I am building a racetrack on the ice of Lake Inarijärvi, where the reindeer and their handlers will fight to win the entire reindeer cup. Since February, competitions have been held in five towns before Inari.
– It’s just a roof, the tourists have gone to drill eight ice holes in the end straight and the water has risen on the ice, luckily there is still time and night frosts, says Mikkola.
At Easter in Inari, the best-successful reindeer during the season compete for the kingship.
First the SC skiing was planned, now the reindeer races
Just like the ski championships that just took place, this race will also be held in Inari with a small team. The leader of the talk team, track champion of the Games, Juha Mikkola, praises the work of the Inari people.
– First, hundreds of people from Talkoo ran the ski championships in Juutuanvaara, and immediately after, the reindeer races. Hard-working chess and professional team. The issue of Inari seems to be common to us, says Juha Mikkola, a reindeer herder who worked at the World Championships himself.
Dozens of people from Talkoo finish the competition area, handle customer service and contract other activities required to run the competition. This year, sixty people from Talkoo have been needed for the work.
The peak of the season is the best of the reindeer
The six-week track work culminates in the Reindeer Cup final on Easter, which culminates in the actual Reindeer King Moon Run on Sunday. The best drivers of the year have been selected for it.
Competitions are organized by local associations and clubs. The reindeer with the most cup points is declared the reindeer cup winner at the end of the season. The 24 hot series reindeer who have collected the most points in the cup competitions can compete for the reindeer kingship.
– Yes, that Sämpylä is the early favorite this year as well, it’s a tough reindeer, says Mikkola about last year’s winner.
Sämpylä has been lucky in other ways than just in reindeer races. It has survived last year’s race to fight for victory this year as well.
It is not unusual for a reindeer to be eaten by predators. From spring to autumn, the reindeer also live a normal reindeer life free in the forest.
Blood draws the sportsman to the games
Juha Mikkola has been the head man of the reindeer competitions for nine years now. As a reindeer husband himself, he hasn’t had to be lured to the games much. The competition is fierce.
– Even though I don’t compete myself, that blood does draw an old sportsman to the games, says Juha Mikkola.
In his time, Mikkola was a Finnish champion wrestler and won several medals in Greco-Roman wrestling during his active years. Now the man no longer competes, but enjoys the speedy driving of reindeer on the ice of Lake Inarijärvi.
– Even if there was good weather, it would crown everything, hopes Juha Mikkola, the track champion of Inari’s reindeer sleigh rides.