Last winter, Team Kaskipuu took part in its first season in the Ski Classics Pro Tour. Next winter, the Pro Team plans to take a step forward.

Pro Team Director Kari Varis says that at least Tuomas Mikkonen, Matti Kaski, Veli-Matti Räsänen, Juuso Mäkelä, Anni Kainulainen, Oona Kettunen and Amanda Saari will be seen in the colors of Team Kaskipuu this coming winter and two more places remain free.

“Spots will probably be offered to men skiers after the World Cup selections are confirmed,” says Varis.

Veli-Matti Räsänen and Juuso Mäkelä will start almost all Ski Classics events. Other skiers are committed to skiing in three to five competitions.

Before the season start, there will be two training camps.

“In August, the skiers will camp for a few days in Vuokatti, and in October, there will be a longer camp in Fuengirola, Spain,” says Varis.

Kari Varis sees that the base for the new season is better than the first one. The team is committed to long-term work and plans to take development steps one season at a time.

“Juuso Mäkelä, in particular, has focused more on double poling work than last year, and the base for the new winter is good.”

Last season, Mäkelä was 33rd at Marcialonga, so the expectation for placing in the top 20 in the Ski Classics Season XIV competitions is realistic.