Jasmi Joensuu showed a convincing tone in Vuokatti. The nature of the men’s relay was such that one cannot make very big conclusions about the condition of the national team skiers.
The skiing season got started at the weekend with the Vuokatti Finnish Cup sprint races and relays. Finland’s toughest First Teams were not there yet, but what kind of observations can be made from the first weekend of the season culminating in the World Championships? We asked Urheilu’s expert about it Jussi Piirainen.
– In the sprint race, there was good competition and, for a few skiers, a good mood. Jasmi in Joensuu it was an excellent day and in the background Hilla Niemelä and Amanda Saari skiing good skiing, Urheilu’s expert Jussi Piirainen said.
– On the men’s side, we saw the emergence of young men. Eero Rantala and Ike Melnitz ski very well. Olli Ahonen continued the good streak that he has been doing in Vuokatti for a few years.
The sprint race was talked about in advance, that it is an important display place, because free sprints are not raced in Finland until the World Cups in December. Are Vuokatti’s successful players now getting a place in the World Cup?
– The winners of the race will certainly have a good setup for the free sprints in December, and the top three will be watched. Of course, there is still the Ruka World Cup. Even if you are skiing with a traditional one, you will be able to observe that last move, Piirainen stated.
According to Piirainen, those skiers who already have really good results from last season, didn’t expect so much visibility for this weekend yet.
– You can join the old screens, he says.
The message left riddles
Among the national team skiers in Vuokatti, in addition to Joensuu, there were, for example, participants Perttu Hyvärinen, Cross mat Hakola and Joni Mäki.
– Joensuu skied at a good pace on both days. You can say that he is in a good situation and surely his speed will also accelerate when we get to the World Cup.
Mäki expressed a strong opinion in the message, but otherwise the nature of the message was such that one cannot draw very big conclusions from it.
– It’s still a little bit of a mystery what that vibe is. The training seems to have been successful with all these guys. This is a good starting point to pick up the pace for the next games.
Young successful people were also seen in Vuokatti. In addition to Rantala and Melnitsi, Piirainen points out Nora Kytäjän and from even younger ones under 18, siblings Iris and Nella Voutilainen mixed Kalle Tossavainen and Anton Kempin.
The next Finnish Cup competition will be held in Ruka in three weeks. We will probably see you there too Ivo and Kerttu Niskanen mixed Krista Pärmäkoski.
– I would believe that they are there. Then the opening of the World Cup is already so close that they definitely want a good preparatory competition.
A week after the Ruka Suonen Cup, the world cup starts at the same place.