The Finnish Ski Association has named the A, B and U23 national cross-country skiing teams for the 2025/2026 season.

According to a press release from the Finnish Ski Association, 18 cross-country skiers selected will be part of the Finnish A National Team and 13 athletes will join the B and U23 teams for the upcoming season. 

The press release states that: “In cross-country skiing, all athletes named to the A-national team will fully participate in the training season camp. Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen will not be involved in the national team activities during the training season. Niskanen will prepare for the season according to their individual training plans. Head coach Teemu Pasanen and women’s head coach Reijo Jylhä will support the planning and monitoring of the training season in close cooperation with Niskanen’s personal coaches. Niskanen will join the national team in November.”

“The clear main goal for the upcoming season is the Milano-Cortina Olympics. The training season aims to ensure that we are able to achieve the best possible result there. The camp plan is in good shape, and daily coaching is also a large part of the training in domestic operating environments. On the women’s side, under the leadership of Reijo Jylhä, we will begin to build a new operating culture and increase training together. The aim is to transfer this new operating culture to the youth level and the B national team, says head coach Teemu Pasanen.”

“Olympic Committee Special Expert Pia Pekonen will join the women’s national team coaching team on a partial basis to support head coach Reijo Jylhä. As part of Pekonen’s role, a new kind of cooperation will be built between the youth groups and the A-national team. The whole will be implemented as a pilot cooperation between the Finnish Ski Federation and the Olympic Committee’s expert activities. The operating model is part of the Finnish Ski Federation’s renewed strategy, which aims to find new solutions that will bring the best athletes, coaches and operating environments into closer cooperation with each other.”

FINNISH NATIONAL TEAMS

A National Team

Women

• Jasmi Joensuu
• Jasmin Kähärä
• Katri Lylynperä
• Johanna Matintalo
• Hilla Niemelä
• Krista Pärmäkoski
• Vilma Ryytty
• Amanda Saari

Men

• Ville Ahonen
• Niko Anttola
• Ristomatti Hakola
• Perttu Hyvärinen
• Emil Liekari
• Remi Lindholm
• Niilo Moilanen
• Joni Mäki
• Arsi Ruuskanen
• Lauri Vuorinen

Staff

• Head coach: Teemu Pasanen
• Men’s coach (sprint): Ville Oksanen
• Women’s head coach: Reijo Jylhä
• Women’s coach: Pia Pekonen

B and U23 National Team

Women

• Ella Noora Haapalehto (U23)
• Silva Kemppi (U23)
• Fanny Kukonlehto (U23)
• Nora Kytäjä (U23)
• Tiia Olkkonen
• Selene Rossi (U23)
• Maija Tiainen (U23)

Men

• Olli Ahonen
• Miro Karppanen
• Ike Melnits (U23)
• Niilo Mäkinen (U23)
• Eero Rantala (U23)
• Juuso Varis (U23)

Staff

• Head coach: Jussi Piirainen

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