Analysis: What to Expect from Finland at the World Championships in Nordic Skiing? Best Results Since 2009, but Many Questions Remain

The Finnish team is heading to Trondheim with the best starting positions in over a decade on paper. In the recent World Cup season, Finnish athletes have collected 15 podium finishes (three wins, six second places, and six third places), which is the best result since 2009. However, the gap compared to the 2009 Liberec World Championships is significant, as Finland had secured 51 podium finishes and eight medals (three gold, five bronze) at that time.

The current starting points are comparable to those before the 2017 Lahti World Championships. In the women’s cross-country skiing World Cup, several top names have missed most races. For example, Sweden’s Frida Karlsson has focused on the Trondheim Worlds and has only raced the distance events on four occasions. The only two races held in the classic style have ended in overwhelming victories by Karlsson.

Among the Finnish athletes, Kerttu Niskanen, who has achieved five podium finishes, has been in the top three twice even in the freestyle races. However, during the general warm-up in Falun she finished further down the order. In her best races the 10 km interval start and the 20 km mass start, she ended 10th and 11th respectively. On the men’s side, Iivo Niskanen has taken two wins in 10 km races with the traditional technique. His strong performance in Falun, including a recent win and a ninth-place finish in a mass start, indicates that he may be in good form for winning medals at the World Championships if he stays healthy and is paired with competitive skis and waxing.

The article also discusses technical challenges brought by the fluorine ban, noting that without fluorinated waxes, equipment differences have led to significant performance variations. Last season’s Trondheim pre-championship events are cited as an example, where Iivo Niskanen finished 14th in a 10 km race despite his high potential.

Looking ahead, Finland’s best medal hopes are focused on key races on March 4–5, including the 10 km interval start for Iivo Niskanen and the men’s and women’s team sprints. Meanwhile, individual races for athletes like Ilkka Herola, who has the highest number of top-three finishes among Finns in Norwegian World Cup events, are also critical. Overall, while the Finnish season has shown promise compared to recent years, the intense competition on home soil in Norway remains a major challenge.

The World Championships in cross-country skiing will be held in Trondheim from February 26 to March 9, 2025, and will be broadcast on Yle’s channels.