Jenny Rautionaho’s final season in the Ski Jumping World Cup went up. The goal for next season is to develop physics and be in the top ten of the games.
Ossi Saarinen,
Petra Manner,
Riikka Smolander-Slotte
24.3. 20:44•Updated 24.3. 21:03
The Salpausselkä races can be seen on channels this weekend. The live broadcast from Lahti continues on TV2 and Areena on Saturday at 11:25.
Hill jumper Jenny Rautionaho got a positive decision for his season when he finished 12th in the Salpausselkä Games.
Rautionaho made an effort a little too early in the first round and fell short at 114 meters. The jump in the second round hit better and carried 118.5 meters. At the same time, he rose four places on the leaderboard.
26-year-old Rautionaho’s season took a wild turn in February when he fell on Willingen suurmäki. The Finnish jumper spent several days in hospital.
Rautionaho arrived at the World Championships in Planica in good spirits, finishing 16th on the normal hill and 13th on the large hill. After the World Cup, the Rovaniemi player consistently ranked 11-16 in the World Cup.
– Apparently I had to fall, that some blocks fell into place and the jump started to go, Rautionaho smiled in Lahti’s Mäkimonta on Friday evening.
– There is even enthusiasm to start a new season when you know that the top ten is not far away and you can continue on the same track.
Sports expert Janne Ahonen according to Rautionaho’s summer training was successful, which is why a good season could be expected.
Ahonen stressed that in a few more weeks, the place in the top 15 would come off with success. Now it didn’t even require button execution.
– When self-confidence comes, you don’t have to control so much anymore. Even without realizing it, you can load more power into the jump. Through that, success and level rise. Now even though he made a few mistakes, he still made great jumps, Ahonen praised.
Rautionaho has suffered from many injuries during his career. The last couple of years have been more complete, which has been reflected in the results. Expert Tommi Nikunen believes that Rautionaho can get close to the top if the same trend continues.
– Physics still needs to be developed. Maybe there is room for improvement in every area, if you compare it to the world’s best. It’s not about big things anymore. It’s totally achievable.
Coach of the women’s hill country team Ossi-Pekka Valta agrees. According to him, the break caused by the fall of Willingen could only be good for the development of Rautionaho.
Valta can see that after the fall, a hungry ski jumper was resting on the sick bed. Jumping was already in good shape then.
– Of course, there are possibilities for anything. To the top ten and top three.
Before the next season, however, Rautionaho and the other ski jumpers will get a well-deserved vacation. Vacation plans are already ready.
– The teachers asked me when I would come to school, so I’m probably on vacation for school. Then we still have the normal mountain championships in April.
In Lahti, a Japanese jumped to victory on the hill Yuki Ito. The victory of the World Cup had already been secured by the Austrian Eva Pinkelnig.
Rautionaho was 27th overall in the Cup and the best Finnish ski jumper of the season, including the men’s team. Julia Kykkänen was 25th in Salpauselka and 41st in the World Cup.
There would be room for others at the top of Finnish ski jumping, admits coach Valta.
– It’s admittedly narrow, yes. It requires Julia to have the same pieces in place and it works. Let’s work and believe in it. Go ahead with a good feeling.