Krista Pärmäkoski, embarrassed by the big difference to the top – highlighted the effect of the controversial fluoride ban

Krista Pärmäkoski was more than a minute behind the winner in her opening race of the season. Pärmäkoski was only tenth in the 10-kilometer freestyle skiing competition at the Olos Artillery Games.

Follow the events of the weekend of the Olos Artillery Games and Winter Sports here moment by moment.

Finland’s skiing stars Krista Pärmäkoski and Kerttu Niskanen were far from the top on Sunday in the Olos Artillery Games in the ten-kilometer freestyle skiing competition. Both were well over a minute behind the German winner Victoria to Carl. Pärmäkoski was tenth and Niskanen eleventh.

For Pärmäkoski, Sunday’s competition was the first of the season.

Pärmäkoski found his big gap to the bow interesting and brought up one of the biggest talking points of the early season.

– I don’t think that everyone has skied with fluoride-free creams, because this is a demonstration race for the World Cup, Pärmäkoski said directly in an interview with Urheilu.

The World Cup season starts in two weeks in Ruka. Fluoride creams are no longer allowed to be used in skiing in the World Cup, but fluoride was not tested in Olos. Some also used fluoride openly.

Pärmäkoski believes that the differences will even out over the course of the season.

– I don’t think the difference to the bow is that big. The feeling was really good in the body. There was some basic stuffiness at the beginning of the season, but not super bad. I’m a bit confused now.

Pärmäkoski could not say exactly how much fluoride creams benefited on Sunday. However, he considered the advantage to be something.

Fluorine creams have historically played a huge role in cross-country skiing. Fluorine creams are superior in repelling water and dirt and maintaining the ski’s gliding properties.

From the end of the 1980s until today, all cross-country skiing Olympic and World Cup medals have been won with fluorine-lubricated skis.

Pärmäkoski has previously stated that it is not going to ski with fluorine creams anymore, even though it is allowed to do so in some competitions. He intends to stand by the decision.

Pärmäkoski not worried, Niskas still sticky

Pärmäkoski described his competition as nice, even though the gap to the top was quite big. The splits were depressing, but Pärmäkoski decided to push himself to the end.

– I’m not worried. I think I’m in good shape. I’ve been practicing a lot. I believe that load shows. Of course the Germans have camped here for a couple of weeks. It cannot be fully relied upon. I think the pace will still pick up when the games are coming up and we lighten up the training a bit, Pärmäkoski stated.

Kerttu Niskanen already competed on Saturday in Olos with the traditional ten. At that time, he finished fifth. Even then, Niskanen’s skiing was sticky. The same trend continued on Sunday.

– It was still sticky, really sticky. The musculature is not awake. It is forced drilling, Niskanen described.

According to Niskanen, the reason behind the difficulties is that after switching to snow, skiing suddenly became a lot for him.

– It goes to the muscle in different ways. Now you just need to lighten up and get a sharper feeling in your legs. The kind that were on roller skis. There is not much time now, so you have to do things smartly, Niskanen said.

The best Finn in Sunday’s competition in Olos was Pärmäkoski’s training partner from the September camp from the United States: Riitta-Liisa Roponen. The 45-year-old fighter was fifth in the competition. Pärmäkoski lost to Ropose by 14.3 seconds.

– I have said that Ritu is in incredibly good shape. He proved it now, Pärmäkoski stated.