04May 2021 by The Daily Skier Editorial
Olli Ohtonen, Iivo Niskanen’s Coach, On Modern Training Methods Of Top Athletes

Olli Ohtonen, Iivo Niskanen’s Coach, On Modern Training Methods Of Top Athletes

Leaders, Newsfeed
One of the most fascinating aspects of cross-country skiing as a pro-sport is how fast and how radically the technique changes. What was considered ideal barely ten years ago ( insert your favorite skier's name here) - is decidedly old-school today. That's largeky because world's top scientists got involved and, with countless measurements, research & fine-tuning , effort to help athletes to shave off yet another second in competition. The Daily Skier went to Vuokatti, Finland, to talk to one of the best known " wizards of better technique". Meet Olli Ohtonen, Iivo Niskanen's coach. A world-class skier himself, Ohtonen competed at the World Championships and at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, then received PhD in Sports Science at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland's prime sport research facility. Subject? "Requirements…
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08Feb 2021 by DS News Team
Junior World Ski Championships – Why Is It Needed This Year?

Junior World Ski Championships – Why Is It Needed This Year?

Leaders, Newsfeed
Why is the FIS Junior/ U23 World Championships even needed in these times of Covid, when travel restrictions are abound while spectators are not present and the general mood, at least in Europe, is rather "locked-down" to sour ? We asked top coaches who brought their teams to Vuokatti: [caption id="attachment_17814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Justyna Kowalczyk-Tekieli, Poland:- We feel confident with all those disease-spread preventing measures taken by the organizers,feel safe. On the other hand, the guys & the girls were working hard all year to compete at the JWSC. We can't just stop living - the competitions should go on[/caption]. [caption id="attachment_17812" align="alignnone" width="1002"] Monika Korra, Norway- It’s important for our sport - the future of skiing. JWSC is the goal for hundreds of junior skiers around the world, it…
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01Feb 2021 by DS News Team
Finnish Wonderland Gears Up For World Juniors/ U23

Finnish Wonderland Gears Up For World Juniors/ U23

Leaders, Newsfeed
The FIS Nordic Junior and U23 World Ski Championships was a bit of an orphant this tough year - but, as in any good fairytale, it looks like it found a perfect home at last. " Vuokatti is the place where the JWC will hit the road running" smiles Vuokatti Sport spokesman Topi Kuorelahti, himself a national-level skier. And indeed it impresses pretty much on the first sight, whichever is your personal preference. [caption id="attachment_17687" align="alignnone" width="1689"] Vuokatti ski trails should more properly be called " ski highways"[/caption] 150 kilometers of wide perfectly groomed, carefully maintained ski trails you could access from your hotel or rental house? Check. Including those modern crazy-tough and thus FIS homologated where the actual races of the Championships shall be held. Speaking of hotels: 650…
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13Nov 2020 by DS News Team
Vuokatti Will Host FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships In February 2021

Vuokatti Will Host FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships In February 2021

Leaders, Newsfeed
The FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships 2021 has finally found its home - fingers crossed. It was an unusually long and dramatic story: two initial locations in Poland had to withdraw even before Covid-19 pandemics in favor of Zakopane. Then Zakopane asked FIS to move it's hosting bid to 2022. Then there was a bit of confusion when FIS officially named the Italian town of Pragelato as the JWC'21 - unbeknownst to the Italian hosts. Finally Viokatti stepped in and saved the day. Unlike fairly exotic Zakopane and Prageloto, the Finnish town is a total mainstream location for the most if not all elite skiers, not the least because of its ski tunnel. Lahti, Finland was the location of JWC 2019 ( junior ski jumpers and Nordic combiners will…
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