Finland’s head coach Antti Kuisma is worried about the combined World Cup games in February. Two race weekends have already been canceled in January due to the snow situation.
10.1. 19:25•Updated 10.1. 19:45
The combined world cup has received cold water on its neck in a couple of days.
Due to the poor snow conditions in Central Europe, both the next weekend’s competitions in Germany’s Klingenthal and France’s Chaux-Neuve 20–22.1. has been cancelled. According to the weather map, it is raining in Klingenthal and the temperature is clearly on the positive side.
– This is a really sad thing. Finnish athletes are fine and the team is healthy, and then the situation is this. But the weak snow situation in Central Europe has been known. However, this does not affect the overall situation of the World Cup and the situation is the same for everyone, says the head coach of the combined team of Finland Antti Kuisma For Urheilu.
Kuisma has discussed the cancellation of the Games by Finland’s star athletes Ilkka Herolan and Eero Hirvonen with. Herola finished second in the Otepää World Cup last weekend and is in good shape.
– Yes, these news always stop me. We have worked a lot for these race trips. Now our service car is on a ship going to Germany. That’s where most of the stuff is.
According to Kuisma, it is possible that the Klingentahli games would be moved forward a week. FIS will inform about the possible transfer on Saturday.
– That sounds weak too. If the games are canceled, we will compete and prepare together. This does not affect the preparation for the World Cup. We get to train well in Finland.
According to Kuisma, the organizers have a very strong desire to organize the games. It shows that the German weekend was given the green light last week, even though the conditions were already known then.
– We were a little surprised when we saw photos and weather forecasts from Klingenthal that this would be successful.
A warmer climate may bring more challenges to snow sports competitions in Central Europe in the future.
Are you worried about the ongoing trend of the Games being canceled due to a lack of snow?
Kuisma is already thoughtfully looking at the World Cup weekends planned for early February.
– It seems that the situation is starting to materialize and escalate. In February, the races continue in Obersdorf and Schonach, which are in the lowlands. What is the situation then? Has winter arrived or is it still the same?