Pyhä is Patrol Center of the Year 2026

Published May 7, 2026

Safety at the Heart of the Mountain Experience

Pyhä has been named Patrol Center of the Year 2026. The recognition was awarded at the spring meeting of the Finnish Ski Resort Association (SHKY) in Saariselkä on May 5, 2026, and it is a strong indication of Pyhä’s determined, professional, and continuously evolving safety work in the mountain environment.

At Pyhä, ski patrol operations are not limited to on-call duties alone. Safety is managed with a long-term and proactive approach: daily slope cooperation, operating models based on observation and data, and clearly defined responsibilities are directly reflected in the customer experience as more carefree ski days and a strong sense of trust in the mountain.

*Pyhä’s determined, professional, and continuously evolving safety work resulted in the Patrol Center of the Year 2026 award. Photo: Jenni Lähteenmäki*

Pyhä – A Pioneer in Off-Piste Safety

In addition to its top-condition slopes, which rank among the best in Finland, Pyhä is particularly known for the systematic development of its off-piste areas and their safety. Patrols actively monitor conditions, follow snowpack developments, and assess daily risk factors affecting area use and safe practices. The Pyhä Avalanche Safety Center also plays a crucial role by monitoring and communicating snow safety outside the ski resort boundaries.

*Pyhä patrols are responsible, among other things, for checking the functionality of avalanche transceiver checkpoints. Photo: Teemu Kuisma*

Thanks to clear guidance, the visible presence of patrols, and active condition communication, the threshold for off-piste skiing has been lowered in a controlled way. Patrols help skiers make better choices, increase understanding of the mountain environment’s unique characteristics, and create the conditions for off-piste skiing to be accessible, responsible, and rewarding for skiers of all levels—from beginners to experienced veterans.

Among the off-piste areas opened during the 2025–2026 season, Honka has been named after Pyhä’s long-time employee and patrol member Matti Honkanen as a tribute to his committed and meaningful work in the mountain.

*The Honka off-piste area, opened for the winter season, is named after Pyhä’s long-time employee and ski patrol member Matti Honkanen. Photo: Jenni Lähteenmäki*

Patrol Work Is a Team Effort

In addition to Pyhä’s five invaluable full-time patrol members, several volunteer patrols are also essential to the resort. They are on duty throughout the winter season, maintaining customer safety across the slope area. Without the contribution of volunteers, there simply would not be enough hands during peak seasons.

The Patrol Center of the Year selection highlights how a highly professional ski patrol is an integral part of a ski resort’s overall quality, responsibility, and mountain experience—and, ultimately, of delivering a first-class customer experience.

A warm thank you from all of Pyhä for the past season to Matti, Panu, Markus, and Teemu—as well as to all the volunteers who make safe ski days possible.

*Pyhä’s ski patrols mainly operate on snowmobiles, while volunteer patrols move on skis. Photo: Teemu Kuisma*

Sister Resort Ruka Named Ski Resort of the Year 2026

At the same awards ceremony, Ruka was named Ski Resort of the Year 2026 in recognition of its exceptionally strong and versatile development work. The selection reflects long-term and ambitious efforts where customer experience, safety, sports facilities, and year-round operations progress consistently side by side.

These recognitions provide a fitting conclusion to the past winter season and set our sights toward summer—and the winter that follows.