USSR-Finland ski race (1969)

Snow-covered fir trees, winter landscape (panorama).

Participants in the women's ski race Moscow-Leningrad-Helsinki-Turku-Tampere-Torneo in honor of the 100th anniversary of V.I. Lenin, members of the Metelitsa team greet border guard officers.

The skiers head toward the Soviet-Finnish border.

Border guards wave as they pass.

The skiers move toward the border.

Border posts on the border between the USSR and Finland.

Skiers crossing the border.

Photojournalists take pictures of the Soviet skiers after they cross the border.

Local residents present the girls with flowers.

Inspection of broken skis.

A coach checks the flexibility of the skis before the next stage of the race.

The team doctor conducts a medical examination of the participants, checking their blood pressure and pulse.

One of the participants drinks tea from a thermos.

The participants peel and eat oranges as they go.

Participants of the ski race cover the distance on their way to Helsinki.

Street views in one of the towns, public transport, and passers-by on the streets.

View of part of a city block (from above).

The participants of the ski race start after a short rest and meeting with local residents.

A Finnish soldier-driver waves to Soviet skiers from the cab of a truck.

A girl with a camera.

A Finnish man rides a snowmobile with a trailer.

Finnish children run to greet the participants of the ski race.

Finnish children and military personnel present souvenirs and gifts to the participants of the race.

A Finnish girl presents flowers to the skiers.

The President of Finland, U. Kekkonen, shakes hands with each of the participants of the ski race during a reception in Helsinki.

Kekkonen's face giving a welcoming speech.

The presentation of a Soviet ski to the President of Finland as a souvenir.

The faces of the participants of the ski race during the reception.

Kekkonen examines the ski given to him.

Runners sign autographs for Finnish children.

Cars carrying Finnish fans drive along the road next to a column of Soviet female skiers continuing their run.

A man with a voice recorder leans out the car window, interviewing one of the skiers as they move.

The skiers examine a souvenir they were given during a stop.

One of the runners adjusts her uniform and cap in the rearview mirror of a minibus.

The skiers walk to a rest area, one of them carrying a large wooden spoon over her shoulder, a gift from local residents.

Refreshments are on the table in a local home.

The hosts treat the skiers.

The girls drink tea and pastries at the table.

Runners on a ski trail en route to Turku.

Cars and passersby on a street in Turku.

Runners stroll through the city.

Runners near the house where Lenin stayed.

A participant in the revolutionary events in Finland tells young women about his encounters with Lenin.

The participants of the race cross-country skiing at night; the skiers' faces are visible.

The escort vehicle convoy moves alongside the ski trail, illuminating the way with its headlights.

A tractor leads the way.

Tree branches covered in snow.

The young women thank local residents for their assistance and present a badge to the tractor driver.

The participants of the race chat with local residents during a short stop.

Souvenir publications are presented to the director of the Tampere Museum.

One of the participants makes a commemorative entry in the museum's guest book.

A girl with a camera.

The participants of the race set off towards Torneå.