Perttu Hyvärinen, a local skier from Kuopio, held a volunteer event on Thursday night at Puijo Konttila to clear the snow onto the trail base. The initiative aimed to shovel enough snow for machinery to access the area and prepare the trails for skiing. Hyvärinen noticed the trail base was still too rough for machinery the day before, driving him to set up this community gathering to improve the skiing conditions.

Despite facing a significant disappointment after being cut from Finland's Olympic team, Hyvärinen expressed a positive outlook about his future away from competitive skiing. He'll be making the most of the remaining winter, training in Konttila as he prepares for World Cup events. Hyvärinen emphasized that he is looking forward to utilizing the trails he helped improve, indicating a personal stake in the project.

Hyvärinen also commented on the ongoing Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, proudly noting the achievements of his fellow athletes, particularly Eero Hirvonen, who won a bronze medal. This sense of community and encouragement amidst changes in his sporting career reflects the supportive environment of Finnish skiing and its athletes, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the community despite personal challenges.