Challenges in Finnish Skiing as Athletes Adapt for the Summer

Finnish skiing stars are pushing their limits this weekend as they vie for medals in the roller skiing national championships, all while enjoying the summery weather of Vuokatti.

On Saturday's sprint events, Jasmin Kähärä, Hilla Niemelä, and Jasmi Joensuu topped the podium in the women's category, while Lauri Vuorinen, Olli Ahonen, and Joni Mäki took the honors in the men’s race.

Although the Finnish Ski Association has faced significant economic challenges this summer, the approaching World Championship season in Trondheim casts a thoughtful mood over the athletes.

The financial strains have led to the cancellation of vital high-altitude training camps, which raises questions about winter season preparations. While some elite athletes are gearing up for domestic competitions, others are financing their altitude training independently.

Pärmäkoski Concentrates on Training Volume

Krista Pärmäkoski, who finished fourth in the sprint final, remained positive despite missing the podium. In the final race, she noted that Kähärä made her decisive move towards the end, along with Niemelä and Joensuu.

"This was somewhat to be expected. For me, that’s indeed the only tactic in such a sprint. I deliberately ran hard in the semifinals, knowing that if you push in the sprint during the World Cup, you’ll need to go hard during the semifinals there too," Pärmäkoski explained.

Although she dominated the qualifying heats and semifinals, she couldn't replicate that success in the six-skier final.

"If I had wanted to race for the win today, I should have skied a bit differently. These (roller ski races) are tough training exercises, and that's the approach I took. I’m collecting training load for the future," she acknowledged.

Pärmäkoski shared that her summer included a mix of training activities, and her fitness level is "quite okay," giving her optimism as the season approaches.

"No one probably knows exactly what this winter will look like (due to the association's financial struggles). I've made personal decisions this summer since there won’t be a high-altitude camp funded by the association; however, it has worked for me before and was a clear choice in my program."

Kähärä on Self-Funded Training Camps

Jasmin Kähärä, the race winner, praised Pärmäkoski's pace in the final and expressed her satisfaction in facing a good physical challenge, as previous training sessions lacked this intensity.

"The structure of training has changed since there won’t be an official altitude camp from the association anymore. I found it essential, so these will now be self-funded. We’ll see how the competition season unfolds. I don’t know anything else about it," Kähärä stated.

She plans to spend all of September in Vuokatti, followed by a two-week altitude camp in Italy in October, just ahead of the competition season kickoff.

"I haven’t thought too much about the reduction in financial support or how it has affected me. I’ve focused purely on good training. We have had a great group throughout the training season and we’ve worked well together," Kähärä said with appreciation.

Vuorinen's Experience in Norway

Lauri Vuorinen, the men’s sprint champion, maintained a conservative pace in the semifinals to secure a place in the final, though he noted he was slower than his fellow medalists, Joni Mäki and Olli Ahonen.

"It was a good, consistent day. I managed to ski well with good technique and powerful strokes throughout. Tactically, it was also a successful day," Vuorinen reflected.

Last year's gold medalist, Eero Rantala, unfortunately missed the final due to a broken pole during the semifinals, remarking that such mishaps are part of roller skiing and sprinting.

"It has never happened to me before that I broke my pole right at the start. I was feeling good and got some solid practice here, but one can’t allow too much leniency with a broken pole," Rantala joked light-heartedly.

Rantala is also seeking to enhance his speed for the winter competitions utilizing a self-funded altitude camp.

Looking Ahead

The situation remains dire for members of the B-national team who do not bask in the same level of support as Finland's leading stars.

As the athletes prepare for the upcoming season amid the Finnish Ski Association's financial dilemmas, they exhibit resilience and adaptability in their training plans, demonstrating their commitment to pushing through uncertainty and challenges.