In English

Mommilanjärven soutelu - The boating of Mommilanjärvi

The boating event of Mommilanjärvi has been organized for 21 times now, always on the 3rd Saturday of July. The event is a cheerful happening capturing the spirit of a summer festival. The setting for the event is idyllic and peaceful village area in Hausjärvi. The smell of tar, folk music and country fair will lead you to a special experience. There will be lots of traditions present in form of craftwork and shows. There are also things solely for children.

Mommilanjärven soutelu is a unique event, where you don’t have to compete so hard and taxingly. The event offers something that seems to have disappeared from the world: the joy of doing things together and shared experiences. The thing bringing the boat team together can be anything: workplace, a common hobby, old friendship or the same home village. The time spent together can be lengthen while practicing boating a bit before the actual event and when having an ending banquet with a team.

The boating event has been there to revive some old sporting clubs which operated on old Karelia, like “Kirvun Vilkas” and “Antrean Esa”. These two clubs had fierce competitions against each other, starting from the 30’s and continuing on new locations after the wars. Although the clubs slowly faded, their legacy didn’t. The old traditions are slowly coming back to life. The community spirit, which has been a part of Finnish traditions, shows in a wonderful way, in the voluntary work of the organizers and the time spent together by the participants. The original goal of the event is fulfilled literally: to meet good friends at least once a year while doing something enjoyable.

I would like to warmly welcome you to the event on behalf of Mommilanjärven soutelu ry. Here the term “bench sporting” gets a brand-new meaning, and everyone will be on the same boat - literally.

Markku Juhola

Mommilanjärven soutelu ry.

Chairman