Do what you love – Anne Kyllönen’s long career at the top

Anne started skiing at the age of two, and competition followed when she was three. Skiing was not just one hobby among others—it was a shared lifestyle for the whole family.

“We traveled to competitions around Finland in a motorhome. It was about much more than competing—time together, new places, beautiful landscapes.”

At that time, goals were not the focus. What mattered was the joy of doing it and the pleasure of skiing. A love for the sport and a connection to movement were born—both of which have stayed with her to this day. From the very beginning, it was clear that skiing was Anne’s sport.

“I’ve never felt the same passion for anything else.”
“And yes—I loved competing even back then.”

Over the years, her perspective broadened. Training, recovery, and understanding the interplay between body and mind became just as interesting as competition itself.

“Developing both the physical and mental capacity of a human being has given skiing a much broader meaning for me.”

“I believe that people have more endurance and also perform better when they do things they truly feel passion and love for.”

When you do something your whole life, it is no longer separate from you—it becomes part of who you are. That doesn’t mean it is always easy. Naturally, there are also moments when motivation is tested.

Still, the work remains meaningful even during difficult times.

When asked what keeps an athlete going, Kyllönen does not romanticize it:
“Difficult moments are part of it, but it’s been easier to get through them when I’ve known what I’m capable of at my best. Even if I lose direction for a while, I know I have the ability to turn it back toward success.”

For many, skiing is purely a winter sport. For professional athletes, it is different. When one season ends, the next begins almost immediately. A short break in spring gives way to summer base training, which builds the foundation for everything to come.

“A skier’s short summer holiday is over before summer even officially arrives in Finland. The training season always starts on May 1st, and from there we begin building a new season through basic training.”

Summer and autumn are the time to build the base. Long sessions, progressive training, and training camps shape everyday life. The competition season from November to spring is ultimately just the visible part of the whole.

The variety of training is surprisingly broad.
“A skier really needs to master almost all types of physical training.”

Running and trail running develop endurance and body control. Hiking builds basic fitness. Roller skiing brings sport-specific training into the summer. Cycling and gym training complement the whole.

This variety makes daily life physically demanding, but also diverse and engaging. The environments change constantly—forests and mountains, asphalt and trails, rain and sunshine.

That is why equipment plays a central role. When training happens in all conditions, clothing truly has to perform.

“It’s one of the most important factors for a successful training session.”

“It’s really important that the clothing fits well and allows movement. When you don’t have to think about your clothing during training, you know it works. It also boosts confidence and prevents unnecessary energy loss.”

 Halti has been Anne’s equipment partner since 2010.

“At the time, Pirjo Muranen was on the national team, and I saw her wearing Halti clothing. They looked really good, and I remember thinking that kind of partnership would be a dream.”

“I decided to boldly reach out to Halti, and I was really happy to receive a positive response.”

This marked the beginning of a collaboration that has developed alongside Anne’s career—through experimentation and feedback. It has never been just about sponsor visibility, but about a trusted partnership where a professional athlete’s practical experience, expertise, and ideas are transferred into Halti’s product development through testing.

“When I give feedback, I know I’ve truly tested the product for countless hours in different conditions.”

The collaboration has also been visible in custom race suits designed for Kyllönen over the years. For several seasons, Halti has created a unique outfit for her national competitions—something no one else has.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to ski in my own customized race suit.”

One outfit in particular stands out:
“The zebra suit, definitely! At first I thought it might be too eye-catching, but it became one of my favorites. Coaches at split points would thank me when they could spot the stripes from afar.”

Over the years, Halti products have evolved in materials, fit, and technical solutions to meet increasingly versatile use—and everything that active outdoor movement means today.

Equipment designed for just one sport is no longer enough. An active lifestyle is a combination of different activities—running, trails, gym training, skiing, recovery outdoors, and everything around them.

That is why clothing also needs to adapt.

At the core of the Active Sport mindset is exactly this: gear that is not limited to a single sport but adapts to movement.

A good example is Halti’s Kaltio training hoodie from the summer collection, designed for active outdoor use. The product works for running, trails, cycling, and fitness training—but just as naturally for ski training or casual wear.

Products like these are not created solely at the design table, but from insights and experience—at the core of action and movement itself.

When Kyllönen looks back on her career, she does not see only competitions or results.

“I’m grateful that I’ve been able to make skiing my profession. Elite sports have given me such a strong foundation for life that I know I’ll be able to handle almost anything the future brings.”

But this is not only about elite sports—it is about everything that comes with it. Being active outdoors creates small daily miracles and improves both mental and physical well-being.

For Anne, nature is a place where both mind and body recover, and where worries fade away.

“I think there’s no more natural place for us to be in this world. Being outdoors is the greatest richness in my life and the key to a well-balanced everyday life.”

“I am the happiest knowing that I’ve been able to spend my whole life doing something I truly love.”