The skier, who ended his professional career last season, will participate in the 10 kilometer freestyle competition of the Olos Cannonball Games on Sunday.
On Sunday, Riitta-Liisa Roponen will compete on the Olos hill in Muonio in the free ten. Jussi Saarinen
Riitta-Liisa Roponen44, is making a return to international competition.
On Sunday, he will ski in the 10 km free intermediate start of the Olos cannonball competition.
– The competition happened at a good seam. We have a ski training camp this week in Levi. With the races so close, why not go do what I mostly enjoy – challenging myself. If we were at home in Haukiputaa now, I wouldn’t go to Muonio, says Roponen.
It is about 55 kilometers from Levi in Kittilä to the Olos fell in Muonio, and about 400 kilometers from Haukiputaa.
– I noticed in the autumn running competitions that I enjoy the feeling that the competition brings, when you can push yourself hard. There is no performance-related goal of any kind on Sunday.
In September, Roponen won a 16 km trail running competition in Levi and left the national team skier Jasmi to Joensuu three and a half minutes away. In October in Haukiputaa, he was second in the 10.5 kilometer cross-country race. Navigator Anna Haataja was five seconds deeper.
– In between, there was a break of a couple of months from freestyle skiing movements, when I didn’t even go on rollers.
Are you excited for Sunday’s race?
– No excitement at the moment. Then, when we drive to Olos, the excitement will surely come. There was a lot of excitement at the Ruska marathon. I don’t understand what I’m stressing about. On the other hand, it’s a nice feeling that I even miss, Roponen replies.
Finland’s A national team women have signed up for Olos, as well as Germany’s and Austria’s A national teams, among others. Also Norwegian Helene Marie Fossesholm is with.
With a daughter?
Ida and Riitta-Liisa Roponen train together. Photo from 2020. Jussi Saarinen
The Finn, who ended his professional career last season, said in the spring that he will possibly participate in national competitions in the coming years.
– After the race in Olos, the next race in the calendar is spring-winter Ylläs-Levi. I’m not saying I wouldn’t ski somewhere else in the meantime, but there aren’t any other events on the calendar.
Roponen says he is available if his club Visa Ski Team Kemi needs help, for example, with the messages of the Finnish Cup.
– Of course, I hope that the juniors develop, and I deserve my place on the screens.
Riitta-Liisa’s daughter Ida Roponen, 18, has competed in national events. Riitta-Liisa said last spring that the SM pairs relay with her daughter is a future dream.
– The matter has not been discussed since then. Ida and I are now skiing in Levi. He has practiced more systematically.
Coaching work
Roponen’s professional career ended last spring. Jussi Saarinen
Roponen works as a coach in the company he co-owns, Huippumoodi Oy. Ritu’s ski coaching program has around 300 people of different levels.
– Really rewarding work. The people I coach are people who are crazy about skiing and take care of their own health. I will be happy to share my experiences and help.
Those being coached in the service receive a weekly training program. The package includes, among other things, webinars, remote counseling and training camps. The Levin camp is the second of this season.