You are warmly welcome to spend an experiential orienteering and holiday week for the whole family in Jämäsvaara, Kuhmo, Finland. Jämäsvaara is one of the most legendary and finest orienteering and nature destinations in Kuhmo and Kainuu. The magnificent terrain and landscapes of the area attracts the eyes (and shoes) and offers orienteers a memorable orienteering experience.
Kettle hole terrains (suppamaasto) in Kainuu are familiar to many orienteers from previous Kainuu Orienteering Weeks (KOW). In this article series, we introduce their unique characteristics and share expert training tips. This spring, Kainuu Orienteering Week’s channels will take a closer look at two classic types of Kainuu orienteering terrain: kettle hole (suppa) and fell (vaara) terrains.
In our first feature, we dive into kettle hole terrains guided by Pasi Jokelainen. This terrain type and the course setting at KRV are very familiar to Jokelainen, as he has been involved in mapping and course planning for Kainuu Orienteering Week for nearly 30 years.
Read moreKainuu Orienteering Week’s side events offer something brand new this summer: the "Orienteer and Fish" (Suunnista Fisuun) event combines the joy of orienteering and fishing in the breathtaking scenery of Hossa National Park on the second rest day of the week, Wednesday, July 1st, 2026.
The crystal-clear waters and magnificent pine-needle paths of Hossa invite you to get moving! Orienteer and Fish is a fast-paced yet relaxed outdoor event where the goal is to combine physical activity with fishing. The event is perfect for groups of friends, active enthusiasts, and adventurous families alike.
Read moreThe idea for the Kainuu MTBO Week, held alongside the traditional Kainuu Orienteering Week, took shape in 2020. The inaugural event was a two-day competition in Suomussalmi in July 2021, explains Mika Häkkinen, the Event Director and developer of the MTB-O Week.
"The event received excellent feedback, which encouraged us to organize the first full four-day MTB-O week in Puolanka in 2022. Now, after editions in Kuhmo, Kajaani, and Sotkamo, the circle is closing: the sixth Kainuu MTB-O Week will be held from June 28th to July 3rd, 2026, on the magnificent, trail-rich pine heaths of Hyrynsalmi and Suomussalmi," Häkkinen says enthusiastically.
Read moreKainuu Orienteering Week (KOW) has launched a series of workshops aimed at further strengthening the event''s sustainability. Carried out in collaboration with Ceriffi Oy, this initiative brings concrete actions to environmental responsibility, social responsibility, and administrative practices.
Sustainability is not a new concept for Kainuu Orienteering Week, but as the organizers prepare for next summer''s event in Suomussalmi, the goal is to integrate it even more deeply into daily operations. The organizing committee met earlier this week for the first workshop to identify the environmental impacts, risks, and opportunities arising from the event''s activities.
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