Skiing On Sunday, the World Cup culminated in the traditional 50 km departures in Lahti. In Finns, the brightest success remained lean. Kerttu Niskanen was on the women’s side the best sixth, nephew Iivo Niskanen In the same place in men.
“Iivo simply couldn’t get to the condition of being able to fight for victory. Time was not enough,” HS expert Harri Kirvesniemi sums up.
Niskanen’s winter finally became the mid -season. Despite the fact that of the six of the season’s six traditional normal runs, the balance was two wins (Ruka, Falun) and two second place (Davos, Les Rousses).
“It’s always a bit of a season if you miss the World Championships in the World Cup. It is annoying that Iivo showed this season that if he succeeded, he can ski hard.”
Niskanen missed both the Tour de Ski and the World Championships due to illness. So hunger for the Olympic winter would think you would be enough.
“After all, there are good signs of prognosis. Next year, it’s good to start that you don’t have to think that you have to make some big changes.”
“Certainly there is wondering if the illnesses came because at some point they were practicing too tight. But if they didn’t come, there could be not many changes.”
Niskanen fell from the podium battle on Sunday’s 50km (P) in the second half of the race.
Season Kerttu Niskanen, who was third in women, was by far the best Finn in the World Cup. Instead of him, Kirvesniemi raises the season from Finns over the other Sprint World Championship medalist Lauri Vuorinen and the sprinting cup won Jasmmi Joensuu.
“Vuorinen in men, Joensuu in women. It was the biggest comets of the season. Both also raised their level alongside their main sport during normal trips.”
“Both even have something in their pockets now that has not been seen in Finnish skiing.
Jasmi Joensuu kicked up the crystal ball of the sprint cup winner, contrary to expectations. It came first and foremost due to smoothness. Joensuu only reached the podium only once in a personal competition during the season, but there were six finals.
Sprint has been considered in Finnish skiing in recent years as a kind of ugly duck chick that is not invested and not succeeded. This season, the sprint was unexpectedly in Finland’s very tooth in international arenas.
“Especially on the men’s side, Finland has always had a lot of good time-time skiers.
“Now Finns have also been caught up in coping and tactical expertise in the batch phase. Sprint expertise is coming to a different level.”
Lauri Vuorinen was the Finnish World Cup. The free sprint became bronze and the traditional pair of silver with Ristomatti Hakola.
Neck Despite the strong cup investment, Kirvesniemi does not throw a hat into the air as he ponders through the skier.
“Both Niskanen and Pärmäkoski had a bit of a flat season that missed the best blade.”
Despite his cup success, Niskanen failed to severely rehabilitate the World Cup.
“Niskanen did well in the Cup thanks to his smoothness. She skied a good season, but it was seen on the women’s side that the World Cup was in the World Cup.Jessie Diggins, Victoria CarlNiskanen, Astrid Öyre Slind) did not reach a personal medal in Trondheim. ”
Niskanen’s season was even strange, as on his former bravura journey on the traditional ten, he did not reach the top eight throughout the season, while exceptionally, two prizes were ranked off.
“It shows that Kerttu has been in very good shape. But something was missing. The traditional skiing did not get the ease that has been at its best. The traditional and free level of results was very close to each other.”
Kerttu Niskanen’s season was good, but the best blade was missing.
“The situation in Pärmäkoski was basically a bit the same, but he finally had a clear reason for the hip flexor injury,” Kirvesniemi continues.
Pärmäkoski stopped his season a week in advance and retired to rehabilitate his injury. In the end, the skier never reached the podium this season. The best thing about the season was the fourth place in Davos in December.
Is there still a prize -level skier from Pärmäkoski?
“It can be difficult. Therese johaugin The future is unknown, but there are, among other things, Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson, Jonna Sundling, Wengit and Slindit, Victoria Carl… lots of such skiers who are basically a little better than Pärmäkoski. ”
“There are opportunities for good places in Pärmäkoski next season. And for example, the message team needs a good tenth -gaze skiing Christ if we are in the Olympics to fight for medals.”
The rehabilitation of the hip injury eats the beginning of the Pärmäkoski training season.
One The matter that marked through the Finns was the violation. Iivo Niskanen in addition Perttu Hyvärinen and Ristomatti Hakola They were seriously struggling with health atmosphere. Likewise Niko Anttola. Remi Lindholm He only found his fitness in Trondheim.
On the women’s side, Pärmäkoski had his hip alert. Johanna Matintalo The season was quite a bit of tar in health. Anne Kyllönen was most of the season in the sick books, and not with the problems wrestling Eveliina Piipo Haven’t heard anything at times.
“Yes, it is just about the picture of this species. We are so insanely heavy that sickness cases occur quite often. Then it is up to when they hurt. It matters big,” Kirvesniemi ponders.
“Perhaps Kerttu Niskanen should take the national team as a medical help,” the expert laughs, referring to a healthy star skier for years.
The national ski season will continue next weekend at the Iisalmi Finnish Cup and in two weeks at the Taivalkoski Championships.