Markus Vuorela was unexpectedly dropped from the A national skiing team.
Skier Markus Vuorela27, received a rude notice by phone from the head coach of the national team a couple of weeks ago From Teemu Pasase: he will not make the 2023–24 A national team.
– Pasanen said that you should have reached the top 10 in the World Cup or the World Championships in order to make it to the national team. Did all those chosen meet that criterion? Of course, I’m not saying that all the chosen ones didn’t deserve their place, commented Vuorela, who at best ranked 16th in the World Cup last season.
The ski association’s severe financial dispute caused the men’s national team to be reduced to nine from a total of thirteen athletes for the 2022–23 season.
– It was also said that money is tight. There are problems and things are messed up.
If Pasanen really used ranking in the top ten as a selection criterion, also in a fundamentalist interpretation Remi Lindholm and Niko Anttola should have been left unselected. On the other hand, Junior World Cup gold medalist Anttola went to the national team based on his potential.
– I don’t know what to think about this. Of course I’m disappointed. I assumed that I would have been in the national team, because I was the second best Finn in World Cup points on normal distances and the fourth Finn in Fis points. It doesn’t feel like it was a bad season either. Apparently it wasn’t enough, says Vuorela.
Are you going to appeal the decision to the Sports Legal Protection Board?
– Different selection criteria, even though the success of the Silver Horse Games, you can apply and select the national team you want, Vuorela states.
– I’m not trying to come through the back door, so I’m not complaining. There is probably a reason for that, that Iivok also left out. The operation of the ski association is what it is – it is indifferent, the Jämin Jänte skier adds.
Iivo Niskanen left the national team of his own accord.
Robbery for the boss
In the 2022–23 season, Markus Vuorela was in the top 30 in the World Cup a total of 12 times and at best sixteenth. PASI LEISMA
The national skiing team selections were extended to an unprecedentedly late time. The announcement was made only on Friday, June 2.
– There have been years when the national teams have been selected in April and the first camp has been in May. There has been a lot of cautious activity during the current executive director’s time. In general, very little information is given to athletes. For example, during the competition season, the teams for the World Cup are confirmed very late.
He has been working as the executive director of the Ski Association since autumn 2019 Ismo Hämäläinen. He has applied for the open director’s position at the Research Center for Racing and Elite Sports.
Skis in the bag?
Ismo Hämäläinen is the executive director of the Ski Association. PASI LEISMA
Vuorela says that in the last two weeks he has seriously considered ending his career.
– Heavy work in every way. This is physically and mentally testing. When the activity is such that the athlete’s appreciation in the Skiing Association is not at a loss, is this worth it? I’ve been running around with different thoughts in my head lately, Vuorela describes.
Are you going to pack your skis?
– Isn’t it worth it to try another year and possibly longer. I have started training very relaxed, because this affects motivation.
In a loose log
Markus Vuorela, who is considering ending his career, describes himself as being on a loose log. Jussi Saarinen
The man who works as a border guard says that Pasanen promised a place in the B national team in his recent phone call.
The Ski Federation has not published next season’s B national team groups, nor even whether it will be able to maintain the B team’s activities.
– We live in the second day of June, and there is no information about the B national team or its summer camps. Pretty indifferent action from the Ski Association. We are in a loose log, but that is familiar from the activities of the Ski Association, states Vuorela.
– I have that other profession and plans should be made for the Border Guard. It’s hard to plan when you don’t know anything about B national team activities. The Ski Federation could handle things better, he adds.