“Didn’t show up on TV” – Kerttu Niskanen’s skiing was ruined by this

Iltalehti’s skiing expert Reijo Jylhä could not foresee Kerttu Niskanen’s painful outburst at Viaplay.

Niskanen complained about his poor skiing after finishing sixth in the 20 km traditional joint start race in Les Rousses.

– You couldn’t deduce that from the TV picture. It was not reflected in the direct invoices. Only the athlete himself knows that, says Jylhä.

According to Niskanen, the problems were felt on gentle turn skiing sections where the ski should be able to slide.

– We can’t see if I’m holding the rope on the uphill while sliding one ski. With two skis, you can keep the skis sufficiently slippery when you shift your weight to the back.

In the traditional race, it is not the anti-slip cream that decides, but the slip of the grip cream.

– The sun was shining, so the holding cream definitely had to be applied. The coating should be such that it improves the grip cream’s glide. The grip cream is coated so that it glides better when one ski slides, Jylhä says.

– There have been some challenges in the overall design of the holding cream.

Fantastic Frida

According to the expert, Niskanen could have won several places with a better ski. Practically all places after the superior Frida Karlsson were up for grabs.

The Swede’s traditional approach has impressed Jylhä.

– Frida makes it look very easy at high speed – technically and from the point of view of performing the movement. If you looked at the others behind him, they seemed to be working harder.

– The muscle is also in good condition. Frida can generate power easily and quickly.

Skiing is now so easy for Karlsson that even Therese Johaug would struggle to manage.

– It may be that Johaug could ski just as hard, but he would visually work a lot more for that speed, Jylhä believes.

Who’s going to the games?

When Krista Pärmäkoski and Jasmi Joensuu were on the sidelines after 20 kilometers, the difference between Niskanen and the other Finns was drastic. Anne Kyllönen was 25th, well over three minutes behind Niska.

When thinking about the World Cup in Trondheim, you have to put on your thinking cap.

– Now is the time for the exact mark. We have to think carefully about the individuals so that we get a team that is really capable of striking at the games, states Jylhä.

– Vilma Ryyty’s 15th place in free is currently a pretty strong display. However, there are not very many skiers in their twenties.

Eveliina Piippo was passed in Sunday’s race in a round. Piippo, who was in a bad mood, wondered on Viaplay whether he should rest or train now, because something had to be done.

– If I had to recommend something, it would be rest before training. I have the impression that Piipo has never missed training. Rest in relation to the load has been insufficient, Jylhä estimates.