Team Mäenpää announced this Friday that Finnish skier Juuso Mäkelä is joining the Finnish Pro Team.

Team Mäenpää is strengthening its squad for the Ski Classics Season XVI (2024/2025) and has now announced that the Finnish Pro Team athlete Juuso Mäkelä is joining their ranks. The Pro Team athlete is moving from the now-extinct Team Kaski-Ekovilla and will join the Finnish Pro Team for the upcoming season as one of the best long-distance skiers in Finland, with the potential to climb to the top of Ski Classics.

“Juuso has shown that he can achieve good results and be a developing team player both on and off the track. Juuso is an extremely strong high-altitude skier who has demonstrated his ability in many high-altitude Ski Classics races. Based on our previous cooperation with Team Kaski-Ekovilla, I can say that Juuso fits perfectly into our team,” says Pro Team Director Kim Mäenpää to Maastohiihto.com.

Read More: Team Kaski-Ekovilla calling it quits

Mäkelä is now ready to focus on Ski Classics entirely:

“I’m really pleased that a team spot was arranged. It’s great that I can continue my Ski Classics career and in a Finnish team,” says Juuso Mäkelä and adds:

“Choosing the team was easy. Over the past two years, we have already collaborated with Team Mäenpää in terms of feeding, logistics, and even ski testing, even though I represented Team Kaski-Ekovilla. Everything always worked out, and the experience of cooperation was excellent. We also collaborated on the track whenever possible, giving space in the group when needed with Mäenpää’s skiers. I can confidently join the team and focus solely on being in the best possible shape for next winter.”

Juuso Mäkelä became the best Finnish male skier on the Ski Classics Pro Tour last winter, finishing 31st overall. The season’s first race, the Bad Gastein Criterium, saw him finish 15th, and he managed to finish in the top 30 six times during Season XV.

According to Maastohiihto.com, Mäkelä’s goals for Season XVI are to take more risks and aim for top results, including finishing in the top 10 at some of the Pro Tour events.

The story continues below.

More information about Ski Classics you can find at skiclassics.com.

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