The sports weekend got off to a great start for Finns, when Jenny Rautionaho pushed the Finnish time to second in the Sapporo hill race on Saturday morning.
Rautionaho, who rose to a completely new level this season, exuded great calm in the second round and was able to raise his ranking by two places in challenging conditions.
The confidence of the 27-year-old Finn’s performance is indicated by the fact that he has jumped into the top ten four times this season, even though there is still plenty of time left in the season. Last season, he reached the top ten only once.
At the same time, Rautionaho ended almost ten years of Finnish ski jumping without podium places.
Sports expert Janne Ahonen believes that we will see great performances from Rautionaho in the future.
– It’s great that the first podium place has been grabbed, which will certainly make things easier when thinking about the continuation. All you have to do is let it ring.
Who surprised?
In Finnish terms, the weekend did not offer any other impressive performances. The surprise of the weekend comes from the combined and Austrian national team.
21-year-old Stefan Rettenegger is the freshest face in the top flight. The super talent achieved its first podium place in Ruka, being third.
At the weekend in Oberstdorf, Rettenegger was on the podium in both races. On Sunday, he was second and struggled for a long time to win in Norway Jarl Magnus Riiberin with.
In the overall race, he is third behind Riiber and his countryman Johannes Lamparter’s after. A small sport like combined needs new faces like Rettenegger.
What the hell?
Like raion skin too Minja Korhonen have been the clear joys of the Finnish winter sports season.
The 16-year-old Finnish talent has been third, sixth and seventh in the six combined races this season, and fifth twice. On Sunday came the worst ranking of the season, also ninth.
In addition to great performances, Korhonen will also be remembered for his performance. On Sunday he and Heta Hirvonen competed with Peppi Longstocking hairstyle. After a successful hill performance, the good-natured Korhonen did small dance moves.
The teenage star from Siilinjärvi appears naturally in front of the camera. He predicts Sunday’s race elegantly in English.
Korhonen took a stand on the combined new competition format, the so-called handicap competition.
– Of course it is better for those who are a little better on the ski slope. It’s a different race, but I hope this day will be fun too, Korhonen said.
Narrator of the combined Mikko Hannula is impressed by the essence of young Korhonen.
– The external output is such that you have to give praise to the teachers in Pohjois-Savoo. The English language and presentation skills are well under control, Mikko Hannula stated.
Who flopped?
While Minja Korhonen has been the subject of joy in the sport, the Finnish men’s season is currently progressing in a difficult way.
Eero from Hirvos and From Ilkka Herola good results were expected from Oberstdorf, but the level of results was poor.
On Saturday, Hirvonen was 19th and Herola 20th. On Sunday, the positions improved by only a few notches.
In the first race, the good skiing speed of the Finns was pleasing, but in the second race the going was tight.
At the beginning of the race, the Finnish duo was even in the fight for the podium place, but the fierce initial pace was too much. Sports expert Petter Kukkonen found the reason for the sudden change in skiing pace.
– Skiing is not at its best. Then there is nothing to be done about it. Yesterday was considered the best skiing day of this season. Now was the worst day. The reason must be looked for elsewhere, Kukkonen stated.
What next?
The cross-country skiing World Cup season continues next weekend in Oberhof, Germany. The traditional sprints will be raced there on Friday, the 20-kilometer joint start race on Saturday and the first long relays of the season on Sunday.
Was sidelined from the Tour de Ski Iivo Niskanen is on the line in Germany. In the season opener in Ruka, Niskanen was second in the traditional 10 km intermediate start race, but the going has been painful since then.
The Tour didn’t have any of Finland’s top skiers either Johanna Matintaloawho has had big difficulties since the beginning of the season.
However, the condition of the 27-year-old skier seems to be fine. On Saturday, Matintalo was a strong bet in Otepää’s Skandinavia Cup, where good international names were also present.
The Finn won the 20 km traditional split start race by 22 seconds before the winner of the overall race from last World Cup season, Norway Tiril Udnes Wengia.
In the sprint, he was third. Although many of the top names of the moment were not there, considering the Finn’s difficulties, the race performances were at least encouraging.
Especially in the traditional sprint, Matintalo can claim top positions at its best. On this trip, he was among the three in the World Cup twice.