The combined athlete Ilkka Herola had to learn new tricks dictated by “necessity”. Now he’s in good shape.
Combined athlete Ilkka Herola has found the level he was last at four years ago. At that time, the Finn captured several podium places and bagged the World Championship silver at the World Championships in Oberstdorf.
On Saturday in Schonach, Herola claimed his second consecutive podium finish. The straight skiing at the beginning of the season has been a great success, as evidenced by the sixth place in the overall World Cup race.
He has never reached the top six in the overall race. The best ranking is seven just four years ago.
Herola, who is still chasing his first victory, has struggled for first place in the previous two races.
Hunger grows.
– I know that it is possible if all things fall into place. Today was a good day, but there is still room for improvement in the performance.
– It doesn’t feel like everything has been shown. Tomorrow is another opportunity, Herola referred to the second race of the weekend in Schonach.
Any hill
Herola’s skiing speed is at a high level again. In the early season competitions, he has consistently been among the fastest skiers.
Jumping was at a good enough level on Saturday. Get rid of the front man to Jarl Magnus Riiber accumulated a minute.
On Sunday, we jumped from the normal hill, which has generally suited Herola better. For Herola, who boasts fierce self-confidence, anything goes now.
– If the jump works, it works in both hill classes. Of course, the next races, Otepää and Seefeld have been good places for me. I look forward to those weekends too.
“An old dog learns new tricks”
Herola’s speech exudes calmness and a clear belief in his own abilities. If the performances continue like this in the future, he will undoubtedly be a medal favorite at the Trondheim World Championships held in February-March.
Are you in even better shape now than you were four years ago?
– I would dare to say this, at least when it comes to jumping. When it comes to skiing, there are no complaints.
When Herola was in top form four years ago, he clearly stood out from other skiers. Now the differences are a hair’s breadth.
In his peak condition, Norway is known as a clearly better hill man Jarl Magnus Riiberk too capable of hard ski pulls. Austria, who finished second in Saturday’s race Johannes Lamparter is also a clearly better skier than four years ago, when he celebrated the world championship.
– Over the course of four years, the group’s skiing speed has leveled off as a whole. It doesn’t win as much as it did back then, Herola knows.
So the hill jump really has to go.
– The old dog has had to learn new tricks over the years. You can be satisfied that the veteran athlete has gotten into good hill condition, Herola jokes.