Day 2 at Codefreeze 2025: Fire, Reindeer, and Coding in the Arctic
From open fires and smoke saunas to AI-assisted coding, Day Two offered a unique blend of experiences in the Finnish wilderness.
My morning started with the usual routine: 6 AM wake-up, coffee, checking the conference board and work emails, followed by yoga, strength training, and, of course, "The Dip" – our daily plunge into the icy waters. It's becoming a ritual! Breakfast followed, fueling us for the day ahead.
At 9 AM, we gathered for the morning assembly in the Turf Hut. This traditional Finnish cabin, while a bit chilly, had a welcoming fire burning, creating a cozy atmosphere. Thankfully, most of us were already dressed in our winter gear for the upcoming skiing trip, so the cold wasn't a problem.
The Nordic skiing today was even more special than yesterday. We embarked on a scenic route that included a stop at a nearby hut. Here, we built an open fire and roasted marshmallows – a classic winter treat. But the real highlight was preparing traditional Finnish coffee over the fire. The aroma and the taste were incredible, adding a unique touch to our outdoor experience. On top we added “sqeaky cheese” to the coffee, which tasted fantastic and it really squeaked!
The more experienced skiers among us then continued on a longer route, managing to finish before 3 PM in time for lunch. The most exciting part of the ski trip? We spotted reindeer crossing our path! It was a truly magical moment, and luckily, I managed to capture a video of it.
Today's special event was the smoke sauna. Just like last year, it was a fantastic social experience. We had great conversations inside the sauna, several non-alcoholic beers (for me) and I braved several more dips in the cold water – a perfect contrast to the intense heat.
After dinner, the sessions began. The first, at 7 PM, was "Training 101." We discussed our training goals and effective training strategies. I gained some valuable insights and also found confirmation that it's not always about pushing for faster times every year, but about finding joy in movement and establishing a sustainable, lifelong routine.
The second session was a 2h exploration into creating a conference website. We decided to incorporate GitHub Copilot into the process, and I also wanted to explore the simple.css framework for semantic styling. I took the driver's seat, sharing my screen and guiding the session. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about GitHub Copilot in a practical setting, while also having fun with the code.
The day concluded with a relaxed chill-out session in our community space, Ekin Kammi, where we discussed the plans for the following day.