Strong vision and a functional concept
Strong vision and a functional concept bring Goat Gym hundreds of active visitors each week
During the week, as many as 1000–1200 enthusiastic children, young people, and adults bounce, climb, move, and sweat at the facilities of the Lahti-based Goat Gym. “The hall is really versatile: here you can safely do just about any kind of tricks. Our concept includes that an instructor is always present.”
At Goat Gym, a centre for body control training for all ages, guided classes, open sessions, and birthday parties are organised. School groups have also found Goat Gym to be well-suited; on the day of the interview, several classes of children are coming to the space to relieve the pressures of the end of the school year. Entrepreneur Sami Perälä says that plans include organising overnight camps, competitions, and summer camps.
Sami Perälä is the true calling card of his company, with a passion for movement. Perälä is among the world’s top parkour practitioners and has practised the sport since the age of 12. In judo, he holds a third-degree black belt.
Sami Perälä founded Herttua Family Oy with his spouse, Anni Perälä, during Christmas time 2013 to spread joy and well-being to both young people and adults. The couple built Moose Gym in Orimattila in 2017. In December 2025, Goat Gym was completed in Lahti, enabling the training of parkour, acrobatics, tricking, and flips in a safe and supervised environment. According to Perälä, health and the joy of movement are the most important values of the community.
Goat Gym is a clear pioneer in its field in Finland, operating with a focus on sport and development. A similar training centre is hard to find. Goat Gym was built near the Lahti railway station alongside the railway line. Perälä wanted to create a safe, versatile, and durable exercise environment whose design takes into account both regulatory requirements and everyday practicalities. Perälä’s vision was realised, and the installation was carried out by the Lahti-based Kuntoasentajat.
Safety and appearance of Koskisen birch plywood were key elements in material selection
Both plywood and timber were supplied by Koskisen. “We chose Koskisen plywood because Goat Gym required a large amount of high-quality material. The gym’s structures include over 700 plywood sheets and ten kilometres of other timber, also from Koskinen.”
The choices were influenced by fire safety, wear resistance, impact durability, maintainability, and appearance.
“Birch plywood is safe, sturdy, and durable, and it remains beautiful despite wear,” Perälä states. Appearance played a significant role: the surface was intended to be neat and even, without knots or other visual distractions. “It is important that the space looks good after use as well, not just when new,” Perälä says.
The surfaces have been treated to ensure durability, and if necessary, they can be maintained and re-varnished. Perälä says that from Koskisen, they received high-quality material, and the deliveries were fast.
“As a value choice, domestic origin also comes along with it. We want to support Finnish production; it is important to us,” Perälä states. The choice brought assurance both in quality and in deliveries.
“If we were to start building again, we would make the same choices,” Perälä concludes.
