Finnish national team coach Ville Oksanen brings up an interesting fact about Jasmin Kähärä. The long streak will end next week, says the coach.
Joel Sippola,
Riku Salminen
Finnish sprint skiing has been Iivo Niskanen along with the victory, clear Finnish reasons for joy at the beginning of the cross-country world cup season.
Lauri Vuorinen was third in the men’s sprint at Ruka and Niilo Moilanen fifth. Jasmi Joensuu was fifth in the women’s final.
On the women’s side, there were no less than five Finns in the semifinals. In addition to Joensuu, 12 of the group skied Johanna Matintalo, Anne Kyllönen, Katri Lylynperä mixed Amanda Saari.
Now for the Finns, with a clearly weaker free skiing, the total contribution was more subdued, but the performances of 24-year-old Jasmin Kähärä were pleasing. Known as a tough talent, Kähärä struggled in the second round for the first final place of his career.
A great finish was not enough for the final, but seventh place is Kähärää’s best ever in the World Cup.
Finnish national team coach Ville Oksanen reminds that Kähärä is a very steady sprinter with freestyle skiing. Last season, Kähärä was in the semi-finals of the free sprint three times.
Only in Canmore did he fail to finish in the top 12. For Kähärä, it is also a positive sign that he reached the semi-finals in Trondheim, where the World Ski Championships are held this winter.
– It has been really great to watch Jasmin’s development. Especially in the free sprint there will be good skis, Oksanen praises.
The ride has also improved on normal journeys. Last week before he got sick, Kähärä was 23rd in the traditional ten-kilometer intermediate start race.
– Looks good for this season. However, the season is still young, says Oksanen.
Next week on the podium?
The head coach Teemu Pasanen saddened Urheilu that on women’s normal trips, Finns’ fares are generally sticky. In Sprint, the expression is different.
Oksanen says that other countries have quoted Finland’s new sprint team.
– The media doesn’t always see that. But when you talk to your peers here, many have actually come to say that the sprint has moved forward.
Joensuu has been in a strong mood since the beginning of the season. In Saturday’s qualifying, he was the second fastest.
The pace was also good in the preliminaries, but the next place was exhausted by small tactical issues. Joensuu was the first to miss the semifinals.
Both Joensuu and Kähärä have the potential to chase even the brightest places in free sprints this season.
Next week in Davos, the second free sprint of the World Cup season will be skied. Finland’s previous top 3 place in the free sprint in the World Cup is precisely from Davos. Martti Jylhä was the second one 11 years ago.
When will the Finnish skier be seen in the free sprint at the World Cup?
– Next weekend, Oksanen said with a smile.