Finland’s coach explained the reasons behind the accommodation scandal – Johanna Matintalo opened up about the new financial problem: “It feels comical” | Sport

The Finnish women had a really quiet day in the 20 km freestyle cross-country start race. About Finland’s star skiers Krista Pärmäkoski was 38th, more than three minutes behind the winner About Jessie Diggins.

Already in Saturday’s sprint, Pärmäkoski was out of the heats. Most recently, Pärmäkoski has been outside the top 30 twice in a row at the World Cup in November 2020 in Ruka.

– The skiing was what the result shows. Not good at all. It was difficult. I wanted to ski to the finish line. I didn’t ski that hard for the last 2.5 kilometers when the next one was so far behind. The position remained the same. The end was easier, Pärmäkoski described to Urheilu.

At what point did you start to feel that today is not a moving day?

– Probably there after the starting straight. The pace was very fast. I knew that now there might be some punishment. Then there was an arrow down after that.

What do you think was the reason for today’s performance?

– I know the reasons behind it. I won’t open them anymore.

Not related to the fleet?

– I won’t put it into words. There are other reasons behind it.

Accommodation matters?

– That is probably one factor.

The responsible coach pointed out the accommodation problem to FIS

The second top women’s name of the Finnish team Kerttu Niskanen was 16th as the best Finn. He succumbed to the winner Diggins by 53.2 seconds, and could not keep up with the lead.

– I didn’t expect a top bet from this day either. However, the track surface was nice. It wasn’t an icy bana. It was pleasant to ski free. I would have liked to be tougher, but I gave it my all. There were many better women. There were no splits in the bow today, Niskanen described.

Niskanen harshly criticized Finland’s accommodation solution in an interview with Urheilu on Friday. Finland is located 300 meters lower than the competition venue Goms. The Swiss village is located 1300 meters above sea level.

Niskanen stated on Sunday that it always works well for him to prepare and stay at competitive height. Now the Finnish star added that there was nothing that could be done about the accommodation solution.

Tiia Olkkonen suspended Sunday’s race. He said he had thrown up his breakfast. Olkkonen reflected that the difference between accommodation height and competition height could have had an effect on the situation.

Responsible coach for Finnish women Ville Maunuksela explained why Finland ranked lower. Maunuksela put the situation in the hands of the international skiing federation FIS.

Maunuksela reminds that FIS takes care of accommodation for all World Cups. The Ski Federations of different countries announce the need for accommodation for each World Cup.

– FIS had set up accommodation for us, unlike a few other teams. The Italian team is staying with us. They had bad luck, but we have given feedback to FIS.

– We could only influence the situation by putting five times more money from our budget into accommodation. We would take care of the accommodation ourselves in this small village.

In Piippo, the season may be over, Matintalo revealed a new financial problem

It was difficult for Finnish athletes anyway. Mixed Johanna Matintalo that Eveliina Piippo crashed in the day’s competition.

– In the first kilometer, on the first big slope, I got into quite a sandwich with two other girls. I was there between them. I had no room at all. The other butted even more impudently. I fell in it with another girl. We went like a muggle, Matintalo said and told that he no longer had the capacity to rise to higher positions.

Piippo also fell at the beginning of the downhill. According to him, it exceeded his own calculation skills.

– I fucked my ass a couple of times. I guess not all the Moomins were physically or mentally in the valley either. You can’t pin it down, Piippo said.

He has struggled this season. He now returned to the World Cup competitions after a break of more than a year. However, in January at the Scandinavian Cup in Otepää, Piippo was fourth in the top ten in freestyle skiing.

– I have not performed well at any point this season. Rarely in the middle of winter can you dig up anything magical. When it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Then, unfortunately, it’s like this, Piippo said.

Now Piippo says that the season can now be over.

– The World Cup is coming. You have to think about how to get yourself on the pole, Piippo said in relation to the World Championships in Trondheim next year.

Piipo’s next plan would be to “take a skiing vacation.”

Johanna Matintalo, on the other hand, would like to compete in the next World Cup competitions in North America, but believes that she will not be able to participate.

– I feel that my condition and energy have improved. After being sick at the beginning of the season, he has had fewer races. My own competitions will continue with these prospects at the World Cup in Lahti. Yes, it’s sad, Matintalo said and gave the reason for the financial situation of the Ski Association.

– It is not possible to go to North America with full teams. It feels a bit comical. The races have gone really well and the mood has gotten better, but the races will continue in four to five weeks at the World Cup. It shouldn’t be like this, but this is how it goes, Matintalo lamented.

According to coach Maunuskela, the team for North America, Minnesota in the United States and Canmore in Canada, is largely already decided.

– The trip is challenging in that both ways you ski normal distances and sprints. There would be a trip for all athletes. We try to think about the whole in such a way that we get as many athletes with the best possible results on as many trips as possible. Now it can happen that a single trip leaves you outside the team with reasonably good performances, Maunuksela said.

Next on the skiing calendar is the Vantaa National Championship next week. In two weeks, the Canmore races will be held first, and the following week the World Cup will move to Minnesota. The Lahti World Cup is scheduled for 1–3. March.