Ristomatti Hakola has only been able to compete a few times this season. Now he gets to test how his speed holds up in international rinks.
Anu Karttunen,
Kimmo Porttila
Cross mat Hakola started in the skiing world cup last time more than 10 months ago, when he finished 21st in Falun’s traditional skiing sprint. Since then, the experienced ski ace has been in deep trouble, as health problems have persistently followed him.
The sprint Finnish championship won last weekend and the selection for the Les Rousses World Cup have been great rays of light for Hakola.
– It was a big deal. I already had thoughts about whether I would ever be in the World Cup again, Hakola, who has started 102 times in the World Cup in his career, admitted to Urheilu.
– I got things right and a little training to succeed. It’s not going the best right now, but I have faith that I can compete in the World Cup.
The rug was pulled from under the feet
Hakola’s speed looked good right at the beginning of the season, when he brought Vuokatti in the Finnish Cup relay at the top of Jämi Jänte to replace him. After that, health problems came and the amount of training was only a fraction of what was planned.
After the Finnish Cup, Hakola has officially competed in only two competitions. In December, he participated in the FIS race in Ristijärvi and last Sunday he competed in Tampere in the sprint of the WC.
Hakola said that if the health side has declined, the mental side has also been tested. Known for his hurtful humor, Hakola has had to wade in really deep waters from time to time.
– I’ve been skiing for quite a long time, and when you can’t do it, that’s when the rug is pulled from under you. It makes you think. But now you can smile a little while we’re here.
Will the old diesel start?
Hakola has decided to progress one day at a time and the invitation to the World Championships will come if it is meant to come. As a cross-country skier, he knows how to listen to his body’s signals, and those signals have sometimes been quite good. The problem has been that there is still a lot of variation.
– It has depended on the day. But it’s been really good at times, he said and reflected on the upcoming sprint start.
– Let’s get a 31-year-old diesel to roar.
Hakola also plans to start on Sunday, when the 20-kilometer traditional cross-country skiing races are scheduled in Les Rousses.
– If the diesel starts up in the morning, that would be the purpose. The old diesel is such that once you start it, you can’t turn it off, Hakola laughed as usual.
does not show the Les Rousses World Cup races, but they are followed closely here.