The first view in the pit area of the Joensuu racetrack is confusing.
From the snow on the bare sand field, here and there snowmobiles drive over puddles towards the start waiting area. On the other hand, in the middle of the racetrack itself, there is a snowfield about 600 meters long. Thousands of cubes of snow have been needed to build it.
The snowcross World Championship competition for snowmobiles is going on, which is historic at the same time. It is the first time that women compete in their own class for World Championship points. One of the drivers is from the village of Suhmura, south of Joensuu Saga Forsell.
The competitive spirit of 19-year-old Forsell becomes clear as soon as he goes to the track pit for a while after his first practice laps. When the assistant tells him that the lap time is the second fastest at that moment, he lets out a couple of powerful words and immediately rushes back to the track. At a glance, however, the hunt for a lap time falls on the side of over-trying.
After the exercises, Forsell confirms what the signee knew how to do a little:
– I am competitive, to the core! I have my own goals that I want. Sometimes it might go a little too far, Forsell says and laughs heartily.
Next to the pit stop, Forsell’s comments are also listened to Robert “Roope” Lapp, who is especially known as the mastermind and promoter of the Sörnäinen street track races held in Helsinki in the mid-90s. He is not there in Joensuu by chance.
Lappalainen has promised to help Forsell in his snowcross career. In addition to acquiring partners, according to Lappalainen, it’s about mental sparring and advice. The collaboration is based on Lappalainen’s long friendship with Saga’s father, Tuomo Forsellin with.
Tuomo Forsell was one of Finland’s top sledders in the 80s and 90s. Now he works as his daughter’s mechanic.
– I myself drove here in the same place in -92, when the last time there were sledding competitions here at all. At that time it was the PM competition and I remember that the very next Monday we left for Italy for the EC competition. Here, the circle has closed quite a bit, because then I wouldn’t have thought that the next time there is a race at the Joensuu track, it will be a World Cup competition and my own daughter will also be on the starting line, father Forsell says emotionally.
Somewhat surprisingly, both father and daughter refute the idea that the father was “mainly to blame” for the daughter’s choice of sport. Saga Forsell only started snowcross a few years ago. Before that, he practiced rack gymnastics, which is said to be part of side training even now.
Forsell considers another snowcross driver from Joensuu to be his real inspiration for the sport Mila from Nevawhom he – along with his own father – characterizes as his sports idol.
Forsell says his long-term dream is to compete in the United States, because the level of the sport is very high there. In Joensuu, the four-time US champion offers a concrete example of that Malene Cottewwho wins the first women’s World Cup rounds in history in supreme style.
Forsell has to compete with his ankle heavily taped after falling during the morning warm-up of the race day. However, as the best Finn, he is fourth in both heats.
In the women’s class, there are 12 drivers on the starting line, so the opening corner is tight.
From the jumps, the sleds launch to a height of about four meters at best. The game looks awesome. Forsell says his maximum heart rate during the race is around 180.
– Yes, driving to the first corner also requires a lot mentally. Personally, I think I’m quite strong mentally and perform well under pressure. Maybe I have a little “screws loose” and some may be missing. I really like speed and there is plenty of that in this sport. I get to challenge myself.
According to Forsell, snowcross has many of the same elements as gymnastics. A background in gymnastics helps with body control and also with avoiding injuries.
– Adrenaline comes in both sports, but yes, this snowcross is a bit tougher. There have been people who have flown off the back of the sled. Sometimes such wacky fun flights or “supermans”, but you always learn from them.
In the summer, Forsell says he practices crossfit and motocross. In the winter, there are sports training three to four times a week. His own snowcross track built in his backyard helps him in that. However, at the moment he lives and studies in Savonlinna to become a professional coach.
Forsell describes competing in the first ever women’s World Championship as a cool experience. At the same time, he also got to see the winner Malene Cottewi’s speedy departure from the fence.
Do you have time to model his driving?
– I tried to look, but it ran away really quickly, Saga Forsell laughs.