Hiihtokilpailu: Leikillinen kertomus

About this book

"Hiihtokilpailu" by Juudas Puustinen is a humorous novella written in the early 20th century. It lampoons small-town zeal as a restless schoolmaster ignites a ski club and a grand “nationwide” competition, pulling the whole community into a frenzy. Central figures include the driving force Pekka Teräs, the practical Uncle Mooses, his keen nephews Antti and Ville, and the worldly Heikki, whose modern gear and bravado set the tone.

The opening of the book follows Teräs’s boredom in the provincial town of Pihkasalmi turning into a bold plan for a ski club and spectacular races, sold to locals through fiery speeches and newspaper hype. Training fever grips the town, with colorful would‑be champions vying for glory. In the countryside, Heikki returns with sleek modern skis, dazzles Mooses and the boys with technique, and spurs a secret campaign: Mooses crafts exhibition-worthy skis while Antti and Ville grind through timed laps around the lake. After comic village reactions and quiet plotting, the group travels by sleigh to the city, submits skis and handmade boots to the exhibition, and registers amid bustling crowds, Heikki’s breezy confidence contrasting with the boys’ nerves as the long-anticipated race day looms.