The Finnish teams for the pair sprint of the World Championships in Planica have been published. Somewhat surprisingly Krista Pärmäkoski goes to the race. She forms the Finnish women’s team Jasmi to Joensuu with.
Raced erratically this season and was disappointed in the sprint Joni Mäki is also involved in the pair print. He forms the men’s team together with great promise Niilo Moilanen with.
Urheilu reached Joensuu and Pärmäkoski fresh from the Suomen hotel.
– If we are at the goal Jonna Sundling in front, the place is certainly quite good, Joensuu talked about tactics in the race.
Sweden, which has dominated the games so far, could field several winning favorite teams, but on Sunday the blue and yellow colors will be represented by Sundling and Emma Ribom. They were the top two women in Thursday’s sprint.
– Jonna and I had a final fight in the women’s relay at the Beijing Olympics. I wasn’t super bad at it. If you come to exchange with Ribom, I promise to be better than then, Pärmäkoski answered Joensuu.
The two had a clear hope for Sunday’s finish.
– I hope we can raise our hands then, Pärmäkoski exclaimed.
Pärmäkoski excited to anchor – football as a secret weapon
Pärmäkoski said that about Finland’s coaching Jussi Piirainen and Juho Halonen had asked him about his willingness to compete in the pair sprint as an anchor after the combined race.
– I said that I enjoyed that place. It’s a tough place, but I like it, Pärmäkoski said.
Pärmäkoski pedaled an exercise bike in an interview with . He hopes that there will be enough time from Saturday’s combined race to return to the pair sprint.
– After all, it’s a bit early departure tomorrow, but I do believe that there will be enough time to recover, Pärmäkoski says.
Parisprint has a renewed competition format for this season. The qualification is conducted so that each skier skis one round. The Section times of both skiers are added together. Joensuu believes that the new format suits them well. The race tactics had not yet been agreed upon in more detail.
Among the other top teams, Norway is represented Anne Kjersti Kalvå and Tiril Udnes Weng. They carry the colors of Germany Laura Gimmler mixed Victoria Carl. The United States has missed the combined race on Saturday Jessie Diggins mixed Julia Kern.
– At least you can’t swim too far. Then you can’t overtake when there are so many corners. That is probably also one of the reasons why Jasmi starts. He is a really fast goer. You can’t stay right at the beginning, Pärmäkoski described.
The women’s sprint duo had one secret weapon with them in the interview. Namely, football.
– Its purpose is to find sharpness and speed, Pärmäkoski said.
He hadn’t kicked the football on Friday night, but has otherwise done so every time since his Tour de Ski success this season.
– When I have kicked, it has gone well. I probably should have kicked yesterday too. Isn’t it still kicking tonight, Pärmäkoski said.
According to Jasmi Joensuu, the Finnish team has developed during the winter in bouncing football.
– It’s probably not league level yet, but soon we’ll be on the competition fields, Joensuu laughed.
– In Toblach, our record for direct contact was 12. Now it was 56. We have improved, Pärmäkoski revealed.
The expert was pleasantly surprised by Pärmäkoski, Mäki’s situation is a question mark
Sports expert Kalle Lassila gladly accepted Pärmäkoski’s competition in the pair sprint.
– In the women’s category, Krista has a lot of work to do in these games. This was not his main trip before the Games, so it is a positive surprise that he is involved, Lassila said.
On Saturday, Pärmäkoski was sixth in the combined race on the opening trip of the Games.
According to Lassila, there are question marks around Mäki.
– Joni’s health situation is a question mark. He by no means skied well in the sprint, Lassila reflected.
Joni Mäki complained of breathing problems after the sprint, but on the eve of the pair sprint, the athlete felt significantly better.
– It’s back to normal again. I’m looking forward to competing tomorrow, Mäki said.
Moilanen, who reached ninth in the sprint qualifying, but crashed in the heats, expects to get the best out of it on Sunday.
– I don’t even have a lot of experience with pair printing, Moilanen stated before Mäki interrupted.
– Just one Finnish championship…, Mäki laughed.
Mäki and Moilanen won SM gold in the Pohti Ski Team in Tampere in January.
Expert Lassila says that, like previous race days, the pair sprint will also be hectic.
– It is still a bit unclear what the final track will be. You don’t have to be a weird forecaster that it hurts and happens: Surprises, crashes and breakdowns. Finland is not a medal favorite, but it is possible for the women, Lassila stated.