Training camps for the Finnish national A-team will differ slightly from the previous season. A new addition is, for example, the participation of sprinters in roller skiing sprint competitions in Sweden and Norway.

The head coach of the Finnish national team, Teemu Pasanen, tells Maastohiihto.com that the Vuokatti camps, which have been part of the national team’s program for several years, will be left out of the official schedule for economic reasons. In connection with the Aateli Race and the championship roller skiing competitions, however, daily coaching is organized for the national team athletes in Vuokatti.

“A-team will come to Aateli Race to ski, and we will definitely train there together with the B national team. Some have arranged their camps in Central Europe earlier,” says Pasanen.

On the men’s side, like last year, the team is divided into sprinters and a distance team. In August, the sprinters go to roller skiing competitions in Norway and Sweden to get international form.

On the other hand, the cross-country skiers and the women’s team will go to a high-altitude camp in Central Europe in August. According to Pasanen, the camp in question was shortened from the original plan, and now the purpose is to be “a little shorter” at high altitudes. He states that some athletes probably also have their camps during the summer.

In September, during the roller skiing championships, the national team will have daily training in the same way as in connection with the Aateli Race. Training camp plans for the rest of the year are still open.

“There is a two-week camp in October, but the snow camp is still open. With these prospects, we will hold a short snow camp before the World Cup in Ruka.”

The national team athletes have been going to tests at Kihu for the past two weeks. According to Pasanen, the team’s fitness level seems normal.

“The overall level at the beginning of the season is quite okay. Of course, there is a little variation per athlete, as some have kept the transition period longer in the spring and started the actual training a week or two later. It always affects a little in these spring tests. Overall, the level is good, and it’s good to start doing this for the summer.”

Read More: Finnish cross-country skiing team for season 2023/2024