The storm hit, but the experienced track master didn’t flinch – a historic giant acquisition guarantees snowy tracks | Sport

Water rain, plus snow and SM skiing is the kind of equation that would make many track masters lose sleep at night. Juha Savolainen, the track champion of Vantaa Hakunila SM skiing, has slept well.

This weekend in Vantaa, the Finnish skiing championships will be decided in free skiing sprints, traditional skiing 20 kilometers and traditional skiing pair sprints.

It has been raining in southern Finland for the past few days and the temperature has been in the plus during the day. The track champion of the Hakunila Championship Juha Savolainen the phones have been hot, but he hasn’t lost sleep at night because of the conditions at the competition venue. According to him, the situation is normal.

– The winter weather report normally shows frost and good weather, but when it starts to rain, it means that the ski competitions in Vantaa are approaching, he laughs.

– We are used to living with this. The tracks are in good condition, and we have received very good feedback.

We will not give in to the weather – at least not easily

In the Thursday afternoon sunshine, Savolainen looks at the Hakunila ski stadium with satisfaction.

The tracks are in good condition, they have been covered with thick snow, and even though it still rained heavily on Thursday morning, it is not noticeable on the tracks. A cool wind helps the situation, because it takes away the brooding heat.

– In plus weather, a lot of water comes to the field sections, so we put pipes there and also drive snow there at night.

Savolainen doesn’t want to think too much about the weather forecast for the weekend. They promise that the mild weather will continue, but it should still freeze at night.

The Vantaa Skiing Club has organized Finnish Cup competitions and SC skiing several times, and even the pair sprint world cup was contested in Hakunila in 1999.

Savolainen has been involved since 1990, and his team has always wanted to maintain the tracks in top condition, whatever the conditions.

– We will not give in to the weather, at least not very easily. In my time, the games have never been canceled or postponed. One trip had to be shortened because of the weather, says Savolainen.

The new snowmaking system helps with mild winters

Vantaa has also got a new snowmaking system, which does not require frost to make snow, as snow cannons do.

Normally, the snow from the snow cannons is stored under a sawdust cover, but since it is difficult to find a place for the snow load in Vantaa for the summer, the town has resorted to a different solution.

The new snowmaking system is a structure formed by two steel containers, on top of which condensers are installed and which is connected to artificial ice refrigerating equipment. With its help, it is possible to make an estimated 200 meters of slope per day with the help of the flakes created by the ice.

– We get slush and snow from the artificial ice all the time, and it can be used in skiing. There is so much snow that we could probably use it to spread the tracks again, says Savolainen.

– Such a winter, with permanent snow and frost in November, lies. However, in mild winters, we are able to secure competitions and overall skiing conditions for the people of Vantaa.

Sports director of Vantaa Brother Matti Kallislahti laughed For Helsingin Sanomatthat because of the new snowmaking system, Vantaa is the most snow-sure place in Finland, even though it might sound a bit grandiose and funny.

The snowmaking container is manufactured by the Italian company TechnoAlpin and has a price of around 800,000 euros. The state supported the purchase of people from Vantaa with 150,000 euros.

– It was a big helping hand from the state. There was also a desire to see how such a system works. In a certain way, we are a bit of a pioneer here, Kallislahti praised HS.

As track master, Savolainen is looking forward to an interesting race weekend. Friday’s sprint will be skied on a renewed sprint track, which is a bit longer and more demanding than before, and it gives a clue to Sunday’s pair sprint.

On Saturday, 20 km competitions are held on a four-kilometer track at “Vantaan Holmenkollen”.

– We haven’t had long trips here in the program, and now we’re still going with the traditional one. I bet there will be good races, but it’s a tough route for everyone, Savolainen reminds.