The sun was shining, and the air felt fresh after the morning rain. Microphone in hand, I stood on the main stage at Nouxfest. It was an odd feeling, to bask in the warmth of a perfect Finnish summer evening and try to recall the feelings of the cold and dark hardships from past mountain adventures.
The first annual Nouxfest was held at Nuuksio National Park between August 8th and 12th. An event focused on welcoming new participants into the world of outdoor recreation, the weekend was filled with opportunities to sample nearly every Finnish nature activity that one could imagine, hear inspiring talks from some of Finland’s most knowledgeable outdoor recreationalist, and see lots and lots of fine outdoor equipment.
Team OAC was there in full force, front and center of the expo area. Underneath the awnings of our tent, visitors found a wide assortment of La Sportiva trail running shoes for testing, multiple models of NEMO tents set up for those curious to sleep in, and the newest products from brands like Black Diamond, Cotopaxi, and Hydro Flask.
Being outdoor sport enthusiasts ourselves, throughout the event we hosted many free talks on the main stage, sharing our experiences and expertise across a variety of subject such as: snow safety, backcountry skiing in Finland, and the outdoor equipment brands we represent. On Saturday evening, I was fortunate enough to be able to take to the stage and give a presentation about a few of my own climbing adventures, ranging from winter climbing in Norway, to establishing new routes in the desert fjords of Oman. Afterwards, we even participated in some of the activities, hosting a hill running training session.
Before we knew it, the closing ceremony was upon us. Despite some wet weather, it had been a fun weekend filled with outdoor pursuits, like-minded people, good conversations, and lots of laughs. We look forward to seeing everyone there again next year!
Written by Alan "Allu" Goldbetter, who is part of the OAC team
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