Imatra’s Pallo-Veikot trains at Imatra’s Ukonniemi arena. Building automation did its tricks right under the Winter Super matches.
Imatran’s Pallo-Veikot, who plays in the men’s super nest, has had to hold unusual training sessions before the weekend’s Winter Super matches.
The reason is the temperature problems of the training place, i.e. the Ukonniemi arena in Imatra. The temperature in the arena dropped below freezing this week. Now it is about three degrees below zero in Areena, while the target temperature is 6–8 degrees.
Even yesterday, Thursday, the representative team practiced in the arena.
– The exercises became mostly slapping. It was not possible to do a full-weight exercise, says the executive director of IPV Mikko Reitti.
For Friday morning, the team was able to arrange replacement warm facilities from Koske’s school.
The risk of injury increases in the cold
You can’t do baseball training at full strength in cold temperatures. Players’ risk of injury increases when the muscles are not warm.
– Baseball is known for fast movements. There are many changes of direction and throwing movements. Tears and sprains are obvious when the musculature is not warm.
Another danger is related to the hard ball and cold clubs.
– The equipment may break. Clubs are banging across. Hand injuries are a risk when the ball hits the racquet hard and cold, says Reitti.
According to Reiti, there was no major damage in terms of the weekend matches, although the finishing exercises were more superficial.
– You don’t win the game with the last practice. It can be lost if there are injuries or something else.
There is a fault in building automation
Housing manager Heikki Varis Mitralta says that the temperature in the Ukonniemi arena started to drop below zero on Wednesday.
– Building automation does not work as it should, Varis says.
Due to a fault, the circulating air recirculation takes in too much outside air and does not recirculate the indoor air of the hall. The automation contractor will find out the root cause of the fault and the situation will be rectified.
According to the executive director of IPV, there have been temperature challenges in the Ukonniemi arena since the beginning of winter.
– The target temperature has not been reached. On our behalf, there has been room for hope, says Mikko Reitti.
According to the information of Reit, who started as executive director last fall, IPV has struggled with temperature problems in Areena last winter as well.