The current Ski Association’s current athlete agreement allows stars to be absent from the Finnish Championships. According to the union boss, it is “highly recommended” to participate in Finnish Championships.
Iivo Niskanen Made a annoying decision for Finnish cross-country skiing lovers when he decided to skip the Taivalkoski Championship skiing over the weekend.
Even in the last decade, Niskanen’s trick would not have been possible, as the paper between the Ski Association and its contract athletes required to participate in at least one start during the Finnish Championship weekend. It could only have been absent due to health problems.
The current athlete agreement does not bind athletes in the same way.
-When an athlete’s health situation allows, we hope to participate in the Finnish Championships. If the athlete is left out, it is a matter of separate agreement with coaching, comments the CEO of the Ski Association Marleena Valtasola.
In practice Teemu Pasanen or the women’s team coach Ville Maunuksela with.
– I don’t have to take a stand on absences because it is a matter of coaching.
Niskanen announced For the broadcastnot participating in the Taivalkoski Games.
– I’m not going to argue with Iivo in the media. These are big entities.
A total of 17 skiers were appointed to the Ski Association’s A national team in 2024-25. They are all union’s contract athletes.
Along with Iivo Niskanen, Taivalkoski is missing Krista Pärmäkoski, Johanna Matintalo, Eveliina Piippo and Perttu Hyvärinen.
The quartet’s racing season has already ended in the past due to health problems.
Niskanen skied last holy in Iisalmi in the Finnish Cup message.
Rumble
Iivo Niskanen will not compete in Finnish Championships over the weekend. Pasi Liesimaa
Usually all healthy national team skiers participate in the Spring Championships, as the competition obligations in the World Cup are already behind.
-It is very important for the visibility, TV visibility, financing and exemplary effect of the sport that we are on the spot in the Finnish Championships, says Valtasola and gives an example.
– The pleasure was watching last week Kerttu from the neck And young athletes in the Iisalmi Finnish Cup.
There have been alternatives in cross-country skiing that a medical certificate would be required for absence, especially from the Spring Championships.
On the other hand, the Finnish Championships should be a kind of obligation that all healthy skiers will be there.
Valtasola describes that absence is not “easy and simple”.
“We will try to find clearer solutions in the future,” he says.
Iltalehti ski expert Reijo Jylhä Underneath that all the best needs to be found.
– You could put a beanie and sweat ribbon looser. Although it is a person who always wants to succeed, one could be involved in the Finnish Championship because it is important to be there. It is not just about the success of national team skiers, but about the interest of competition. It is a pretty little sacrifice for the skier to come to the Finnish Championships if there is no illness, Jylhä outlines.
Marleena Valtasola is the Executive Director of the Ski Association. Pasi Liesimaa