An astonishing number of Finns fell at the World Ski Championships.
The Finns fell like bowling pins at the World Ski Championships.
They went to Kumo Arsi Ruuskanen, Jasmi Joensuu, Eveliina Piippo, Perttu Hyvärinen, Ville Ahonen, Niilo Moilanen and Kerttu Niskanen on a ski test.
Iltalehti’s skiing expert Reijo Jylhä stated earlier that it is often a question of ski skills.
– It is clear that there is room for improvement in skiing skills. We should be better calculators. We are not the best at group skiing. It’s obvious, the men’s national team coach Ville Oksanen admitted.
When talking about avoiding nightmares, it often comes up Johannes Kläbo. The Norwegian superstar never goes wrong in a race.
According to Oksanen, it’s about a computer that’s throbbing in the head.
– In the lowlands, there are usually many options for how to go. Usually, the athletes who stay upright are the ones with the most variations.
– Kläbo can have ten different ways to calculate. He can make them happen.
Ville Oksanen admits that the Finns have room for improvement. PASI LEISMA
A touch of luck is also needed. Ahonen skied in a good place in the semi-final, Kläbon and By Erik Valnes behind, but the fall of Valnes canceled out the Finn as well.
– Often you just have to be better in counting and placing, but there was no better place in that round. That was really bad luck.
In Oksanen’s opinion, the Finns have already messed up earlier this season.
– In February at the World Cup in Toblach, we struggled a lot. The track kept turning to the left, but we placed really badly.
Competitors ahead
Kläbo wins, but not to death. PASI LEISMA
What exactly is the problem?
According to Oksanen, part of the reason is the circumstances.
– In the World Cup, the tracks in Ruka and Lahti have the easiest descents. It reflects Finland’s race track network.
– We also don’t have enough good roller skiing tracks to practice downhill in the summer. The situation is better in all the countries with the strongest competitors.
Juho Halonen hopes for more joint start races. Jussi Saarinen
Women’s national team coach Juho Halonen think Finns need more experience skiing in a group. He hopes for more joint start competitions in the Finnish Cup.
Halonen would also suggest harder track profiles for the domestic games.
– It would be beneficial to be able to ski more hard slopes in Finland as well. There are such in Finland, if only there were competition organizers.
– I hope that the current organizers would improve the cannon snow storage, so that longer routes and harder climbs could be used. That way there will also be harder downhills.
One idea that has been on the table for a long time is to move November’s Taivalkoski World Cup to Ruka, so that young and inexperienced skiers can get experience on an international level slope.
– It’s a good proposal, which I hope will be considered.
There is hope
Kerttu Niskanen took the bill cautiously. PASI LEISMA
There is no complete overnight in Finland. According to Halonen, there are even more joint starts and sprints that serve as an important lesson in youth competitions.
In Vuokatti, the center of future skiing stars, the problem has been raised.
– There will be high-speed downhills and bends in the terrains of the technical slope. They have definitely been able to practice more, Oksanen praises.