For these reasons, Erik Bartlett Kulstad was chosen as the head coach of Finnish biathlon – he explains why it was great to work with the help of the legend Björndalen

The new head coach of the Finnish biathlon team has been chosen. Norwegian Erik Bartlett Kulstad to start work on May 15, 2022. The duration of Kulstad’s contract is 1 + 3 years. According to the press release, the goal of the agreement is to hold the next Winter Olympics in 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Kulstad worked for the previous three years in the coaching team of the Chinese biathlon team as head coaches Ole Einar Björndalenin and Daria Domratshevan as a working couple. Previously, Kulstad has been the head coach of cross-country and biathlon in Tromsø, Norway.

– I am looking for an opportunity to lead more and bring my own visions instead of the assistant coach. I am really excited about the result in Finland, because the team has athletes who have brought jury medals from juniors and more experienced athletes who are close to the top, Kulstad describes to Urheil.

Next, Kulstad intends to familiarize himself with the work of his predecessors so that he knows the athletes and their previous training practices in detail. These factors, he says, must then be compared to the best biathletes to know what kind of development steps are required.

– Based on rapid analyzes, the firing rate must be developed and stabilized. The accuracy of vertical shots seems to be one of the problems.

Kulstad does not want to comment further on the level of Finnish biathlon. Last season was the number one athlete Tero Seppälä, who was 12th overall in the World Cup. According to Kulstad, Seppälä is very close to the absolute top in skiing, but he still has steps to take in terms of shooting safety, especially upright.

Previous years Kulstad followed closely the Norwegian legend Björndalen, who won a medal of merit for 21 years in a row, including eight Olympic gold medals. Domratsheva, who ended her career in 2018, won a total of 13 medals.

– Every day they wonder how it can be better. It’s a world of thought that’s talked about a lot, but seeing and feeling it up close was awesome.

In addition, Kulstad praises the duo for how they listened to his ideas and were willing to discuss all things, even though he himself was still an anonymous coach. He wants to bring a similar way of thinking to Finnish coaching.

Kulstad has previously competed in biathlon in Norway at the national level and won the Norwegian championship and silver at the junior level. As an adult, he has played American football at the Norwegian main league level.

He has been chosen as the sport coach and Kulstad’s working partner Aku Moilanenwho has previously worked in the national team coaching of the Biathlon Association for two seasons as a working coach of the head coach.

Sports Expert Ville Kotikumpu says he has no personal experience of Finland ‘s new head coach.

– If you have worked with Ole Einar, there is definitely a good knowledge base. There are a lot of biathlon coaches in Norway, says Kotikumpu in his first reaction.

Kotikumpu thinks it’s good that already Jonne Kähkönen Moilanen continues to work for the national team. Moilanen has known athletes for years.

– A new man always brings new winds to coaching, but on the other hand it is good that there is something familiar and safe for athletes.

Kähkönen was the head coach of Finnish biathlon in 2018–2022 and previously in 2006–2010. He said in March he had already decided before the start of the season not to continue. Many things contributed to the decision, but especially the fact that Kähkönen felt that he should not be a coach according to his job, but that it included a lot of everything else.

Last season, Tero Seppälä was the Finnish bright spot in the World Cup. In the youth championships, Finland was successful when, for example Arttu Heikkinen17, won the regular World Youth Championships in Utah, USA.

– We definitely need that little boost for that other crowd. Hopefully a combination has been found that Tero is also part of this team, of course in collaboration with Hovantsev’s team, says Kotikumpu.

President of the Biathlon Association Kalle Lähdesmäki says Kulstad was chosen after careful and long deliberation.

– We were looking for a person who can certainly talk and move forward with young people, but who also has world-class experience. Other foreign coaches as well as domestic coaches were being considered, Lähdesmäki says.

– We get renewal and systematic development in the shooting process, skiing technology and skiing physics. We still have a journey of one or two steppes that we are among the five in the posts. We believe that Erik will bring the added value we need to this point, Lähdesmäki continues.

Lähdesmäki says that the species manager Jarkko Kauppinen had discussed with all the Finnish athletes who competed in the World Cup the boundary conditions and expectations for the new coach.

– The goal is to further deepen cooperation with personal trainers, because our system does not allow us to be in camps all year round. We need personal trainers, Lähdesmäki piles up.

The chairman thinks it is clear that the expectations of the athletes are different, with some aiming to rise to the podium and some just entering the World Cup.

Lähdesmäki says that the duration of the agreement is 1 + 3 years, because during the first year Kulstad will get to know the Finnish system. After that, possible repair movements are considered.

– It has been talked about mentally for four years.

In addition, Lähdesmäki announced that significant increases have been made to the union’s daily coaching resources.