ONE HUGE THING FOR
A SMALL AND BIG-HEARTED
SKI SCHOOL
The jury based their choice on the comprehensive investments made toward developing locations for downhill skiers and on the visionary work that the Owls of Pallas have done for the benefit of all ski enthusiasts. The implemented measures not only promote the ski resort industry, but they also boost tourism in the whole of Finland.
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“The Owls of Pallas have brought the traditional ski school culture to the present day in a unique manner. The ski school has utilised downhill sports trends and developed new products for both freeriding and traditional skiing in the fells.
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The ski instructors – Owls – are strongly present in Pallas, and, in fact, it is they who create the exceptional fell atmosphere. There is heart in everything that the Owls of Pallas do.”
REASONS BEHIND THE PRIZE
Each year, the Finnish Ski Area Association organises a gala to honour those working hard and promoting the ski resort industry.
Representatives of the media and Visit Finland review several candidates, divided into three different categories, who have gained positive attention from customers as well as professionals in the industry. The categories are the Ski Resort of the Year, the Local Resort of the Year and the Ski School of the Year.
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As the most significant award in the industry, this is a coveted prize: the set of criteria is complex and covers development work in the field, profitability as well as safety aspects. The winners stand out in all the measured areas. In 2019, the Ski Resort of the Year is Ruka and the Local Resort of the Year is Laajis.
WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT?
Valintaraadin ytimenä valinnan takana on ollut kokonaisvaltainen panostus laskettelijoiden suorituspaikkojen kehittämiseksi sekä ennakkoluuloton työ, jota Pallaksen Pöllöt ovat tehneet lajin harrastajien hyväksi. Tehdyt toimenpiteet edistävät hiihtokeskustoimialan lisäksi myös koko Suomen matkailua.
Pallaksen Pöllöt on ainutlaatuisella tavalla tuonut perinteisen tunturihiihtokoulun nykyaikaan. Hiihtokoulu on hyödyntänyt alamäkilajien trendit ja kehittänyt uusia tuotteita niin vapaalaskuun kuin perinteiseen tunturihiihtoon.
Hiihdonopettajat – Pöllöt – ovat vahvasti läsnä Pallaksella, ja itse asiassa juuri he luovat tunnelman tunturiin. Pallaksen Pöllöjen tekemisessä on lämpöä.”
Vuosittain Suomen Hiihtokeskusyhdistyksen järjestämässä vuosigaalassa jaetaan tunnustusta vahvasta työstä hiihtokeskusalan eteen. Median ja Visit Finlandin edustajat tustuvat kolmeen eri kategorian edustajiin, jotka ovat herättäneet positiivista huomiota niin asiakkaiden kuin alan ammattilaistenkin keskuudessa. Kategoriat ovat Vuoden hiihtokeskus, Vuoden lähikeskus ja Vuoden hiihtokoulu.
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Alan merkittävin palkinto on tavoiteltu, sillä kriteerit palkinnon takana ovat monisäikeiset ja ottavat huomioon niin alan kehittämisen, kannattavuuden kuin turvallisuusnäkökohdatkin. Voittajat erottuvat edukseen kaikilla mittareilla. Vuonna 2019 Vuoden hiihtokeskukseksi palkittiin Ruka ja lähikeskukseksi Laajis.
FROM HERE
TO THE FUTURE
The prize awarded to the Owls and Pallas is unique and the first of its kind in our history. For this reason, it is of particular value to us. At the same time, it means that we must concentrate on the future and the upcoming winters even more strongly.
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We promise to stand strong, leaning on our backcountry terrains, and living from the Pallas fells. Our goal is to make more and more people fall in love with Pallas and with the amazing nature of our beloved fells.
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Communality means warmth and sensitivity in the future. No matter what happens in the fells, the Owls will continue to live in the moment and provide visitors with warm and unforgettable moments, both within the hotel walls and especially outside them. Our aim is to greet the arriving guests with a hug and wave them off as their taillights disappear from sight. If we are not always at the door, let this serve as a description of how we feel about all Pallas visitors.
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Let us build Pallas and its future together, under the leadership of the Owls.
Palkinto pöllöille ja Pallakselle on ainutlaatuinen ja historian ensimmäinen. Tämän vuoksi sen arvo on varsin suuri. Samalla se tarkoittaa entistä vahvempaa katsontaa tulevaisuuteen ja tulevien talvien tuuliin.
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Ensin juhlimme palkintoa yhdessä kanssanne. Sen jälkeen olemme Pallaksen hetkissä läsnä.
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Lupaamme, että seisomme vahvasti takamaastoihin nojaten ja Pallaksen tuntureista eläen. Tavoitteenamme on saada yhä useampi rakastumaan Pallakseen ja luontoon mitä rakkaat tunturit meille tarjoavat.
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Yhteisöllisyys on tulevaisuuden lämpö ja herkkyys. Tapahtuu tunturin tuulissa mitä tahansa, pöllöt ovat tulevaisuudessakin hetkessä eläjiä, joiden tarkoitus on tarjota välittömiä ja tunnerikkaita hetkiä niin hotellin hirsien sisäpuolella mutta etenkin niiden ulkopuolella. Tarkoitus on halata kun hotelliin saavutaan ja vilkuttaa alamäkeen kartavan auton perään. Jos emme aina ole ovella, on tämä ainakin kuvainnollisesti se mitä tunnemme Pallaksen vieraita kohtaan.
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Tehdään yhdessä Pallasta ja sen tulevaisuutta Pöllöjen johdolla.
TIMELINE
1930s
1965
IT WAS WOMEN, WHO ESTABLISHED SKIING COURSES IN PALLAS. KAARINA KARI, LADY WHO HAD CONQUERED MOUNT HALTI FEW EARS EARLIER, SAW THE POTENTIAL IN THE AREA AND INVITED WOMEN TO JOIN HER COURSES. JOHDOLLA. THIS WAS BASICALLY THE START OF FINNISH SKIING TRADITION AND SKI EDUCATION.
HOTEL MANAGER OF THAT TIME INVITED AMPPA HEINONEN AND VARIOUS OTHER TO START IMPLEMENTING SKI INSTRUCTIONING IN PALLAS SKI RESORT. SKI SCHOOL WAS NAMED "THE BLACK ANGELS".
1969
IT WAS TIME TO UPDATE NAME OF THE SKI SCHOOL. PALLAKSEN PÖLLÖT (OWLS OF PALLAS) WAS FOUNDED.
THE VATIKURU SKI LIFT WAS OPENED THAT YEAR IN FEBRUARY.
1970-1990
FOR YEARS PALLAS WAS THE BEST KNOWN AND MOST FAMOUS DESTINATION IN THE WHOLE LAPLAND. FAMOUS ARTISTS PLAYED GIGS IN THE RESTAURANT AND PEOPLE TRAVELED FROM FAR AWAY TO EXPERIENCE THE SPIRIT OF PALLAS. AT THE SAME TIME OWLS OF PALLAS BUILT THEIR PRESENCE IN THE MOST OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR AREA IN FINLAND.
1995
AFTER 30 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, AMPPA HEINONEN DECIDED TO STEP AWAY AND ASKED EIJA SAVIKKO TO TAKE CHARGE OF SKI SCHOOL'S FUTURE. THE LEGACY WAS IN GOOD HANDS.
1997
PERTTI YLINIEMI AND LAPLAND HOTELS HOTEL CHAIN BOUGHT THE HOTEL OPERATIONS AND SKI RESORT IN PALLAS.
2015
OWLS OF PALLAS TESTED HOW IT WOULD WORK IF ALSO TRADITIONAL SKI SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WERE TAKEN TO BACKCOUNTRY.
2016
IT WAS THE YEAR SKI SCHOOL'S STRATEGY WAS UPDATED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF TODAY'S FREERIDING. ALSO THE TAG 'SKI SCHOOL' WAS CHANGED TO 'SCHOOL OF OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES'. WE STARTED TO BE WHAT WE'D BEEN SINCE THE FIRST DAYS OF OUR EXISTENCE. A TRUE BACKCOUNTRY SKI SCHOOL AND BACKCOUNTRY DESTINATION.
2019
PALLAKSEN PÖLLÖT WAS REWARDED AS THE SKI SCHOOL OF THE YEAR 2019, FOR THE FIRTS TIME IN ITS HISTORY.
WE HAVE FELLS AND AN AUTHENTIC LIFESTYLE.
Book a freeride tour and a fell guide to explore the most magnificent fell area in Finland. Let us taste freedom together and discover the best riding snow in the fells. We can ski into the sunset while taking in the spectacular scenery.
Backcountry skiing in the fells is one of the most extraordinary experiences offered by Pallas. The treeless fell tops and the snow beneath your feet will enchant you with purity and silence. Embark on a tour and give skiing and the fells a chance to charm you.
The hotel, living in its own magical time, stands proud and unchanging among the fells, enjoying the surrounding wild nature. It offers no explanations or apologies. It is just as it should be, with flaws and all. For this reason, the hotel as well as the Owls make visitors feel right at home.
PALLAS
COMMUNITY
