Antti Tuisku, who is aiming for the World Ski Championships in early 2025, won the Ounasvaara Ensilumenkis in Rovaniemi on Sunday.
Ex-pop star Antti Tuisku finished third in the men’s category over 35 years old. The distance was 9 kilometers on free skiing. There were six participants.
Won the series Markus Isola on 24.29.11. Sivakoi as the second sex Janne Kotaniemiwhich was 42.50 behind the leader. Tuisku’s difference to the top was 48.14 and the final time was 25.17.25.
The fourth in the series was Leppävirta Urheilijoden Jaime Huerta (+1.25,41). Huerta, representing Peru, has also been seen at the World Cup.
The Espoo Ski Club was also left behind by Tuisku Roni Zein (+1.52.44), who participated in the 2019 World Championships as a Lebanese man.
– Can you imagine? The second ski competition of my life. The first of this season. And I was on the podium, Tuisku rejoiced on Instagram.
He said that last season in Muurola, he lost to the winner by more than two minutes in the 20 km free. Now he lost to Kotaniemi, who won that race, by five seconds.
– Even though I’m really competing against myself, it’s wonderful to see that I’ve improved. This is a terrible sport! But that’s why it’s wonderful.
Tuisku said that he was particularly satisfied with how his performance held together. In addition, Tuisku was happy to compete and get to know the Peruvian skier Huerta.
What does the level look like?
Isola, who won the race, last competed in the SC in the spring of 2022, when she was 114th in the 10 kilometer freestyle.
Tuisku has said that it is her goal to reach the top of the women’s national level. In addition, there has been public speculation as to whether Tuisku could reach the top 100 in the World Championship.
At the Ounasvaara Games, the women’s 9 kilometer freestyle won the AT Ski Team Eveliina Toivanen at 14:19,29.
Tuisku lost to Toivane by about 58 seconds. The best ranking of 24-year-old Toivanen’s career at the World Championships is 11th, last spring in a 30-kilometer traditional race.
Second in the women’s series Emmi Hakomäki clocked the time at 25.12.90.
A comparison cannot be made with the men’s general series, as the distance was 13.5 kilometers.
Tuisku’s original goal was to compete in Taivalkoski in April 2025 with free skiing 10 kilometers.
However, he is already participating in the Imatra Championship in January, in the 10 km traditional race.
– Now that I see the kind of development that has taken place, I cautiously dare to set such a goal that I would reach the top speed of Finnish women in less than half a year. This would be a really, really big deal for me. I never would have thought last spring that I would say something like this out loud, Tuisku revealed earlier.