The multi-tasker of alpine skiing played a big role in Kalle Palander’s life.
At the 1999 Golden Jubilee, Kalle Palander cut Samuli Sainio’s ponytail. IL ARCHIVE
Former alpine skier Kalle Palander said on Instagram on Wednesday that his longtime friend from around the sport Samuli Sainio is dead. The ski specialist was 47 years old when he died.
Sainio had his own role in the peak moment of Palander’s career, as he was part of Palander’s maintenance team when the skier won the World Championship gold in the USA in 1999.
– National team scorer, assistant coach, custodian of our skis. You were super human to me and so many. My role in my World Championship gold cannot be raised enough, the skis were diamonds, Palander writes.
Palander posted pictures of the two’s moments together on social media.