According to Finnish head coach Janne Väätäinen, the biggest and deepest pit of the Finnish hill jump has been passed. Instrument development is important, but on the other hand, certain laws of the species remain the same from year to year.
Japan Ryoyu Kobayashi celebrated the victory in the overall competition of the World Jumping Cup in Planica, Slovenia, on Sunday. The Japanese finished eighth in the final race of the season, enough to seal a clear victory before Germany Karl Geigeriawho finished 16th in Sunday’s race. The difference between the hillmen was 106 points.
The season, which ended on Sunday, was a complete hit from the Japanese, as he was number one in addition to the hill week and the normal hill of the Beijing Olympics. In addition, he achieved Olympic silver on the Great Hill. For 25-year-old Kobayash, winning the overall race was the second in his career. He lifted the crystal ball for the first time in the 2018–2019 season. In the same season, he also won Hill Week.
Head coach of Finland Janne Väätäinen has been coaching in Japan for a long time and knows his former coaching well. According to Väätäinen, Kobayashi is, to some extent, an exceptionally skilled individual who masters things happening in the jumper extremely well.
– But he’s not doing anything that isn’t understandable. He can only jump damn well from the jump hill. He has the opportunity to do it for a long time, Väätäinen told Sport.
Väätäinen describes the Japanese Eagle as a happy and shy artist, who is in his own element in a familiar gang.
– Very lively person. Really nice guy.
Kobayashi started the hill season strongly. He was almost invariably in the top three, or at least in the top five, since the November opening weekend. The Japanese won eight World Cup races during the season and was second three times.
After the Olympics, Kobayash’s pace began to wane. His last podium finish was the hill race on February 27 at the Salpausselä Games, which he won. Indeed, the overall victory in the World Cup created a tight twist between Kobayash and Geiger of Germany.
According to Väätäinen, part of the reason for the end of the season could be mental strain. The Japanese World Cup season is much tougher than many others, as the Japanese have left home last November and are only now returning. It’s been four months on the trip.
– These things certainly have a great impact on the spiritual side. But yes, the victory in the overall competition of the World Cup will certainly motivate. Kobayashi jumped in better performance here last weekend than a few weeks after the Olympics.
Finns have flashes of light
Cheerful from the end of the season Eetu Nousiainen was 40th in the World Cup as the best Finn in the World Cup. Niko Kytösaho was 50th and Antti Aalto 58: s.
Finland’s head coach Janne Väätäinen admits that the team had difficulties, especially in the middle of the season.
– Of course, sometimes there were good signs that something could come of this somewhere. But it was reasonably dark.
Väätäinen highlights Antti Aalto’s preparations for the Beijing Olympics as a success. After Ruka’s down-to-earth World Cup, the jumper and coaching staff had the temperance of not pushing for international competitions. Aalto stayed home to train and was in good spirits in Beijing at the moment. The wave was 12th on the normal hill and 15th on the big hill. However, after the Olympics, Aalto could no longer reach his level.
– Would the Olympics have sucked all the juices from the man? This spring season was then quite difficult.
The best Finnish gift of the spring was the cheerful performance of Eetu Nousiainen, who applied for the Continental Cup, in the World Cup. Nousiainen was even caught up in the podium in the Oberstdorf airfield a week ago, and was finally eighth.
– Absolutely insanely great performances here in the last few months It’s been without a doubt a joy here.
Väätäinen sees the future of the Finnish team as hopeful.
– Of course, this screams and longs for evenness. However, I think the future is bright. In my opinion, the biggest and deepest pit of the Finnish hill jump has been passed.
The contracts of the entire Finnish coaching team will be suspended after this season. Väätäinen says that he has thought about continuing the coaching every day.
– Yes, it is undeniably fascinating. I see that the hustle and bustle is going in a good direction. There are certainly differing opinions. The events of the last few weeks show that we have succeeded in some things.
An experienced hill coach emphasizes the importance of the equipment side and the importance of systematic and high-quality training. According to him, there is still room for improvement.
The species is evolving, but the laws of physics remain the same
Jumping suits and equipment for hill jumping have developed tremendously in recent years. According to Väätäinen, it is simply necessary to be able to participate in the development.
– On the equipment side, we have to invest a lot to get aboard where the rest of the world is going.
Tool development is not just about suits. For each jumper, you need to find the best possible combination of ties, boots, and suit to help you perform in the best possible way.
However, just staring at the instruments does not solve, Väätäinen reminds.
– Certain laws and criteria for hill jumping have not changed. And they will not change as long as we have the current forces of nature and the laws of physics. They are not within a few years of this change. In that sense, the species remains similar. But yes, athletes are a little better and more experienced every year, and the equipment job is constantly moving forward. The change is hard.
Jumping with jumping suits, cheating on measurements, and the rules for suits have long been talked about in hill jumping circles. For example, Petter Kukkonen, the coach of the Finnish combined team, has criticized the wide jump suits on the border of the rules. German jumpers were in trouble in Beijing when the costumes were measured more accurately than usual.
Väätäinen hopes that the rules of the sport would not need to be filed every year.
– It would be ideal to have something simple to rely on all the time. But I don’t think it’s that simple. Time will tell. You just have to be able to adapt quickly to the changes in the rules. Twisting against it takes nowhere.
World Cup endpoints:
1. Ryoyu Kobayashi JPN 1621
2. Karl Geiger GER 1515
3. Marius Lindvik NOR 1231
4. Halvor E. Granerud NOR 1227
5. Stefan Kraft AUT 1069
6. Markus Eisenbichler GER 950
7. Anze Lanisek SLO 936
8. Timi Zajc SLO 711
9. Jan Hörl AUT 662
10. Cene Prevc SLO 657
40. Eetu Nousiainen FIN 65
50. Niko Kytösaho FIN 35
58. Antti Aalto FIN 22