There is a new familiarity in the hill country team heading to the opening of the World Cup, which only dedicated sports people are aware of.
The Nordic World Cup season starts this coming weekend in Wisla, Poland, where female and male ski jumpers compete for points in two individual competitions.
When the Finnish Skiing Federation announced the six-member team traveling to Poland on Monday, the attention was drawn to the 18-year-old who will receive his baptism of fire in the World Cup Vilho to Palosaari.
– I wasn’t surprised by that myself. I was pretty sure who would go there, says Palosaari.
Since Finland has two World Cup race weekends to organize, Ruka and Salpauselkä, the Finns have usually debuted in the World Cup in the so-called national group in the aforementioned competitions.
In the case of Palosaari, however, this is not the case. The reason is that before this summer, Palosaari didn’t have even one point from the Continental Cup, i.e. from the competition series one step lower than the World Cup.
In order for a jumper to participate in the World Cup, he must have at least one point from the Continental Cup. Palosaari only achieved its first points in August of this year in Norway. Last season, jumping was hindered by a stress injury in the left knee.
– It took more than a year for it to heal. Had trained too hard. The knee couldn’t take it anymore, says Palosaari.
A silver lining in being hurt
Palosaari currently lives and practices in Kuopio, where he studies business administration at the local university of applied sciences.
The road to Kuopio led from Kuusamo a year ago, where they were responsible for his coaching Antti Koivuranta and father Tero Palosaari. In Kuopio, the former head coach of the A national team has taken responsibility for the development Lauri Hakolawho has been running the youth project of the Finnish Ski Association for a year.
According to Hakola, the rehabilitation of the left knee has affected Palosaari’s development. Due to the rehabilitation, there has been less physical training.
– He has a strong physical background. It has made it possible to invest in technology, business management and mobility. It has been good that he has had to train in a slightly different way, says Hakola.
Palosaari signs his coach’s opinion. Thanks to the rehabilitation, the knee can now withstand full weight training.
– Now that the knee is fine, you can do everything to your full potential and you don’t have to be careful about anything.
A study trip that allows you to succeed
Head coach of the national team Janne Väätäinen does not put pressure on Palosaari for the Wisla World Cup. Väätäinen estimates that Palosaari will compete more in the Continental Cup this season than in the World Cup.
Palosaari sealed his place in the team traveling to Wisla by succeeding in the Finnish national team’s camp competition in Planica, Slovenia. Before this, he had time to compete in two summer GP series races in Klingenthal and Hinzenbach. In neither of these did he survive the qualification for the competition. However, the individual training jumps signal to the head coach about the potential that will get to a proper test next weekend.
– It’s a boost that such opportunities come, Väätäinen says.
In addition to Palosaari, Wisla also competes for Finnish men Antti Aalto, Niko Kytösaho and Eetu Nousiainen.
– We have a clear top three in that, and Vilho knocks along with it, says Väätäinen.
Palosaari talks about his own opportunities in Wisla.
– Let’s try to do good training jumps. Then we’ll see what it’s good for. Maybe this is more of a learning curve. However, you can succeed there.
– With good jumps I can be in the top 20. I’m not promising the sky just yet, says Palosaari.
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