The national orienteering team’s head coach Thierry Georgiou has nominated the squad for the World Cup opening in Norway next week. Finland will line up with 18 athletes during the cup opening.
In Norway, you compete in three different distances, Lång distans, medeldistans och relay. With the team there is an FSO orientation, Pargas IF’s Amy Nymalm, as well as established stars such as Marika Teini and Miika Kirmula. In addition, World Cup debutants such as Eeva-Liina Ojanaho, Milja Väätäjä and Aleksi Sorsa will compete with the world elite.
National team coach Thierry Georgiou thinks it was extra stressful to select the team because of the early start to the season.
– It was a stressful selection process as the World Cup starts so early. We conducted two review competitions in Norway last week. It’s been a long winter with a lot of snow, and I don’t think anyone is very well prepared yet, commented Georgiou.
– It is difficult to guess anything about the success. The debutants are there to gather experience, and we don’t place any great expectations on them. Later in the WC, many different things have to fall into place if you want to achieve success.
The main competition of the season is the WC competitions in Switzerland in July. The competitions are partly at high altitude, which is also visible in the orienteers’ preparations.
– We have qualifying competitions for the WC at the beginning of June. As the competitions take place at a high altitude, it is difficult to prepare at home in Finland. After Jukola, many will spend a lot of training time in the Alps. In the WC, you have to be well prepared to compete on steep slopes, and it takes time to get used to it, said Georgiou.
Yle broadcasts the World Cup in Norway on TV2 and on Arenan.
The national orienteering team’s main competitions:
April 26-30: World Cup Part 1, Norway
July 11-16: World Orienteering Championships, Switzerland
August 1-6: World Cup Part 2, Czech Republic
October 3-8: EC competitions (sprint) and World Cup part 3, Italy
The squad for the World Cup in Norway:
Ladies (9):
Anna Haataja SK Pohjanstähti
Venla Harju The Pursuit of Tampere
Amy Nymalm Pargas IF
Miia Niittynen Kalevan Rasti
Eeva-Liina Ojanaho Ounasvaara Ski Club
Maija Sianoja MS Parma
Marika Teini Kalevan Rasti
Anu Tuomisto NTNUI
Milja Väätäjä Paimion Rasti
Reserve: Saila Kinni Tampere Pyrintö (lång distans).
Gentlemen: (9):
Miika Kirmula Kalevan Rasti
Elias Kuukka Pursuit of Tampere
Olli Ojanaho Helsinki Orientators
Teemu Oksanen Ikaalisten Nouseva-Voima
Akseli Ruohola MS Parma
Eetu Savolainen Ikaalisten Nouseva-Voima
Touko Seppä Turku Guides
Aleksi Sorsa Pursuit of Tampere
Topi Syrjäläinen Helsinki Guides
Reserve: Severi Kymäläinen Pursuit of Tampere (lång distans)
