Finnish female skiers were far from the top contenders at the Jällivaara World Cup. In Saturday’s 10 km free skiing intermediate start race Kerttu Niskanen was the best Finn, 22nd, almost two minutes from the top. Krista Pärmäkoski was five seconds slower than Niska.
On Sunday, Finland had to start the relay without Pärmäkoski and Niska. Four Jasmi Joensuu – Rebecca Immonen – Riitta-Liisa Roponen – Vilma Ryytty was second to last in the race, losing to the winner Sweden by more than five minutes.
– We are very far from where we should be. The performance of the molars, Kertu and Krista, is not at the level it should be. The level has turned 20 on the wrong side, Urheilu’s expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen says
– I’m worried. I understand that you can’t quite get involved in the early season, but now we’re quite far away.
During the weekend, various explanations were given for the weak performances. Saarinen was confused by the explanation that the cold is not suitable for Finns. He reminded that, for example, it was extremely cold and windy in Beijing, but there were still great results.
– When you listen to the comments, you wonder if the coaches or the athletes themselves know what caused this situation. Have they formed a picture of why we are in this situation? Saarinen says.
– I hope I have misunderstood, and they know why this is. We look for a reason for success, but no. Terribly insecure commenting. That is perhaps the most worrying.
Who surprised?
Minja Korhonen, 16, made Finnish history twice at the World Cups in Lillehammer. She first finished sixth on Friday, which is Finland’s all-time best finish in the women’s combined, and on Saturday she did even better.
Sports expert From Petter Kukko mostly exaggerations were found in Korhose, because the bright athlete has made an impression on Kukkonen.
– There have been quite a few super talents in United, but Minja is definitely one of them. He has a versatile sports background and talent could be found in other sports as well, Kukkonen says.
Korhonen’s level rise from last season has been so incredible that Kukkonen would not have believed the same. He believes that Korhonen will be able to challenge the top of the world within a couple of years.
– Great performances on the hill and the overall level of skiing has improved compared to last season by almost two minutes. An absolutely insane step in development!
Aino-Kaisa Saarinen has also noticed the young Finn’s development. He reminds us that at that age you can see big jumps from athletes.
– Now we can start looking forward to what the coming years will bring. The best years are just ahead, says Saarinen.
What the hell?
Remi Lindholm has been in the headlines several times because of his frozen penis, but in Jällivaara, the Finnish team’s velikulta skied his relay part in the bitter cold with his ski suit open.
– It is known that you are sensitive to frostbite. You must have skied with the zipper open. How is that? Editor of Laura Arffman asked in the interview.
– I was peeing a couple of minutes before leaving. That toilet broke somehow, so they pulled it open. But now there was nothing frozen, and so, Lindholm explained.
The case of Remi Lindholm from Aino-Kaisa Saari made me smile. He hoped the skier was wearing double windbreakers this time.
– However, Remi had mono eating. It is the most important.
Who flopped?
Many think that the maintenance of the Finnish ski team may have flopped, but Aino-Kaisa Saarinen strongly disagrees. Instead, in his opinion, the Finnish women’s team flopped.
In Saturday’s 10 kilometer free race, the positions were 22nd, 25th, 32nd, 30th, 35th and 37th. Of course, thanks to the new points system, everyone got to the World Cup points, but the differences to the top were too big.
– I would have expected that Kerttu would have been able to ski in the top 15 places. Yes, it seems that there is something wrong with his body, Saarinen reflects.
– After all, he was worried, while Krista didn’t even seem worried. Yes, you could be a little worried about me.
According to Saarinen, the women’s team was the most successful Vilma Ryytty, who skied into the top 30 again. A week ago Ryytty in Ruka was 28th in the 20 kilometer freestyle skiing race, now a couple of places lower.
– He kept his level and skied properly. Skiing 30 skis is always a challenge for a skier, and Vilma has succeeded in achieving it. He has now shown that Ruka was not the lucky type.
What next?
The circus of the Skiing World Cup continues closely, and next we will compete in Östersund in the traditional skiing sprint and in the 10 kilometer free race.
– We would probably all like to know if there is Johanna Matintalo already healed and coming to compete, says Saarinen.
Matintalo had to miss the Ruka World Cup because of the corona virus, but has shared updates on social media last week, according to which “skiing has felt especially nice again”.
Although the scenery will change next weekend, according to Saarinen, skiers can expect the same rally track as in Jällivaara: gentle ups and downs with twists and turns, so you have to be able to ski hard all the time.
– It will be interesting to see if the downward trend continues or if there is light in the tunnel after the sprint. Hopefully we won’t see this type of flopping like in Jällivaara.
Saarinen believes that the Finns will show their skills in the traditional way of skiing in the sprint. Ruka already had strong grips and the men as well Lauri Vuorinen that Joni Mäki saw each other in the semi-finals, in the women’s semi-finals you made it Katri Lylynperä.
– Lauri and Joni have been in a good mood and hopefully the curve is upwards. It could therefore be considered if one of the Finnish men was in the final, Saarinen guesses.