How far can you ski in 24 hours?
Earlier this year, ultraskier Teemu Virtanen, 56, achieved his long-term goal by breaking the men’s 24-hour skiing world record in Lahti. Covering an astonishing 475.88 kilometers within a day, Virtanen’s feat surpassed the previous record held by Hans Mäenpää, reclaiming the title he once held.
In a parallel triumph, Susanna Ylinen broke the women’s 24-hour record by skiing 388.78 kilometers.
Virtanen had been pursuing the record relentlessly since losing it to Mäenpää. Reflecting on his achievement, he remarked, “I believe no one my age will break this record, at least not using the double poling technique.”
The grueling effort left its mark on Virtanen’s body. “Movement is not very easy, but otherwise my condition is good. It was a tough performance,” he admitted upon returning home.
Virtanen revealed that his thighs started cramping just seven hours into the effort. The biggest challenge, however, came from within his own mind. “I knew that if the record was to be broken, it would be close. I stressed all the time that everything had to go perfectly,” he recounted.
Virtanen broke the world record in Lahti using the double poling technique. The previous record was surpassed with only 13 minutes remaining on the clock.
Throughout the 24-hour marathon, Virtanen took only a few short breaks to change his skis. While not skiing, his team kept his skis continuously waxed. He used four different pairs of skis, initially changing every two hours, then every ninety minutes. “These pairs have been used to set records before,” Virtanen praised his equipment.
Breaks also served as opportunities for quick bathroom stops along the track. Nature called three times during the endeavor, with every second counting towards the goal. Virtanen’s nutrition came mainly from gels, supplemented by buns and meatballs provided by his support team during breaks. “I haven’t eaten solid food for over 30 hours,” he noted three hours after finishing.
Although Virtanen had attempted this challenge multiple times before, the start time was a new experience for him. The record attempt began at approximately 5:32 PM, contrasting with his usual morning starts. Concerns about nighttime cold proved unfounded. “It was borderline cold, but I managed to tackle that feeling. More worrying was how I could maintain the same pace,” he explained.
Helping maintain his pace were assistant skiers who accompanied him throughout the journey. According to Virtanen, their support was crucial. “Without them, no one could achieve this,” he stated.
Virtanen’s average speed was 19.83 kilometers per hour, and in the final lap, he increased his pace to 25 kilometers per hour. “At no point did I run out of speed or energy,” he asserted.
Teemu Virtanen’s remarkable achievement highlights not only his physical endurance but also the mental tenacity required to push beyond previous limits and set new world records.