Urheilu’s expert Ville Nousiainen reminds that the maintenance men of the Niskaste sisters are under great pressure. In his opinion, lubrication manager Mika Venäläinen should be allowed to focus on rotating the palette.
Anu Karttunen,
Laura Arffman,
Riku Salminen
Sports expert Ville Nousiainen understand very well how difficult the work of ski maintenance men is. This season, there have been absences in the Finnish maintenance team and for example Kerttu Niskanen and Iivo Niskanen the guardians have been on sick leave. Both are now back on the maintenance truck.
Read more: The “backbone” of the maintenance of the national ski team is back at work, there are still question marks in Niskasten’s ski maintenance – “The mental load of the work is heavy”
According to Nousiainen, there have been an extraordinary amount of competitions and traveling this year. However, he reminded that the pressures are really hard as maintenance men for the Niskaste siblings.
– Every time it’s about whether the guy wins. Will he take an Olympic or World Cup medal or will he only rank 9-20. They will also fall on the results list if the skis don’t work, Nousiainen said on Urheilustudio’s broadcast.
The maintenance of the Finnish cross country team speaks volumes. Below you can watch the entire Urheilustudio’s discussion on the topic on Saturday 4 February.
Lubrication Manager Mika Venäläinen the keys include turning the maintenance truck. The Russian told Urheilu that his tasks include planning the day and dividing responsibilities among those who test grips, slides and patterns.
Due to the absences, the Venäläinen has also had his hands in the clay and looked after the skis of both Kerttu Niskanen and Iivo Niskanen. Since the beginning, when Iivo Niskanen’s personal guardian has been on sick leave, Vesa Mäkiranta has taken care of the slips of the skis and the testing, the illegal holding of the Russian.
– If the chief doesn’t participate in anything, it’s past time, and I don’t think so. Of course, the load is increasing, but now there is a bit of a forced gap, the Venäläinen communicated.
In Nousiainen’s opinion, Venäläinen’s participation in the actual maintenance works is successful on days when the weather is clear.
– When it’s 3 or 5 degrees below zero and it’s cloudy, there’s no sun or snow. In difficult weather, the maintenance or lubrication manager has to be awake and orchestrate the whole thing, so that is not sustainable development. The number of foul shots increases especially in changing weather, Nousiainen said.
The sunshine in particular may seem like easy weather, but it makes more work for the caregivers. Nousiainen believes that difficult weather can be expected at the World Championships in Planica. That’s why he is satisfied that the service truck has brought the sick leavers back and the lubrication manager can focus on rotating the palette.