This past weekend the Finns competed at the Finnish Cup in Taivalkoski as the last qualification races before the opening weekend of the 2022/2023 World Cup season in Ruka on November 25 to 27. 

Saturday’s classic sprint had qualification value to Ruka, whereas Sunday’s skate race was not a direct qualification race. Finnish skiers have already competed for World Cup spots at the Finnish Cup in Vuokatti and at Olos FIS-races earlier this month. 

While some big national team names such as Iivo Niskanen and Jasmi Joensuu were not present, the weekend brought some surprises and strong performances, from which Finnish ski fans can expect strong performances at the World Cup the upcoming weekend. 

Saturday women’s sprint did not see big surprises as Finnish national team trio Johanna Matintalo, Katri Lylynperä, and Jasmin Kähärä completed the podium. Krista Pärmäkoski won the qualification but did not proceed to the finals. 

Sprint Classic, Top3 Women

1. Johanna Matintalo 3:20.20
2. Katri Lylynperä +0.66
3. Jasmin Kähärä +1.41

Qualification 

Final results 

Matintalo described her season’s first race for maastohiihto.com as a positive sign forward: 

“I would have wished for a little sharper feeling, but it was a positive race. For sure, not fast enough to succeed internationally yet, but everything looks good. I want to do always well when there is a classic sprint in the program at the World Cup, and I hope I will ski faster in Ruka than this weekend. It can go well or not so well, and I will go there with an open mind.” 

Lylynperä has had some challenges, and she believes that the shape is getting better: 

“I will give my body some time to recover, but I am hoping that I can challenge myself in Ruka and get a weekend that will bring my shape forward.” 

Kähärä, who is usually known as a strong skate sprinter, was happy about her 3rd place: 

“It was a positive surprise. In Vuokatti, I did not have such good feelings, and I had to push myself, but the training camp in Olos seems to have changed that. Today was quite special, and I could push the pace even toward the end of the heats and fight for the placements. Especially the final was great. This brought some confidence thinking about Ruka.” 

The men’s sprint brought perhaps a bigger surprise – Finnish National B-Team member Olli Ahonen dominated the day by taking a sovereign win after defeating all his heats and final from the start. The podium was completed by his brother Ville Ahonen and Juuso Haarala. 

Sprint Classic, Top 3 Men

1. Olli Ahonen 2:52.14
2. Ville Ahonen +1.52
3. Juuso Haarala +1.93

Qualification

Final results

Ahonen commented on his first win at the Finnish Cup and his expectations of Ruka for maastohiihto.com: 

“I am surprised. Vuokatti weekend was good, and after, it has been more challenging with recovery. Somehow, I have been able to turn it around. My idea today was to keep the high speed from the beginning, and then I realized that I had made a gap. I even had some time to celebrate. I skied in Ruka in 2019 and did not qualify for the heats back then, so that is the first goal, and we will see from there.”

On the women’s 10km skate, Kerttu Niskanen dominated the race, followed by biathlete Mari Eder. Anni Alakoski completed the podium.  

10km F, Top3 Women

1. Kerttu Niskanen, 22:54.1
2. Mari Eder, +19.1
3. Anni Alakoski, +55.5

Complete results 

Niskanen is confident ahead of the World Cup premiere: 

“I am satisfied. I came here to win and got it. Good, fast race to finish off the snow camp. Now I will go home and prepare for Ruka,” Niskanen said in the Ski Federation’s recording. She took the win at a fast track by nearly 20 seconds ahead of Eder and almost a minute ahead of Alakoski, so she can be expected to perform well at Ruka. 

The men’s race saw some dramatic moments when Joni Mäki skied out of the track on a downhill. Despite the fall, he was able to turn the challenging weekend into a victory. Lepistö took second place 10 seconds behind Mäki, and the podium was completed by Tossavainen 18 seconds behind the day’s winner. 

15km F, Top3 Men 

1. Joni Mäki, 29:25.0
2. Lauri Lepistö, +10.1
3. Juuso Tossavainen, +17.9

Complete results 

“Today was a good, controlled race. A bit icy in some parts, and my back got a little stiff. Conditions were fast, so fast that I even had time to pick some pine cones along the way,” Mäki said, referring to his fall. 

Finland’s team for Ruka World Cup has been selected, and you can see Finland’s entire squad for Ruka here: Finland’s Team To The World Cup In Ruka.

Read More: Cross-Country Skiing Changes and World Cup Calendar For The 2022/2023 Season