Date of birth: 7th June 2000 Residence: Vuokatti Club: Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura
Interview (18.07.2015)
Moi Wille! Can you reveal some of your character traits that make you who you are to my readers and me?
I'm very competitive in everything I do and always try to do my best in training and in competitions. I'm also very impulsive. I'm a hard worker and not satisfied if I fail to be on my level.
What made you become a Nordic Combined athlete?
I started with skiing and alpine skiing when I was about 4 years old. A year later my mom asked if me and my little brother Waltteri wanted to try ski jumping. We both went to ski jumping school and have jumped ever since. All this time we have had many many other sports in addition to NC. Our biggest idol Hannu Manninen shared the same hometown with us and we used to follow him competing succesfully.
Over the past years you've been quite successful at the international FIS Youth Cups and also won this season's first event on snow. How do you feel about your victories?
I'm very happy about my success, but I also know that there's a lot of work to do in the future before I can achieve the same kind of success in adults. I've always been a good skier but I need to stabilize my level with ski jumping as well.
In Oberstdorf and Trondheim the first competitions for ladies were held. What do you think about girls and women in Nordic Combined?
I think everyone should do what they like the best. If that's nordic combined for girls, then just go for it. My little sisters have both tried jumping. They decided to continue with only cross-country skis ;-)
Recently, you concluded the current season with a win at the Finnish U15 championships Hopeasompa in your hometown Rovaniemi. What are your plans for the summer and next winter?
This summer I've continued training in many different ways. Running, orienteering, biking, roller-skiing both free and classic style and jumping; not to forget the gym of course. I've trained quite a lot with skiers since I also belong to a Finnish national top group aka "Hopeasompa Group" in cross country skiing. We spent some familytime in Austria this summer and I trained in the mountains with my brother. We also went jumping to Ramsau. I belong to "Team Lahti" which is a Finnish Youth National Team in nordic combined. We have training camps about once a month mainly in Vuokatti. Next winter my biggest goals are the Finnish Nationals both in nordic combined and in cross country skiing. In nordic combined I hope to be chosen to international competitions for youth. Lillehammer Youth Olympics would be a great experience. Even though no matter how small the competition, I always want to do my very best.
Well, we're all crossing our fingers for your future! Kiitos!