Jasmi Joensuu and Lauri Lepistö were the first names of the opening weekend of the domestic skiing season in freestyle skiing sprints at the Finnish Cup in Vuokatti.
Joensuu, 26, who won the Finnish Cup overall last season, was all smiles after the sprint final. The start of the competition season had already been tickling in the pit of my stomach for a long time.
– It was very fun. The goal was for the skiing to remain relaxed, and it stayed that way except for the end. I was already surprised in qualifying that it was relaxed and I didn’t shine too much like I often do, says Joensuu.
Last season, Joensuu fell in the sprints of the World Cup in Davos, Lahti and Drammen, and to his great disappointment he also broke his pole in the sprint preliminaries of the Beijing Olympics.
Joensuu kept the avoidance of crashes in mind already in the opening race of the new season, even though skiing in a race at the level of the Finnish Cup is clearly more relaxed than in the World Cup.
– Sarasvuon Virpi said that now you have to take away that enthusiasm a little to be able to do well there in the World Cup as well. We went with his advice today. Technically, I try to ski hard and enjoy it, Joensuu tells about his conversation with the Finnish peak of the early 2000s.
Joensuu won the sprint race by a good second Anni Alakoski. Anni Lindroos was third in the final.
The World Cup in Planica, which starts in February, is the main goal of Joensuu’s season. The World Cup tour starts in three weeks from Ruka. Before that, Joensuu will ski in a race next weekend in Olos.
– I have to train some weekend, so Taivalkoski (Finland cup) is still open. It’s really good to continue this, says Joensuu.
Lepistö fought hard for victory: “Old and tired”
In the more even men’s final, all six skiers crossed the finish line within two seconds of each other. Lauri Lepistö tightened the men’s race to victory in the very last meters of the race. They lost to him by a couple of monos Olli Ahonen and Ike Melnitz.
Lepistö was at the bottom of the group at the beginning of the final, but slowly rose to the battle for victory. The tactic was not planned.
– You’re starting to get old and tired, and you didn’t get back to that start, there were bad starts, Lepistö laughs.
– It’s not that sensitive yet. No flight, but it’s not meant to be. It will be applied through the games, next weekend and in two weeks I will compete. Such high powers have not even been sought yet.
The skier who competed on the World Cup tracks in Obertsdorf in 2021 starts the season with a satisfied mood, even though there is plenty of work to do. He is aiming for a place in Planica’s racing machine this season from the ranks of the B national team.
– This race mainly showed that I was able to win with this kind of performance. Technically, a little progress has been made, and I’ve tried to apply for it in my spare time. It’s a bit towards that now, says Lepistö.
Great promise Melnits day turned around
Sports expert Kalle Lassila praised the only 19-year-old Ike Melnits as one of the most potential Finnish sprinters already in less than a season. Lassila’s assessment was immediately found in the opening race of the season.
– In the past, he hasn’t lasted the whole sprint day, but now he’s still on the podium in the final, so Melnits’ performance looks really good, Lassila said.
In the spring, the youngster won silver at the European Youth Winter Olympic Festival in Vuokatti and fourth place at the World Youth Championships. This weekend, however, Melnits had to visit the same scenery of Vuokatti with difficulty, as he was only able to advance from the preliminaries after a re-examination of the finish camera image.
Melnits was surprised by the twists and turns of his race day.
– I wouldn’t have believed it. When I warmed up for the final, I thought that now we are fighting for a medal. I found a new goal, even though at first I didn’t think I would get this far, Melnits says.
Melnits, who belongs to the under-20 national team, has not yet made his debut in the World Cup.
– It’s good to start increasing the momentum after this. The trainings have gone well and you can still improve your fitness a lot. It bodes well, says Melnits.
Only a few skiers from the A national team participated in the Vuokatti Finnish Cup sprint. However, more of them are included in Sunday’s messages. According to expert Kalle Lassila, the Vuokatti race is important above all for the athletes themselves.
– This has no great importance for the elections or anything. The coaches and athletes themselves observe whether skiing starts to go well from the beginning of the season, says Lassila.
TV2’s broadcast of Vuokatti’s Finnish Cup messages starts on Sunday at 11.10.