FinLine questions & answers

Is this a race?

No, and we don't have any plans to make it one. The purpose is to have fun, see new places and meet different people, and of course skate a lot!

Is everyone timed, and if so, are they timed separately for each day?

No, we don't time at all. We'll have breaks in about every 15...20 km, we might stop for a café if we feel like it.

Is the event only for very advanced skaters?

I wouldn't say very advanced skaters. If you are able to skate 50 km in a day, then you probably can do FinLine also. We have several groups skating at different speeds, so your speed should not be an issue.

How many skaters typically participate?

Because of the limited size of hotels and holiday villages in smaller towns, we have usually set the maximum number of skaters to 30. Usually we have had 20 to 25 skaters.

Are there support vehicles with the skaters? How many?

Only one. The different skating groups agree their starting times so that the support vehicle can serve all the skater groups advancing on different speeds without driving back and forth.

Do you stay overnight in each city, and are all the hotels booked for the group ahead of time?

Yes we do. Mostly we use bigger hotels, but in case there isn't one we have to rely on smaller ones or even on holiday villages, cottages being the minimum demand. Tents aren't required on FinLine.

What is the cost to participate?

Total cost covering club membership fee (25 ¤), registration fee (50 ¤...100 ¤ depending on the estimated costs),  transportations from / to Helsinki, accommodations + breakfasts, services provided by support vehicle and most of the dinners are around 200 ¤...250 ¤.

Is everyone, from any country, invited to attend?

Yes. The registrations are processed in the order they arrive regardless where the skaters are coming from. Note that only those registrations are accepted that have been sent using the FinLine registration web form and during the registration period.

However, there is a short period in the beginning of the registration period when all (domestic and foreign) skaters who have been paid members of the Street Gliders club in the previous year are privileged. If you have been skating FinLine last year, then you have been a member and you are privileged to join again. This ensures that you can attend FinLine from year to year without worrying about the growing interest around the world.

We reserve the right to decline registrations because of missing skating experience (for example, no skating skills at all). However, this option has not been used so far.

Note: The facts are given above as they were in February 2007.