This is the machine that can help Finland produce top-level skiers

In the future, fitness enthusiasts, along with athletes, will benefit from improved training conditions at Joensuu's Mehtimäki testing station. Last week, a ski treadmill capable of allowing skate skiing was introduced to the facility.

Wide ski treadmills favored by elite athletes are still rare in Finland. Currently, in addition to Joensuu, similar treadmills can be found only in Jyväskylä, Vuokatti, and Rovaniemi. There are more locations offering traditional skiing treadmills.

The treadmill imported from Sweden can accommodate two classic skiers training side by side. Additionally, it allows for training and testing for running, cycling, and wheelchair exercises. A dedicated room for testing ski treadmill performance has been set up in the upper level of the Joensuu arena.

Strength testing will be conducted using various sensors and motion meters.

New Dimensions for Training

From now on, athletes from Joensuu won't have to travel elsewhere for measurements. Previously, the nearest testing station was over a two-hour drive away in Vuokatti. According to project manager Tuomas Karjalainen the equipment at Mehtimäki is on par with other elite sports testing facilities.
- We certainly won’t need to be ashamed among other testing stations. We have excellent conditions here at the arena.

The equipment suited for strength testing is something that hasn’t been available in Joensuu before. With various motion sensors, it’s possible to measure the speed of the barbell movement and the power produced during lifts.

Learning from Other Testing Stations

Construction at the Joensuu Mehtimäki testing station is nearing completion. The ski treadmill, which costs 160,000 euros, is the largest single investment in the project, which has a total budget of approximately 2.2 million euros.

The testing facility was built in Mehtimäki because it is the heart of sports in Joensuu. The city wants to invest in sports, and the Joensuu Sports Academy has long wanted to develop an impact monitoring system for training. The testing facility is a collaborative project between the City of Joensuu, the East Finland Sports Institute, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, and the University of Eastern Finland.

Insights were drawn from existing testing facilities in Finland. A key strength of the Mehtimäki station is the mobile testing and measurement equipment, which allows tests to be conducted on-site for clients.

Open to Fitness Enthusiasts

In the future, not only athletes but also fitness enthusiasts and others who could benefit from testing will have access to the testing station. After piloting, anyone can book a time for testing. The facility will serve not only locals but also users from elsewhere in Finland.

Ordinary fitness enthusiasts could benefit most from monitoring their performance, for instance, through oxygen uptake measurements, which can be done via a bike ergometer.

Installation of larger equipment, such as treadmills for measuring aerobic fitness along with ski ergometers and the ski treadmill, is still underway. They are expected to be available to a wider user base after the turn of the year. During the fall, the testing staff will aim to train in using the equipment.

• The technology is so advanced that testers will have to learn a lot about how the equipment works and how to obtain reliable test results, says Teemu Leppämäki, a specialist in training and testing.

Portable testing devices are already in use at the arena's gym and in testing activities organized elsewhere. Small group tests have already been conducted through municipal and organizational channels throughout the region.