The broadcast of the sports studio starts at 11:15 on TV2 and Areena.
The broadcast of Puhe starts at 11:25.
at 11:30 combined, hill section HS100, mixed team competition
at 12:30 p.m. skiing, pair sprints qualifying (v)
at 2:30 p.m. skiing, pair sprint finals (v)
at 16:00 combined, cross-country section 4×5 km, mixed team competition
at 18:00 ski jumping HS100, mixed team competition
What are we talking about?
Planica’s ski slopes keep people talking day after day. This time, Urheilu’s experts wonder why it is so difficult for race organizers to get advertising banners in safe places.
– You can’t put billboards in those bends! Kalle Lassila hurt.
Arsi Ruuskanen was badly injured when he crashed into his commercials at a bend in the men’s combined race. Also in the women’s race, one skier got caught in his commercials.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) and the race organizers assured that they would make the course safer and put protective mattresses on the course.
Ville Nousiainen reminded that if there are no advertising fences in the bends, the skier will fly out of the project when descending.
– It’s not as bad as flying into a wooden frame advertisement. It can even tear open the corner of the eye.
Both Lassila and Nousiainen think that advertising fences can and should be along the track, but they reminded that there are also straight sections in Planica where they could be placed.
The track has been soft and has been salted, and there has been debris on its surface, but the experts reminded that the race organizers can only influence things up to a certain point.
– However, it is about outdoor sports that are determined by natural forces, Lassila said.
Who surprised?
This is only possible in Norway. The 35-year-old Norwegian competed in his first qualifying start Astrid Öyre Slind surprised everyone and took bronze in the 15 km combined race.
The 35-year-old Slind has become known for long-distance races, so he is a hard pusher.
– It was a big surprise that he was able to ski so hard in the free. He certainly surprised himself and other Norwegians, Lassila said.
The course of the free section required a lot of endurance, but the pace was quiet. Lassila and Nousiainen doubted that Slind would not have been able to get medals if the free section had been skied on a fast course.
– He has also skied well in the World Cup, third, weaving and tenth places. It is no longer a big leap for medals.
But although a medal is always a bigger thing, it was Italian by Francesca Franchi ninth place in the combined competition is an even bigger surprise.
– It came out of nowhere. He skied a really hard free section, Nousiainen updated.
The 25-year-old Italian has won a relay medal in the Junior and Youth World Championships, but his best ranking in the World Cup has been 17th.
Who flopped?
In the Finnish men’s combined team only Arttu Mäkiaho was able to stretch to a season best in the opening race of the combined. From Ilkka Herola and Eero from Hirvos much was expected, but both were far from medal contention. It was disappointing.
– On a good day, they would have had a chance to be in the medal fight, but the gap grew too big on the jumping hill, Urheilu’s expert Petter Kukkonen stated.
– The basic level of neither has been sufficient this season. In order for a medal to be likely, you should be in the top three in the World Cup several times during the season. Unless it’s been a long day.
The World Championships are the highlight of the season and the most important competition. Kukkonen believes that Herola is bubbling under the surface, but as a smart athlete, he knows how to deal with disappointment correctly.
– In that moment, it sparkles, but it is quickly forgotten. The gaze will be moved forward and strained once again, Kukkonen said.
What next?
On Sunday, there is another chance for a medal in skiing, when it’s time for the pair relay of freestyle skiing. The Finnish team is made up of women Jasmi Joensuu–Krista Pärmäkoskiin men Niilo Moilanen–Joni Mäki.
According to Kalle Lassila, Finland is not one of the favorites for a medal, but a medal in the women’s category is possible. Sweden is the biggest advance favorite on the women’s side, Norway on the men’s side.
– In the women’s category, Finland has two different types of skiers and a good team. Krista’s strengths are well suited to this form of competition: she is usually strong on a normal distance, there is speed and courage in descents, Lassila said.
– Jasmi has been at a good pace in sprints recently and here too the going was in the glove before falling. He has also skied normal distances recently free at a good, steady level.
On the men’s side, Niilo Moilanen, the debutant of the adult competition, was in a strong mood already in the sprint, before he crashed from the top spot. Joni Mäki again complained of congestion after the sprint.
– At best, both can be tough. How much stamina Niilo has is the biggest question mark. Joni has shown that she is tough, especially in the pair sprint, even though she hasn’t been in top shape lately, Lassila reflected.