VALE - JAAKKO LAAJOKI

Jaakko Laajoki, a keen member of the xc ski community, passed away recently. Originally from Finland, Jaakko spent many years skiing classic technique as a child and in the army.

After moving to Australia in the late 1960s with his wife Anneli (dec) and young family, he finally tried out the Australian snow in the 1980s. Jaakko then became a regular participant in Perisher xc ski events until approx. 2005. He always made the trip from Wollongong for NSW Race Week and any championship events held in Perisher and always brought his sense of humour along. Many of the more mature members of the xc community have fond memories of skiing with Jaakko.

He was also a very capable and keen runner and cyclist. His love of xc skiing passed on, and continues to live on, through family members.