The domestic cross-country season ended at the Finnish Cup in Rovaniemi over the weekend. Even if now is the place for a little breather, Finnish cross-country skiing is already worrying about the future.
The coming winter is full of question marks.
First of all, it is still a bit uncertain whether there will be competitions in Ruka as usual since the beginning of winter, in the context of cross-country skiing, ski jumping and combined World Cup competitions.
Executive Director of the Finnish Ski Association Ismo Hämäläinen says that there have been many discussions about the fate of the race.
– We have received a signal that Ruka has been concreted in place. However, discussions are held late. You can say that we are at least half a year late.
The Ruka World Cup event is financially very important for the Ski Association. Hämäläinen reminds that both Ruka and Lahti have competitions in three sports, which increases the value of the events.
Information about next season’s competition calendar will be available in May. However, Hämäläinen is confident that Ruka will be in his traditional place in next season’s competition calendar.
– We currently know that we are strong. So Ruka is still in place.
National team formations open
Next season’s national teams have not been announced yet. Some of the current national team skiers commented to Urheilu in Rovaniemi that they are uncertain about their near future.
Head coach of the national team Teemu Pasanen says that there will be turnover in the national team.
– The sizes of the national teams will not increase from last season. There will certainly be small changes, but there will certainly be new athletes to take their place.
In addition to the athletes, questions are also directed at, for example, the training ring and the composition of the maintenance team.
Has been the head coach of the women’s national team since last year Jussi Piirainen said a few weeks ago in Lahti that he will not continue in his position. Worked as lubrication manager for a couple of years Mika Venäläinen will not continue in his role either.
Pasanen reminds that the entire coaching group is still open.
– There is still nothing certain about next season. There are preliminary plans for what kind of groups there will be next winter.
The future is worrying
Hämäläinen says that the cost structure of the Ski Association is burdensome.
– Costs are rising all the time and we have to react to that.
What could you pinch?
– It’s a challenging situation. At least we can’t pinch the competition season.
One possible qualifying target is to take away from the camp.
– One big thing is what increasing the efficiency of daily training means in terms of the whole. We need certain camps for our top athletes, but at the same time we have to ask, what is the right camp model for the athletes behind the top? Are we ready for high altitude training or is something else needed?
Pasanen is worried about the overall picture of Finnish cross-country skiing.
– In the youth series, the number of competitive skiers has gone in a worrying direction. Downsizing has been happening all the time and it feels like it can’t be stopped. We are at the critical limit of whether there will be international tops coming from the youth leagues.
Pasanen would like to develop skiing club activities. According to him, the situation has improved in large towns, but there is a lot to improve in small towns.
In addition, he would like to improve the path of 16-17-year-old skiers to the adult level.
Pasanen says that the A national teams have had enough financial capital, the big challenge is on the youth side.
– There is very little money left on that side. The fact that we can credibly and competitively compete abroad, including maintenance, takes a lot of money.
– Until now, it has been possible to recycle it. What worries me the most is that there is not enough money left for the B national team and the youth leagues. That’s why we don’t get enough hard skiers to rise faster to the international level.
The head coach’s heavy wash
Pasanen himself is still not sure if he will continue as head coach.
– Yes, it is very possible, but for all groups the personnel patterns are really open. They will hopefully be found out in the next 2-3 weeks.
The head coach of the national ski team has to hold several threads in his hands at the same time. The actual coaching work remains a minor role in the squeeze of everything else.
– The head coach cannot focus on anything other than running the A national team. A coaching manager would be good so that the other teams also have management of the entire organization.
– In Finland, the head coach is on a trip with the A national team about 250 days a year. I have to take care of hotel and travel arrangements for a group of 35 people, plane tickets and that the entire orchestra moves from one place to another.
The head coach also has to monitor the budget.
– On top of that, connections to personal coaches, coaching and training and coaching at camps, Pasanen lists.