Debutant Antti Tuisku Praises the Skiing Community But Faces Difficulty: "It's a Terrible Sport"

Antti Tuisku made his competition debut at the Finnish Championships in Imatra, finishing 142nd in the men's 10km classic race. Despite the harsh conditions and his performance, Tuisku expressed gratitude for the encouragement from hundreds of fans lining the course, acknowledging that his first skiing experience was significantly challenging.

Tuisku articulated his struggles during the race, feeling exhausted by the end but was ultimately uplifted by the support he received. Both Anne Kyllönen and Ristomatti Hakola claimed gold medals in their respective events during the championships, and Tuisku is expected to compete in the 10km freestyle at the upcoming Taivalkoski Championship before retiring from competitive skiing later in the season.

Overall, Tuisku's participation was notable, marking a significant step in his shift from pop music to the skiing world, as he navigated the learning curves of competitive skiing and the physical demands inherent to the sport. He is looking forward to continuing to improve and gain more experience in the future.