Niko Anttola has been a well-known name in Finnish cross-country skiing for a long time. This winter, there have been several examples of it again, the latest of which was seen Finnish time late on Monday evening.
Anttola skied to silver in the 20 km traditional co-start race at the World Junior Championships held in Whistler, Canada. More important than the medal is to see the way in which the top ranking in the under-20 category came.
Anttola led the crowd and set the pace. He practically single-handedly broke up the whole group with his hard work. Anttola’s bet was unmistakably reminiscent Iivo from Niskawho has been able to freeze his worst competitors in traditional joint start races.
– He is effectively on the development curve of an international star skier, Urheilu’s expert Kalle Lassila evaluate.
Anttola took part in the Junior World Championships already in 2021, when he competed with two years older than himself. Anttola was about to win the first relay medal for Finnish young men in ten years.
Last year, he won silver at the World Cup in the traditional ten-kilometer intermediate start race and celebrated two golds at the Youth Olympic Festival.
This season, the trend has been upward again. The 19-year-old promise has also been seen in the World Cup, where he has skied in the top 30.
At the Tampere Ski Championships, he won bronze in the 15 km free time trial.
Anttola’s development curve has been steady. There have been no big dips of any kind so far.
– Although there have been injuries and other setbacks along the way, they have not hindered his development, says Lassila.
Fascinating view
Anttola has been compared to Iivo Niskase. According to Lassila, it is justified.
Niskanen is an individual in international men’s skiing who stands out for his oxygen uptake capacity and endurance. On Norway’s side Johannes Hösflot Kläbo is a versatile and skilled skier who dominates with his speed characteristics.
– Kläbo has technical, tactical and fast characteristics. Niko Anttola’s endurance characteristics are on such a curve that he can become an adult athlete of Iivo’s level.
– But he also has more technical and speed characteristics than Iivo. The question is whether it is as wide as Kläbo’s, Lassila relishes.
Lassila therefore sees that compared to Niskase, Anttola is a more versatile skier. Anttola is good at both traditional and free.
– When talking about this phase, he has more strong things than Iivo has had. Everything is possible.
– One cannot use too many words of praise for Anttola’s possible future, for which he has potential. Young people with such qualities, skills and speed rarely come to Finland, but also to other big cross-country skiing countries.
Planica to the World Cup?
Anttola is a potential candidate for the World Championships in Planica. Whether Anttola, who is about to turn 20 years old, should already be selected for the first adult competition of his career is a tricky question.
– The really important thing is that Teemu Pasanen and the rest of the coaching chat with Niko and his coach. They have to think about what they can get out of it.
According to Lassila, based on his performances this season, Anttola would be a valid name for Planica.
– He fits into the team very well. He is not in the throwing team, but by no means can he be ruled out. With such a golden nugget, it is really important for coaches to think about whether it supports the process.
Finland has already won five medals in the ongoing World Youth Championships: Anttola’s silver in the 20 km traditional (under 20 years old), Eevi-Inkeri Tossavainen gold from the traditional sprint and bronze from the 20 kilometer traditional (under 20 years old), Jasmin Kähärän gold from the traditional sprint (under 23 years old) and Eero Rantala bronze for the traditional sprint (under 20).
As for skiing, the balance can still accumulate, for example in the men’s ten kilometer free race, where Anttola is among the top names. There is also a potential success seam in the medley relay.
– All Finns who have been successful have been able to meet expectations. The performances have been really determined and convincing. In a certain way, the young Finnish skier has grown spiritually, Lassila sees.