Tampere plans to buy Mustavuori lifts and snow guns to keep ski hill open this winter

According to Yle, Tampere could keep Mustavuori ski hill operating this winter by buying the lifts and snow guns from the site's bankruptcy estate. City officials are preparing to buy the slope infrastructure to secure the future of downhill skiing in Tampere. The move follows Mustavuori Oy's September bankruptcy after several loss-making seasons. Tampere’s director of sports and youth, Jukka Etu-Seppälä, values the infrastructure at about €90,000. He said the city will seek the required funding in a supplementary budget that the council will vote on in early December, with a formal purchase decision to follow. If the city acquires the equipment, it could make a direct procurement and sign a one-season operating contract. That would give local clubs time to explore a longer-term solution. A network made up of Tampere Snowboarders, Tampere Slalom Club and Mustavuori Trailcrew aims to run the hill. Mustavuori Trailcrew vice-chair Jani Vesikko says the clubs want to restart activity this winter. Clubs are also negotiating to buy rental skis and boots from the bankruptcy estate, but that equipment may go to an open auction and prices could rise. The bankrupt company reportedly owes nearly €29,000 to season-ticket holders. The estate trustee could not be reached for comment, and Vesikko says the clubs would not charge season-ticket buyers twice if they take over operations.