For more than a decade Pauli Siitonen was the best cross-country skier in Finland and often competed in ultra-distance events. Between 1972 and 1984 Siitonen finished on the podium in more than 50 long-distance ski races, including winning the prestigious Vasaloppet race in Sweden in 1973. He won five consecutive editions of the Finlandia-hiihto race from 1976 to 1980 and the Euroloppet series from 1975 to 1980, and was named the best long-distance skier on six occasions by the International Ski Federation. Early in his career Siitonen also competed at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, finishing 19th in the 50 kilometres cross-country race. Alongside his skiing career he was also a police officer for the Helsinki Police Force.
Finland