Mikko Virtanen and Iiro Haimi proclaim their love of skiing and coached Venezuelan skiers at Ruka.
Mikko Virtanen (left) and Iiro Haimi piloted Venezuelan skiers at the Ruka World Cup. Pasi Liesimaa
– We do this for the love of sport. Better not send For Donald Trump greetings, laughs the distinguished Finnish ski coach Mikko Virtanen.
He and the master of baseball Iiro Haimi piloted Venezuelan skiers in the Ruka World Cup.
There is a crisis in the South American country, because the sudden president of the United States Donald Trump has threatened war. In Trump’s opinion, Venezuela promotes the drug trade and the country’s president Nicolas Maduro takes a close look at, among other things, smuggling to the United States.
– Neither of the Venezuelans has mentioned that subject in a single word.
From the Venezuelan two-man ski team Guillermo Racero is Virtanen’s old acquaintance. The man who lives in Innsbruck has often visited the coach’s home in Vuokatti to train.
– I gave him three exercises before Ruka. Then he asked if I could come and help Ruka. I answered that of course.
Virtanen had already agreed to go to Kuusamo with his friend Haim. About the coach’s personal protective equipment Perttu Hyvärinen and Anni Alakoski competed in Koillismaa.
– Racero organized the coach accreditations for us. We are at our own expense and in our own accommodation. We help those who need help, Virtanen describes.
The second skier from Venezuela who skied Ruka was Nicolas Claveau-Laviolette. He lives in Quebec, Canada. The language of training is English.
At the stern
Guillermo Racero skied, among other things, at the World Championships in Planica in 2023. PDO
During his long career, Virtanen has coached Chinese, Japanese, South African and Caribbean skiers, among others.
– The gentlemen of Venezuela take advice really well. Claveau-Laviolette really thanked us when we suggested how to proceed tactically in the traditional kimpi race on Friday. Nice to be able to share my professional skills.
On Friday, Claveau-Laviolette was in 102/108 (+6.01.5) and Racero 106th (+9.49.1) in the intermediate start of the 10 km traditional skiing style of the Ruka World Cup. The competition was won by Norway Martin Nyenget.
– On Friday, there were challenging conditions and a challenging track. I think that Racero has a chance to be 6-7 minutes away from the top in ten kilometers.
The Venezuelans did not start in Sunday’s freestyle mass start.
Haim, who works as Sotkamon Jymy’s game director, has a skiing background.
– Iiro will get a good experience from this, as we are here in the heart of skiing. He sees how a top athlete in individual sports works in a competitive situation, Virtanen says.
The Finnish duo has had such a good time in Ruka that they are ready to support athletes from exotic skiing countries in the future if possible.
Mikko Virtanen (left) has coached Perttu Hyvärinen’s World Cup competition winner. Iiro Haimi (pictured on the right) is the Finnish baseball champion both as a player and as a game manager. Pasi Liesimaa