom events. Fortunately, the 22-year-old alpine skier from Sipo did contribute in the team competition, where he and his teammate Elian Lehto from Rovaniemi secured a ninth-place finish in the combined team alpine event.
The slalom race in Bormio was marred by poor conditions, casting a shadow over the event. Hallberg’s struggles were compounded by the fact that many renowned competitors, including giant slalom Olympic champion Lucas Pinheiro Braathen from Brazil, as well as top Austrian skier Manuel Feller and French star Paco Rassat, also couldn’t finish the first round. Over 40 skiers dropped out in what can only be described as an unfortunate spectacle that didn’t do justice to the sport.
Yet, despite these lackluster Olympic performances, both Hallberg and Lehto have rekindled interest in alpine skiing within Finland, a sport that had previously struggled for attention. Once perceived as a pastime fit for the elite, skiing’s popularity soared during the 1980s and ’90s, with stylish Finns donning colorful gear while carving down snowy slopes. The nation produced remarkable alpine talents like Tanja Poutiainen (now Poutiainen-Rinne) and Kalle Palander, who became household names and earned their places on the World Cup leaderboard.
Today, skiing and snowboarding have seen a resurgence among enthusiasts, with around 800,000 to 900,000 Finns claiming to partake in these sports. According to the Finnish Ski Resort Association, outdoor enthusiasts collectively enjoy approximately 2.8 million ski days each year, indicating a robust participation base. However, this momentum didn’t translate into competitive success for Finland for many years, as the national team struggled and even saw its top sponsorship change from Audi to budget-friendly brands like Kia and Mazda—a sign of the sport’s decline.
The tide began to turn when Lehto, now 25, consistently finished within the top 30 in World Cup downhill rankings, igniting hope for a brighter future. His teammate Hallberg soon followed suit, carving out his own path in the slalom with impressive performances, including two podium finishes already in this World Cup season. In the combined team alpine event, Hallberg clocked the fifth-fastest time in the slalom, earning the respect of competitors and coaches alike; French Olympic champion Clément Noël even remarked that his team should “count like Hallberg,” highlighting his growing influence.
This season has also brought a notable uptick in media coverage for alpine skiing, reinvigorating discussions around water coolers and at coffee breaks across workplaces. The sport, once again, is eliciting the enthusiasm of casual viewers.
At the heart of this revival are two young talents: Lehto, the fearless skier from Rovaniemi, and Hallberg, whose ability to maintain a positive outlook—even on challenging days—is both refreshing and admirable. The daring nature of their sport—flying down icy slopes in tight-fitting suits at breakneck speeds—speaks to the thrill and adrenaline that alpine skiing offers; it’s not a pastime for the faint of heart.
As Finland watches these athletes, there is a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead. Eduard Hallberg and Elian Lehto are poised to bring excitement and pride to Finnish sports in the coming years, and fans will undoubtedly be cheering them on.