Pasi Ikonen
Within Finland, Pasi's name is synonymous with adventurous expeditions, endurance racing and extreme skiing.
Within Finland, Pasi's name is synonymous with adventurous expeditions, endurance racing and extreme skiing (not to be confused with the international-level orienteer of the same name).
He began his outdoor career as a border patrol officer, training a commando troop and patrolling the Russian Karelian border with his trusted German Shepherd, Gordon, known as Kortsu when the pair won the Finnish border patrol championships together.
- First Finn (with partner Poppis) to ski unsupported to the South Pole
- Five years as a full-time adventure racing athlete and team captain
- Ski guide (level 3 instructor) with 10+ years' wilderness guiding experience
- 11 years as a Border Patrol Officer; Finnish border patrol champion 1998
From athlete to farm
He went on to spend 5 years as a full-time athlete, captaining team Nokia Adventure and team Lapin Kulta to international victories in X-Adventures, the Raid Gauloises Himalayas, Ukatak and more, and helping international outdoor brands design clothing and kit. He is a ski guide (level 3 instructor) with over 10 years' wilderness guiding.
In November 2008 he left Anna setting up the dog farm and skied for two months to the South Pole, arriving with his partner Poppis on Christmas Day as the first Finns to complete an unsupported expedition there. His focus is now the farm, where he handles the Finnish-language side of the business and client safaris in season. His most recent sponsors have been Vaude, Spy Optics, Osprey, Scarpa and K2.
Outdoor qualifications
Pasi's qualifications include Emergency First Responder, Canoe and Kayak Guide (Finnish Canoe Federation), Raft Guide, Ski Instructor (Finnish Association of Ski Instructors), Survival Instructor (Survival Guild Finland), Wilderness Skill Instructor (The Guides and Scouts of Finland), Indoor Climbing Instructor, Tactical Rope Instructor (Finnish Parachute Regiment), Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Certificate, PADI Open Water Diver and Ski Patrol Emergency Response First Aid (Finnish Red Cross).
Professional background
His working life spans guiding, product development, media and a long border patrol career.
- Guiding and products: developed products and guided for Heli-ski.fi, and guided 10-day Arctic Ocean skiing expeditions
- Business: owned and ran Frog Adventures as Managing Director
- Media: wrote and sub-edited for Retki Magazine, advised the BBC as Adventure Sports Expert and commentated for Finnish TV (MTV3)
- Safari management: Field Manager for Harriniva Hotels and Safaris and for Tunturijotos Safaris
- Racing support: co-ordinated marketing, sales and logistics for AR team Lapin Kulta
- Border Patrol: 11 years as a Border Patrol Officer, 5 of them training and patrolling with a dog, and Finnish border patrol champion in 1998
- Military: served as a Second Lieutenant in the Finnish Army