Remi Lindholm’s cannon skiing got the Urheilu experts excited, because even last week the Finnish skier, known as a terrible trainee, had been in trouble.
Anu Karttunen,
Laura Arffman,
Riikka Smolander-Slotte
Remi Lindholm was the top finisher among Finnish men’s skiers on Sunday, when he rose from 40th to 13th in the 20-kilometer freestyle pursuit race in Ruka. Calle Halfvarsson was rejected. In Saturday’s 10-kilometer traditional skiing race, Lindholm fell on the descent of Impilinna, and if this had not happened, the ranking could have been anything.
– I would probably have won, the man himself stated calmly in the interview.
A week ago, in the Suomen Cup in Taivalkoski, Lindholm stopped the 15 km race. At that time, Urheilu’s expert Toni Roponen stated that Lindholm has been training at risk limits and maybe even exceeded. At Ruka, he switched to cheering on the Finnish skier.
– When you know what Remi’s character is like, he doesn’t flinch even if he’s criticized a little. He comes here and does that kind of skiing. It does promise a good continuation, Roponen enthused.
– Remi did an absolutely amazing skiing. Came into this competition with a very big number, threw the lasso (Simen Hegstad) Kruger’s on my back and came at a high speed.
Kalle Lassila agreed with Ropose that Lindholm’s situation looks good. Last season was a breakthrough season for him and this winter we can expect results from him.
– Remi’s way of training has always been very different from many others. He pushed the limits and probably went over them. His characteristics are stable, and even if we move to hard terrains, they suit him even better, Lassila stated.
Ville Nousiainen thought Lindholm’s ranking was great, but he was even more pleased with how his skiing looked.
– Krüger is one of the best freestyle skiers and he beat everyone else, except Remi, Nousiainen reminded.
At the Pyeongchang Olympics, Simen Hegstad Krüger won gold in the combined event and the relay, and won silver in the 15 km freestyle skiing event.
Kläbo’s worst opponent can be found in the mirror
One man was superior in both Sunday’s race and the entire Ruka weekend: Johannes Hösflot Kläbo. The Norwegian won all three races and no one was really able to offer him proper opposition.
– Kläbo is hard to beat. The man doesn’t really have any weaknesses. Everything goes. You can ski hard, you can ski quietly, it doesn’t matter. It’s nice to make your own tactics, Nousiainen said.
Lassila also had the same opinion. According to him, Kläbo’s worst opponent is the man himself. Although, for example, Calle Halfvarsson showed good kiri ability on Sunday, Lassila does not believe in the Swede’s seams.
– In practice, 95% of the end lines are such that Halfvarsson has no seam. Then Kläbon can win if he fails, gets sick, is in bad shape or injured, Lassila said.
– If Kläbo is in such condition, then really tough terrain and with traditional and Iivo Niskanen. There’s a chance.