Malva x Ski Museum: 100 years at Salpausselkä

The desire to put Finland on the world skiing map gave rise to one of the longest traditions in competitive skiing history. The Lahti Ski Games were held for the first time in winter 1923, and over the last 100 years Lahti has grown into an internationally renowned and respected ski city.  

The exhibition presents posters from both the Lahti Ski Games and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, which have been organised in Lahti seven times. The annual games fever at Salpausselkä has continued as an almost unbroken tradition up the present day. Salpausselkä’s attendance record was set at the 1989 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, which attracted 455,700 spectators.  

Sports events at the Salpausselkä ski stadium have been marketed with the aid of posters since its early days. Before the digital age, print media was of great significance. A skilfully designed poster catches viewers’ attention and attracts them to the event. The posters reflect the design trends of different decades, and in retrospect each poster reveals a lot about its own time. The games poster illustrations display speed, power, entertainment and a huge sense of a sporting celebration. 

100 years at Salpausselkä -exhibition is open in Malva for two months before Lahti Ski Games 9.2.–30.4.2023. Entry to the exhibition is included in all Malva museum ticket types.