World Ski Championships Krista Pärmäkoski's hunt for success has had a great impact on those close to me, I certainly haven't been able to thank them enough

Tarvisio When you drive twenty kilometers from Planica on a winding and undulating mountain road to the west, you end up on the Italian side in the charming, old and small town of Tarvisio The Finnish national skiing team will stay here during the World Championships.

Based on the first glance, it can be said that in Tarvisio the team will get away from the hustle and bustle of the competition However, race day is not lounging in a hotel.

"The days are already routine Let's go to the race venue, eat and go for a run.

There isn't too much free time left, and it hasn't gotten boring," says Krista Pärmäkoski with the experience of 11 prestigious events On the Planica side, the landscapes are familiar to Pärmäkoski and immediately bring back good memories: I've managed here before! On these same tracks, Pärmäkoski took his first World Cup competition victory of his career in January 2018, just before the Olympians who brought three medals.

"It brings confidence, even though it's been a long time If there is a competition venue where you have always failed, you always feel a little more uncertain," says Pärmäkoski.

The opening victory of his career came in the 10 kilometer traditional race You don't ski that at the World Championships, when you go for free.

"There are nice routes here There is a lot of work to be done on the free, long uphill sections," says the skier, referring to the technique where the poles are used to push speed with each skating kick.

It is used in the plains and gentle highlands Pärmäkoski is here again as one of Finland's hopes.

The necks carry the highest expectations, but Pärmäkoski is in a situation this time as well, from which you can strive for medals It is the position that was arranged for him well in advance in his twenties.

There was talk of a successor to Virpi Sarasvuo (née Kuitunen), so the boots were not small Five medals in the prestigious youth competitions gave impetus to the speeches.

For the first time, Pärmäkoski was in the adult competition already in 2009 in Liberec, Czech Republic, i e.

when he was only 18 years old That's when the belt got one race trip.

The following year's Olympics in Vancouver, Canada were also a study trip in Pärmäkoski's eyes "Since then, I've entered every competition to really succeed," says Pärmäkoski.

"At the time, I couldn't think about what kind of career lay ahead When I got up I thought I'd enjoy myself and go one year at a time.

Every time I went to the Games, I thought that this is my moment "After the "study trips", the medal has been missed in only one competition in Seefeld, Austria 2019, and even then it was one and a half seconds away at 10 kilometers.

The loss margin still comes from the skier like from the pharmacy shelf The Olympics have become a medal every time since the Vancouver Games.

What has to happen for a medal to be made here as well? "Skiing really hard, that's enough " Medal hopes do not depend on one card.

Pärmäkoski's versatility is indicated by the fact that he has filled his trophy cabinet from the combined race, 10 kilometers, 30 kilometers, as well as the pair sprint and the relay There have been successes with both styles.

Only the sprint medal is missing, but he has rarely skied that distance Pärmäkoski says that previous success on many trips brings relaxation and self-confidence.

Not everything has to be successful on one particular day "With Matti, we have succeeded in that I have always been in the best shape of the season in value competitions," says Pärmäkoski, referring to his coach Matti Haavisto.

Haavisto does not take credit for timing the fitness, but above all praises the athlete's skills So much experience has been accumulated over the years that the coach and the athlete know exactly what works.

"The key to everything is that the athlete knows himself and knows how to analyze his own mood and talk about it Based on that, we know how to adjust the last exercises, and we don't beat our head against the wall if we feel tired," says Haavisto.

The best condition is required this time as well Krista Pärmäkoski has not been a guaranteed performer in this snow.

The output level has even fluctuated surprisingly much The skier assures, that he has not been worried, but that there has always been some explanation for the weaker results.

In Beitostølen he didn't get enough nutrition, in Val Müstair he had bad luck in the sprint and a bad ski and so on Already when skiing in Davos during the Christmas break, Pärmäkoski knew that this would be good.

It was also seen by the skiing nation at the Tour de Ski before a stomach bug ruined the climax Especially the 20 km free race in Oberstdorf was a strong performance.

The chasers were left behind and Frida Karlsson, who started ahead, had to do her best for her victory "It was a hard performance from me," says Pärmäkoski.

"It was definitely one of the best vapari competitions of my career It gave me confidence to take time off.

Vapaa plays a dominant role for me at the World Championships " Due to the illness, my condition temporarily declined.

Pärmäkoski dug back his peak attack at the high altitude camp in Italy's Passo Lavazè, where the sun was shining and the conditions were right Matti Haavisto, who has coached Pärmäkoski since the beginning of his career, followed the activities there with a close eye.

"I started to find the mood I hope there will be enough time", Haavisto said during the World Championships, and Pärmäkoski also commented in almost the same words.

"Let's hope", he laughs about finding a good one "I am very confident.

We'll see after Saturday " There are small question marks in the air under the opening trip.

Over the years and more than a decade, Krista Pärmäkoske has grown not only into a top athlete but also into a top professional Since the beginning of their career, the front image of Ikaalisten Urheilijde has measured the quality of their sleep every night and dug for their side the margins of success wherever they have been available.

Before last year's Olympics, Pärmäkoski's manager Aki Pajunoja, who has a doctorate in atmospheric particles, forbade his athletes to burn candles to protect their lungs At home, the skier has an air purifier equipped with efficient filters.

When traveling, he wears an FFP2 mask and never goes anywhere without hand sanitizer and rubber gloves Drink water only from your own bottle.

If possible, also bring your own snacks There are hardly any shops.

The disciplined life does not only apply to Pärmäkoski Before last winter's Olympics, the skier made her husband Tommi Pärmäkoski live in a sauna in the yard to avoid contact.

Manager Aki Pajunoja and ski tester Maaret Pajunoja also kept encounters to a minimum, so that no disease would travel to Pärmäkoski Vijunoja moved to remote work and did not visit relatives.

"It was okay when we saw the kind of investment Krista had in the Olympics," says Aki Pajunoja "It's great that they throw themselves in, but in a way it also feels bad, because one's own career defines so much of other people's lives," he says.

"I certainly haven't been able to thank them enough " Pärmäkoski has gradually adapted to the everyday life of a top athlete.

It's not always easy for a social person A godchild who has reached school age is not and cannot be seen very often.

When you're traveling 250 days a year, you don't like to make extra trips at home This season, Pärmäkoski has given himself permission to extend visits to loved ones a little longer.

"I've even burned candles!" Pärmäkoski says and laughs "But I still want to do everything as well as possible.

When work is done in the summer and fall, why goof around with it during the season " Pärmäkoski says that success simply wouldn't be possible anymore without constant effort.

He wants to set an example for the younger skiers of the national team In exactly the same way as he received models from experienced stars twenty years ago.

"i Like This Job I Enjoy When I Get To Run

" Finns: Anne Kyllönen, Kerttu Niskanen, Eveliina Piippo, Krista Pärmäkoski Distance: On Saturday, the women first ran 7.

5 kilometers on a traditional course and then 7 5 kilometers on a free course.

This happened last time: at the Beijing Olympics a year ago, Niskanen was the best Finn in the women's competition, fourth, Pärmäkoski seventh, and Kyllönen 22nd Piippo, who has returned to the competition level, will take 12 in Beijing: the place of Johanna Matintalo, who succeeded her.

Therese Johaug, who won the gold, has retired and Natalia Neprjaeva, who took the silver, has been banned from the games like other Russians Bronze medalist Teresa Stadlober is included.

Source: STT.