Krista Pärmäkoski’s selection and replacement of skis hit the button at the Holmenkollen World Cup 30 kilometers. It brought Pärmäkoski a tasty second place after Therese Johaug’s overwhelming victory.
Krista Pärmäkoski sidesteped the best World Cup ranking of his career with Holmenkollen in his thirties as he crossed the finish line second. Even before the race, Pärmäkoski thought that Therese Johaug going for their spending and others fighting for second place. His tactic, at least in advance, was to watch in peace at what point of hitting.
The blow to Pärmäkoski then came 3.5 kilometers before the finish.
– It came downhill a little stealthily. I went to count Kertun (Niskanen) with breast to breast. I pinched between my legs and felt that wow, the others have missed, Pärmäkoski said and was satisfied with the choice of his skis.
– You could trust the green floor again! I practically ran away from others.
Sports Expert Toni Roponen opened the term Pärmäkoski green bottom at Urheilustudio. While in the past, water ski skis have been referred to as white-based skis, the green ones are basically the same.
– They have a transparent base, not such a traditional black base. It can be red or green, they can have different options. All brands have the same base material. Madshus has now become such a new one and it is very good with water coils. And today it became clear that the ski was of great importance when fighting for podium places, Roponen said.
There is no choice but to ski hard
Pärmäkoski said that he had tentatively created a tactic for changing skis, that he would change the better skis under in the last ring. Already the first pair was surprisingly slippery, but the grip was no longer as good for the third round.
– Therefore, it was clear that I would change anyway, even if others did not go for the exchange. That’s why I wanted to leave the bow to change, so that I get an advantage if others end up not changing, Pärmäkoski explained.
When the skis had been changed and the difference with the others had widened after the attack, Pärmäkoski had no choice but to ski as hard as he could.
– I thought that others must be weighed, and yes, I felt it myself. I was afraid others would catch up, especially Jonna (Sundling) has become really hard for the rest. This time it was enough.
Roponen was surprised by the pace of Krista Pärmäkoski, because in her papers Kerttu Niskanen would have been the one of the Finnish duo to challenge Therese Johaug. Niskanen was fourth in the race, as Jonna Sundling passed him in the final stages.
– Krista’s pace was better and stronger than expected. He did a lot of work along the way and made a tremendous end. It should be noted that he still had a good thirty Pertz race for the season, Roponen said.
No two strong pairs were found on the neck
The exchange of skis played a big part in Kerttu Niskanen’s race, as he had trouble finding two equally strong pairs for the race of the day.
– It was a little horrible that I couldn’t find two equally good skis in the morning. One was better and the other was then clearly worse. We made the decision that I will go for the better and the worse will be put in the stand, if the exchange comes, Niskanen told Urheilu.
During the race, Niskanen asked the coach if he would change skis. He was advised that if others change, so will he. So Niskanen changed his skis.
– Then the last round was painful. I couldn’t download the kind of result that could have been right today, he regretted.
The fourth place was quite familiar to Niskanen, as he has been in this place very often in recent years. However, he would have liked to have joined Therese Johaug from the beginning, but it was not possible.
– Hat to get Therese. He is a tough athlete and in a hard place to end his career. I would have liked to have been rummaging along with Therese from the start, but yes, his pace is different from the others.