According to Urheilu’s expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, miracles had to happen in maintenance so that the Finns could fight for the top positions today.
We will be skiing today at the World Cup in Trondheim Iivo Niskanen and Kerttu Niskanen favorite trip, 10 kilometers with traditional skiing and an intermediate start. In Ruka, Iivo Niskanen fought hard for the win, but was barely second. Whereas in Ruka the same distance was skied in freezing cold, in Norway it is skied in plus weather.
In Saturday’s combined race, the Finnish service was not successful in terms of traction, but the skid was successful. It was reflected in Finns’ weak share of the traditional, while many were able to improve their ranking in the free.
After the competition, the athletes one after another complained about their traditional skis, and not the lubrication manager Even Heikki Tonterika seemed to know exactly where it was. Right after the race, he judged that there was too much grip, the hand pattern or cream was wrong, but the matter would be clarified in the evening’s tests.
However, Urheilu’s expert caught the situation Aino-Kaisa Saarinen thoughtful. Especially the idea of the wrong amount of grip confused me.
– There are many experienced and skilled men there. It seems strange that everyone from maintenance would have written down the amount of maintenance in a notebook, Saarinen is amazed at the explanation.
He reminded that skis suitable for the weather with the right profile are the most important thing when choosing skis. And the final choice of skis is always made by the athlete himself.
– However, it was clear water weather. You would think that there would be clear, good skis for wet weather in the pack. You have to test them, feel them and know them, says Saarinen.
– If a skier does not have his own equipment in good condition, it will show in the results. Because skis are always the number one thing. They have to be in good condition, and you can’t save them with cream.
Basing athletes below the basic level
This season, Finnish skiers have criticized their skis a surprising amount after the Games. If not always directly, then criticism has at least been read between the lines.
According to Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, you can criticize the equipment and maintenance – even in public – but whether it makes sense is a different matter. In general, feedback has been tried to be given at the service booth.
Fluoride-free creams have caused difficulties for the maintenance teams of many countries, and there have been variations between the games. Saarinen admits that during this early season, however, Finland’s maintenance has only excelled on a couple of occasions.
– I understand that this is a difficult situation when you have to start from scratch. However, the Finnish maintenance group has not been at the forefront. We succeeded in Ruka’s sprint and Iivo’s second place, but otherwise it has been time to apply both in terms of skis and lubrication, says Saarinen.
– On the other hand, the training of athletes has not been at the level it should be. It has gone below the basic level quite a lot. It cannot be explained by maintenance alone.
A miracle in one night
Although Aino-Kaisa Saarinen thinks the early season has been downright minor, she believes the situation will improve. Kerttu Niskanen and Perttu Hyvärinen showed an improvement on Saturday, Iivo Niskas can even be expected to win when everything clicks into place.
– Now we just have to get the grip, ski and ski selection in order. No one is in such good shape, not even Iivo, that he would be able to win if that choice of skis or lubrication goes wrong, says Saarinen.
– During the night, miracles must have happened in maintenance. However, it is a much easier miracle to do than to make a person fit overnight.
In Saarinen’s opinion, Trondheim’s tracks are like they were made for Kerttu and Iivo Niskanen. The five-kilometer track has plenty of clear, long and skiable climbs where you can use your oxygen absorption capacity.
That’s why Saarinen dares to expect success from the two. He expects Kerttu Niska to be in the top five, because the prize places are still a little too far away. Iivo Niskanen, on the other hand, can very well be seen on the podium.
– You just have to get the skis and cream right, and he will be in the top fight. It requires stretching and success from everyone.