Cross-country skier Niilo Moilanen, 24, and WelCo Oy, a builder and developer of wellbeing facilities, have continued their partnership for the 2025–2026 season. The three-year partnership began back in 2023, and the partners’ main goal lies ahead at the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games this coming winter.
Oulu-based sprint skier Niilo Moilanen is currently training with the national team in Ramsau, Austria. Conditions in Austria allow the summer season to continue, and the national team will train there until almost the end of October. The first races of the 2025–2026 season will be skied in Vuokatti in early November. After that, Moilanen’s winter continues with the Ruka World Cup in Kuusamo.
WelCo Oy’s CEO Ville-Pekka Lehto had been following Moilanen’s career even before the partnership began. Now the three-year partnership culminates in this coming winter’s Olympics. First, of course, Moilanen must earn a place on the Olympic team and then qualify to ski the classic-style sprint. According to Lehto, Moilanen’s career and WelCo’s story are connected in many ways, and one relatable factor he mentions is precisely the journey from Oulu towards the bigger spotlight.
“We started the partnership from the angle that we both come from Northern Finland and, as new names in a new market, we are aiming for the very top,” Lehto says.
Under the agreement with WelCo, Moilanen skis wearing WelCo logos in domestic competitions in Finland, and WelCo can use Moilanen’s name and image in its own marketing. Moilanen also wears WelCo clothing during training.
“So far, we have organised internal events for our staff where Niilo has come skiing with us and shared the secrets of the sport. These have been popular events,” CEO Lehto continues.
Moilanen, who won the junior world championship in 2021, has been part of the national team for several years. He has also trained in Ramsau many times since his youth. The coming season is personally important for Moilanen, as the qualifying performances for the Olympics begin right at the start of the winter.
“I want to raise my level from last season and make the Olympic team. Competition for places on the team is tough, which is why the World Cup and other races carry high stakes right from the start,” Moilanen explains.
Thanks to WelCo and other partnerships, cross-country skier Niilo Moilanen is able to train professionally all year round. Moilanen, who has lived in Kuopio for several years, thanks WelCo for a high-quality partnership. In particular, the staff ski days held in Köykkyri have stayed in Moilanen’s mind as experiences that encouraged people to be more physically active.
WelCo wishes Niilo the very best of luck in the upcoming racing season!