Finnish Skiers Face Huge Disappointment – Aino-Kaisa Saarinen Blames Poor Ski Maintenance: 'The Game Was Played'

During the World Cup sprint race in Cognen, Italy, Finnish cross-country skiers experienced significant disappointment due to poor ski grip. The race, part of the traditional sprint event, saw Jasmi Joensuu as the best performing Finn, finishing 11th after winning his qualifying round. However, his performance was marred by equipment issues – the skis lacked the proper grip, a problem that even affected other Finnish skiers.

In his post-race interview with the Finnish Ski Association, Joensuu lamented the lack of competitive grip on his skis. He admitted that while he managed to win the qualification, the malfunction in equipment maintenance cost him dearly during the later, faster stages of the race. In a subsequent interview on Viaplay, the sprint star bluntly criticized the situation, noting that none of the team received any assistance from the ski grip side, making it extremely difficult to ski in proper skating technique.

Expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen also weighed in on the matter, stating that when skiers are forced to rely on subpar equipment while fatigued, it significantly affects performance. Saarinen described the day’s conditions on the track as one where, despite significant effort and teamwork, the race was essentially lost due to the ski grip failure. Saarinen expressed her disappointment with the maintenance team, remarking that it was a day when the equipment just did not deliver any support.

The article further outlines detailed results from the sprint, noting that several top women were absent from the start, and highlights other race performances. On the men’s side, Norwegian skiers dominated the top positions with Erik Valnes, Ansgar Evensen, and Even Northug leading the pack. The disappointment for the Finns was further compounded by the fact that, among the Finnish contingent, only a few managed to reach the quarterfinals or semifinals, with names such as Krista Pärmäkoski and Kerttu Niskanen among those who raced but did not progress.

Looking ahead, the article mentions that the next race in Cognen will be a free 10-kilometer pursuit start, with Saarinen expecting strong efforts from skiers like Iivo Niskanen. Despite the setback, there remains a possibility for charting overall success, as indicated by Joensuu’s points in the sprint cup standings – an achievement previously matched only by Virpi Kuitunen among Finnish skiers.

Overall, the disappointing day has raised questions about the preparation and equipment maintenance for the Finnish team, with both competitors and experts calling for improvements ahead of future World Cup events.