Salpauselkä

What Salpauselkä does

Salpauselkä, operating through its legal entity Salppuri Oy, is a Finnish event-management company that organizes the annual Salpausselän kisat (Lahti Ski Games) — a four-day FIS World Cup winter-sports competition featuring cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined, held each February in Lahti at the Lahti Sports Centre. The event, first held in 1923, is Finland's longest continuously running sporting event and has hosted seven FIS World Championships — more than any other Nordic-skiing venue. Salppuri Oy was incorporated at the end of 2020 and is jointly owned by Lahden Hiihtoseura (Lahti Ski Club, 49%) and Suomen Hiihtoliitto (Finnish Ski Association, 51%), making it a federation-anchored entity rather than an independent venture-backed business.

The company monetizes the event through four primary streams: consumer ticket sales (area, grandstand, family, and discounted tickets sold via Ticketmaster and Lippu.fi), corporate sponsorship and visibility packages (with named major partners including Viessmann, Skechers, Hartwall, OmaSp, and LähiTapiola), premium VIP hospitality packages sold direct to enterprise clients, and merchandise through kannattajat.fi (including a centenary-edition competition beer in partnership with Hartwall). Around the core competition, Salppuri operates an ecosystem of add-on products: the Salppuri100 Klubi corporate networking community, corporate wellness events featuring ski-jumping simulators and ski school with Olympic champion Sami Jauhojärvi, an After Ski festival zone with live music, a volunteer and internship program, a children's winter-sports program, and an international sustainability conference.

In its first full fiscal year (June 2021 – May 2022), Salppuri Oy reported revenue of approximately €1.13M and net profit of approximately €62,000. By 2026, attendance had grown to a record ~69,000 visitors across the extended weekend, with 97% reported satisfaction. Salppuri is preparing to host the 2029 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (28 February – 11 March 2029), in partnership with the City of Lahti, the Finnish Ski Association, FIS, and Infront Sports & Media, representing a step-change in event scale, commercialization rights, and international audience.

Name

Salpauselkä

Legal name

Salppuri Oy

Website

https://lahtiskigames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Salppuri Oy organizes the annual Salpausselän kisat (Lahti Ski Games), a four-day FIS World Cup winter-sports event in Lahti, Finland, founded in 1923 and jointly owned by the Finnish Ski Association and Lahti Ski Club. The company monetizes ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, VIP hospitality, and merchandise, and is preparing to host the 2029 FIS World Ski Championships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (713920), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Ski & Mountain Resorts (Lift-Served Skiing/Riding) (THAAAJAA)

Keywords

• Winter sports events
• FIS World Cup competitions
• Nordic skiing tournaments
• Sports event management
• Corporate hospitality events

Headquarters

HQ city

Lahti

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling area tickets, grandstand tickets, family tickets, and day passes for the multi-day event (February 11-14, 2027). Tickets sold through Ticketmaster and Lippu.fi.
2. Sponsorship and Corporate Partnerships: Revenue from event sponsors including Viessmann, Coop, Skechers, Le Gruyère, Certina, OmaSp, and local partners like Lahti and LähiTapiola. Includes presenting sponsorships and visibility packages.
3. VIP Packages: Premium hospitality packages including VIP grandstand access, dining, and amenities sold to corporate clients and high-value attendees.
4. Merchandise and Products: Sale of official event merchandise including competition beer (Hartwall partnership), fan products through kannattajat.fi.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Salppuri Oy operates the annual Salpausselän kisat (Lahti Ski Games), Finland's largest and longest continuously running winter sports event, featuring FIS World Cup competitions in cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined. The offering includes multi-day event ticketing, VIP hospitality packages, corporate sponsorship programs, and supporting festival entertainment held at the Lahti Sports Centre on the Salpausselkä ridge.

Product overview

Salpausselän kisat (Lahti Ski Games) is Finland's largest winter sports event and the longest continuously organized sporting event in the country. The core product is the annual international ski competition featuring cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined World Cup events. The event is supported by an ecosystem of complementary offerings including VIP hospitality packages, corporate networking through the Salppuri100 Club, wellness-focused corporate events, volunteer and internship programs, children's programming, and sustainability initiatives. Entertainment features include the After Ski zone with live music, while the event also hosts related conferences and special events like the 100-Hour Ski Challenge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Salppuri100 Klubi: Corporate community for networking and business relationships
• Team Salppuri

Products and services

• Lahti Ski Games / Salpausselän kisat Annual multi-day FIS World Cup winter sports event featuring cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined competitions, combined with festival entertainment, for general public and sports enthusiasts.
• VIP Packages Premium hospitality packages including VIP grandstand access, dining, and exclusive amenities sold to corporate clients and high-value attendees.
• Salppuri100 Club Corporate community network promoting networking, business relationships, and member well-being for companies in the Päijät-Häme region.
• Corporate Wellness Events Inspiring lectures combined with experiential physical activities including ski school with Sami Jauhojärvi and ski jumping simulator experiences at the Ski Museum, designed for corporate staff events.
• 100-Hour Ski Event Special 100-hour continuous skiing event held February 28 to March 4, 2023, as part of the centennial celebrations.
• Sustainability Conference International conference on sustainability in winter sports titled 'Sustainable Future of Winter Sports – The Next Hundred Years', held during competition week.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% visitor satisfaction rate; 24% of attendees were first-time visitors; 35% under 40 years old

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational governing body for Nordic skiing sports. Confirms World Cup calendar, competition rules, and provides international promotion. Lahti hosts annual FIS World Cup events and 2029 World Championships.
• Suomen Hiihtoliitto (Finnish Ski Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body for skiing in Finland. Co-owns Salppuri Oy (51%) and responsible for financing Continental Cup events. Provides athlete participation and federation coordination.
• Lahden Hiihtoseura (Lahti Ski Club)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal ski club and co-owner of Salppuri Oy (49%). Provides local organization and volunteer base for event operations.
• City of LahticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost city providing venue infrastructure, local coordination, and municipal support. Part of 2029 World Championships preparation committee.
• ViessmannmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor visible across competition venue. Climate solutions company with international presence supporting winter sports.
• OmaSpmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal main partner. Sponsors OmaSp Fan Zone venue featuring live music performances during event weekend.
• OP PohjolamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner providing free entry on opening day 2026 to attract visitors to competition weekend.
• LähiTapiola VellamomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal main partner and insurance provider. Sponsors schoolchildren's tickets for Päijät-Häme region.
• SkechersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFootwear brand sponsoring Nordic Combined presenting sponsorship and event visibility.
• Lahti AquamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater utility company providing groundwater from Salpausselkä ridge for event. Installs water stations and provides athlete water bottles made from recycled plastic.
• HartwallmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage company producing official competition beer - special edition Lahden Erikois lager for centenary celebrations.
• Remeo GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWaste management and recycling partner handling event waste sorting, recycling, and sanitation services. Part of 100 responsibility actions.
• KiamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive partner providing hybrid and electric vehicles for event organization transportation, supporting responsible logistics.
• TicketmastermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ticketing platform for event ticket sales to general public.
• Infront Sports & MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports media and marketing company involved in 2029 World Championships coordination and international promotion.
• PyrotenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPyrotechnics company organizing Saturday evening fireworks display, with carbon offset through CO2Esto system.
• MIELI Päijät-HämeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMental health organization providing Huolituoli (concern chair) service for visitors during event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Infront Sports & Media: Infront is a major international sports marketing and media company that serves as commercial partner to Salpauselkä for the 2029 World Championships and broader international promotion. It is an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but provides important context for media rights, sponsor commercialization, and event production benchmarks in winter sports.

Direct peers

• Vuokatti Sport: Vuokatti is Finland's year-round winter sports training and competition center featuring ski jumping, cross-country skiing, and biathlon facilities. While not a direct World Cup organizer, it is a Finnish peer operating Nordic skiing infrastructure and competes for Finnish Ski Association investment, athlete training resources, and corporate wellness event revenue.
• Oberstdorf Event GmbH: Oberstdorf hosts Germany's leading Nordic skiing World Cup events including ski jumping and cross-country skiing at the Schattenberg and Nordic Zentrum venues. It is a comparable integrated winter sports event organizer with similar mix of disciplines, multi-time World Championship hosting, and serves as a direct competitor for FIS calendar allocations and German/Central European sponsors.
• Falun Ski Festival (SkiFest): Falun Ski Festival is Sweden's premier Nordic skiing World Cup event, featuring cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined. It is the closest geographic and structural peer to Salpauselkä, with similar festival-style format, comparable sponsorship economics, and direct competition for Nordic skiing audiences and sponsors.
• Ruka Nordic: Ruka Nordic is the Finnish Nordic skiing World Cup season opener held annually in Kuusamo/Ruka, Finland. It is the closest domestic peer to Salpauselkä, sharing the same Finnish market, similar cross-country/ski jumping event structure, and competing for FIS World Cup calendar slots within Finland.
• Seefeld Tirol Tourismus: Seefeld in Austria hosts FIS Nordic Combined World Cup events and has hosted multiple FIS World Championships in Nordic skiing. It is a direct peer to Salpauselkä in Nordic combined event operations, with similar mountain/ridge-based venue setting, comparable corporate hospitality products, and Austrian sport federation backing as a governance parallel.
• Holmenkollen Ski Festival: Holmenkollen Ski Festival is the Oslo equivalent of Salpausselän kisat, hosting FIS World Cup events in cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and Nordic combined. Both events share a century-long heritage, similar Nordic sports portfolio, comparable sponsorship structures, and direct competition for FIS calendar slots and elite athlete participation.
• Planica Nordic Center: Planica is Slovenia's premier Nordic skiing venue hosting FIS World Cup events in ski jumping and cross-country skiing. It is a direct operational peer with similar event portfolio (ski flying, XC), comparable corporate sponsorship model, and is also a multi-time host of FIS World Championships, providing direct competitive and benchmarking context for Salpauselkä.
• Lillehammer Olympiapark / Destinasjon Lillehammer: Lillehammer is the Norwegian Olympic winter sports city hosting FIS World Cup events in biathlon, cross-country, and ski jumping, plus previous Winter Olympics infrastructure. It is a direct event-operating peer to Salpauselkä with comparable Nordic skiing portfolio, similar heritage-based branding, and overlapping sponsor pools.

Regional players

• Levi Ski Resort: Levi is Finland's largest downhill ski resort and a major winter sports destination in Finnish Lapland. While focused on alpine skiing rather than Nordic disciplines, Levi competes for the same Finnish winter sports tourism market, corporate event bookings, and Finnish Ski Association partnership opportunities as Salpauselkä.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/FdwNwAWXwI8
• Facebookfacebook.com/lahtiskigames
• Xx.com/lahtiskigames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salpausselan-kisat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salpauselkä