Vantaa’s SC skiing runs with the power of hundreds of people from Talkoo. Heikki, 74, reminds us that pensioners are not useless.
Heikki Tidenberg, 74, enjoys having a coffee shop and chatting with people. ANNI SAARELA
The smell of sausages and fresh buns in the Hakunila sports park. Everywhere is bustling when 250 people from Talkoo perform their tasks in SM skis. The youngest of them is less than ten years old and the oldest is 85 years old.
Many Finnish sports events would not be organized without the enthusiastic people of Talkoo. One of them is Heikki Tidenberg74.
– It is always said that senior citizens are a burden on society. Pensioners are not useless. I feel that I am doing important work for the benefit of young people, it is important in life, says Tidenberg.
For the seventh time in the Hakunila cross-country skiing competitions, Tidenberg, who is from Talkou, holds a cafe on the first climb of the competition course. He belongs to a group of about twenty seniors who go for exercise together and offer their contribution to the work of the talko.
– The youngest of the pack is 66 years old, the oldest is 86 years old. We go for a pole walk on Wednesdays at nine and have coffee afterwards. We go through the politics and all the things. That group does the work: fencing and construction work. It’s really nice to work together.
Kiira Uuskoski, 11, got to ski in the track patrol. ANNI SAARELA
Kiira Uuskoski, 11, on the other hand, belongs to the youngest and first-timers from the Talkoo ski team. Uuskoski, who has been skiing for several years, belongs to the track patrol.
– It’s fun, there are really nice guys in the track patrol. The trail is nice when it’s a little tougher.
Uuskoski follows Finland’s top skiers with great interest. He also competes in the sport himself.
– I have competed probably ten times this year. It’s been going really well. My favorite trips are long trips and normal trips. I like it so free and traditional.
In the Uuskoski family, skiing is a hard word.
– Pretty much my whole family enjoys skiing.
Thousands of sausages
For the first time, there is a cafe on the steep climb at the Vantaa SC skis. ANNI SAARELA
For the first time in Hakunila, in honor of the SM Games, a cafe was set up next to the track. Juice, coffee and sausage did their business.
– Probably 3,000 sausages will be used during the Games. That’s a huge number. The freezers are full of buns, there are 16 boxes of raw frozen foods, Tidenberg estimates.
Tidenberg enjoys his job. He chatters to the viewers from baby to baby while the snacks change hands.
– I have done sales work all my life. You have to be a little smart about this, too. The most important thing is that people feel good. I love talking to people.
The WC skiing will be held in Vantaa from 2nd to 4th. February.