Jasmi Joensuu stormed to victory in Vuokatti

Vantaa Ski club national team skier Jasmi Joensuu won the first competition of the cross-country Finnish Cup season.

Joensuu defeated Sotkamo in the women’s freestyle sprint final in Vuokatti of the Ikaalisten Urheilidiets Hilla Niemelän with 2.23 seconds. Tampere Pyrinnön Amanda Saari was third and 3.22 seconds behind the winner.

“Since the beginning of May, I have been able to train to this point when I am healthy. It shows in good condition and a good feeling. It went according to plan and this was a good opening. Skiing was really safe,” Joensuu cheered Yleisradio in a television interview.

Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu Eero Rantala won the men’s competition by 0.66 seconds in the Vantaa Ski Association Ike Melnitsin. Imatra’s Athletes Olli Ahonen was third. He was 1.43 seconds behind the winner.

The national team sprint specialist Joni Mäki was present in Vuokatti on Saturday, but missed his bravura competition.

Why did this happen, Mäe was asked on Yleisradio’s television broadcast.

“Well, I’ve had some bad experiences in recent years. The national team camp at the end of autumn has always become such a load that even though I have signed up [kilpailuihin]so I haven’t been skiing. I was a bit far-sighted and thought that I would only ski one race [tähän] to the weekend, i.e. the message then on Sunday, Mäki told Yle.

Mäki mentioned on Saturday that his main goal for the season is to succeed in the freestyle sprint of the World Championships in Trondheim.