Published March 2008




March 6 we left for Germany and flew via Dusseldorf to Helsinki. 9 Dutch gathered at the airport with our kicksleds packed. It's allways a challenge to check in with so many frames and ice/snow runners. Lucky for us Air Berlin sponsored the Dutch Kicksled team by allowing us 10 extra kilo's to take with us (per person). So that made travelling with kicksleds easy. Flight was perfect and not expensive so we can recommand Air Berlin to all. They have a lot of connections in Europe.

In the lowlands it was a usual high water and windy, but touching down in Helsinki all that was gone. A drop in temperatures and snow ...a nice change of scenery. We drove with a rental van to Olympic stadium's youth hostel and settled for the night. In morning first a quick shopping tour in Helsinki centre and the 9 of us drove up North. After 4,5 hours we arrived in Multia. It's like driving in to the middle of nowhere. Sleeping locations were great. Wooden cabin's in snow next to the lake on which the races took part (and own sauna). Photos click here

Shortly after arriving in Multia we made the kicksleds ready for a testride. The ice in the lake was about 50 cm thick. Temperatures during the day were around zero and at night about minus 10 C. Not that cold, but cold enough to have a winter experience for us "none Scandinavians". After shopping in the local supermarket we made pasta and had a great evening.




Next morning it was clearly visible that the Multia kicksled event today is not anymore what it used to be 10 years ago. I have visited 4 times Multia since 1997 and the event is getting smaller. Less participants, less local visitors.

But the organisers try and make the best of it. The local newspaper announced the event in a couple of spread pages which is great. And allthough the event is smaller, it is a great event to take part in. I can recommand it to all.
It maybe has not the World Championship status it should have. ...organisers also (unfortunately) do not use much English so none Finns have to guess often what is happening. So it is questionable if it wise to stay on calling this event the World Championships...
But we also have to be realistic, the races are great and there are on this moment not many alternatives to call WC. It's clear that we all should be more active in developing kicksledsport world wide in each and every country. If comeptition stays, the events will survive and more of them will appear. Kicksled sport has great potential. Taking part in kicksledraces is a great thrill. Crucial is that countries like Norway, Sweden and Canada join the kicksled sport competition and races are developed there. So to all keep us informed if you live there and promote our sport.






The races
All races this year were planned on just 1 race day, the Sunday was left out. It's unfortunate the organisers could not preserve a larger ice track, but the 500 m track was on Saturday very good. And the long distance race was held on a snow track with start on the ice. A great solution.

Erik our teammember managed to mount the kickled frame the wrong way to the runners. That shows that we are not experienced at all in kicksledding. Main thing is taking part and enjoying sport.

Distance race therefor was shortened in to 11 km which is short for a distance race, but because all races took part on same day the riders were oke with it I guess.
The 2000 meter in men's race was won by Jussi Lahtinen - Otto Motor from Finland in a time of 4.27,8 In women's category Hanna-Kaisa from Koppelomäki Multia did win teh 2000 meter in 5.37,5 . The 200 meter sprint in men's race was won by Jussi Lahtinen - Finland - Otto Motor in a record time of 22,4 sec. And in women's category Maarit Salovirta from Leppävirran Urheilijat did win the 200 m in 25,3 sec.
And Janne Mononen did win the 11k m in 24.29. Nina Koponen form Kuopio wun the womens 11k min a time fo 32.47. More result see further down this page. Nina invites everybody to also visit next year the kicksledraces in Kuopio. Which is hopefully in 2009 then part of the new european kicksled eurocup.

In the evening we had diner a the "Multitelli... something in Multia. The only pub in Multia I believe. Were also more participants joined us later in the evening.





IKSA invites everybody to visite next year the Multia kicksled events in Finland. If you need help with booking or overnighting. Just contact the organisers, or if needed IKSA. It is also possible to coordinate traveling from Helsinki to Multia if you do not want to rent a car just by your self.

Next year IKSA plans for first time to organise a kicksled eurocup. If you scooter in summer then Kicksledding is great to combine in winter. It's just assumn to take part in the print races. If needed you can rent a kicksled in Multia. Overnighting in Multia is already possible from 15,- euro a night. And then you get a great wooden cabin.
Essential is to promote kicksledding as sport. IKSA has printed 10.000 flyers in English. A copy can be downloadend from the kicksled info page. Also the German and Dutch national scooter organs have print each 5000 kicksled flyers. We hope more countries follow this. One can translate the flyer in your own language. Send us your translations and IKSA will make the flyer for you digital. So you can print it in your own country.

And last but not least, our thanks to the volunteers and organisers of the Multia event.
Best regards Thijza Brouwer, see you somewere on the ice or snow.

> Photos made by the Dutch Kicksled Team during Multia 2008




Result list WC Kicksled 2008 Multia - Finland
The marathon was shortened dure to weather conditions in to a 11 km ice combie snow track

MEN senior 11 km race on snow and ice
1. Janne Mononen - Finland - Ketkupolkka 24.29
2. Jussi Lahtinen - Finland - Otto Motor 25.13
3 Hannu Vierikko - Finland - Ketkupolkka 26.30
4 Vesa Ruuska - Finland - Tampere 27.06
5 Rickhard Van Camp Suomi / Usa 29.04
6 Tomas Portin - Finland - Ketkupolkka 29.49
7 Albert Klompmaker Netherlands - stepteam WOW 31.26
8 Antti Lehtinen - Finland - Kensu 33.57
9 Erik de Groot Netherlands - GWF Groningen 35.07
10 Tapio Isoaho - Finland - 38.33
11 Arnold Tuinman Netherlands - Stepteam Selles Kamperzeedijk 42.31
12 Peter Taai Netherlands - stepteam WOW 43.13

WOMEN senior 11 km race on snow and ice
1. Nina Koponen SaD 32.47

MEN veteran 11 km race on snow and ice
1 Matti Pesälä - Finland - Kortelan Ryhti / Rauma 27.10
2 Hannu Luoma - Finland - Kensu 27.40
3 Pertti Tuomainen Leppävirran Urheilijat 29.57
4 Antti Kiuru - Finland - Tampere 34.01