Virpi Kuitunen: It would be necessary to give the athletes total freedom to interpret classical technique and to impose more

Neveitalia heard the authoritative opinion of former Finnish fundwriter Virpi Kuitunen about the new rules introduced by FIS in recent seasons to try to limit the races all run with the sliding push. And it launches a freewheel to the FIS on how to limit the big crowds at the Tour de ski.

Monday 17 July 2017 11 minutes reading time

Last Summer 2016 FIS introduced the new rule of thumbs up to 83% to try to limit double poling as far as possible in classic cross country skiing competitions. This summer in the last technical meeting held in Portoroz, after various proposals and discussions between the subcommittees, the Cross-Border Commission has given rise to the decision to create well-reported areas, presumably in the flat stretches, where the sliding thrust will be '' Forbidden and punished with disqualifications. For some years now, after having seen a few athletes in double poling races, these discussions on how to preserve the classical technique follow in Fis and among the workmen. Among the many ideas, some would like to leave full freedom to athletes to handle their features without any restriction, others would like to impose compulsory waxing and others that see classical technique in serious danger and borrow from the biathlon the dispute of all Skating races with a cut in costs especially for young athletes forced from the first races to double their expenses for materials and equipment. On this hot topic in the FIS and media commissions, we used the illustrious opinion of those of classical technology who made almost a vocation with its style so harmonious and technically impeccable but at the same time so successful and effective on all the tracks: the Winner of two World Cups in 2007 and 2008, Virpi Kuitunen. Born in Kangasniemi in May 1976 in Central Finland, after being involved in the 2001 Lahti doping business, Kuitunen was an absolute reference point in 2004 -10 for women's cross-country skiing. With its 27 wins and 52 podiums in the World Cup and the 6 gold medals at the World Championships, the Finnish in that career range dominated the Cup circuit mainly in the classic sprint technique to long-distance races. After finishing his competitive career with the Vancouver Olympics getting the bronze in the relay, Virpi is then married by becoming Mrs. Sarasvuo but remaining in the field by collaborating with the Finnish National TV YLE commenting on domestic races and major events such as world and olympics. What do you think of the new rule introduced last season regarding the height of the rods of 83% in relation to the height of the athlete, with the aim of reducing the efficiency of double poling in classical technique? First of all I do not want to judge anything. I just do not think this new rule has changed a lot in the way of dealing with classic technique. I'm asked why not simplify rules on equipment that are allowed: basic and stable equipment for classic technique and simple skating skating materials. Would not it be 'simple' and equal for everyone? Another issue is long distance races and if the same rules are to be used there too. And what is your opinion about the next introduction of specific areas along the race track in which the driven sliding will be forbidden and decided at the last FIS Congress? I think it's a bit 'artificial way to make athletes decide how to ski in those parts of the track. One more effective thing would be to judge those athletes who sometimes skate in classical races. Some FIS technicians and members see the future of classical technology in jeopardy. What advice would you feel to give to the Race Director to preserve this style, so old but at the same time so harmonious? I just want the classic technique to stay on the cross-country skiing because it's really a harmonious way to move the body in symbiosis with the skis. How to keep it? Make the most difficult paths for double poling. Does any athlete just made slipped pushed during the Lahti World Cup? I do not think . What would you like to change in cross-country skiing, in these times of continuous changes in race forms, and the continued introduction of new rules? Huge question, good question. But maybe the answer is in your question. Why change something every now and then? For example, the 4 hills tournee has great popularity and is almost the same for 50 years to this part. Some top skiers sometimes ski some races during the season. Help should come from the biathlon world where athletes do not have to travel so much during the season as for some weekend in a row the races are held practically in very close neighborhoods. We are only in July now; But BjÃ¸rgen, Kalla, Kowalczyk, Jacobsen have already announced that the 2018 Tour de ski will not be in their race program. Stina Nilsson is still dubious to dispute it and Johaug will probably be still under suspension. In 2018, is the Tour de ski still 'current' as a competition? Or has it already lost the initial interest of media and athletes as it was during its first editions and did you play it? I accidentally already partly answered your question earlier. Athletes who have already been in many high season are well aware of how much energy they want to compete in all competitions and especially in the Tour de Ski. This competition has already burned some athletes during their career and they have to reason with their heads before throwing a whole season into the wind. Year after year make both Tour de ski, World Cup and Olympics or World Cups can be too much. The whole season for cross-country skiing is long and somewhere an athlete must find the way to carry out specific training for the Recover and develop their own optimal shape in view of the February main event. Year after year I notice a decrease in interest in cross-country skiing especially in the Alpine and Eastern European countries. While in the Nordic nations, this situation is less evident. What is your opinion of living in Finland? I think that this is a drop in interest from various factors. I think the lack of real winters and lack of natural snow is the biggest threat to cross-country skiing at this time. It is quite difficult to be interested in winter sports without real winters. In Finland, I am happy that we still have good winter conditions for a long time. Perhaps this is also the reason why cross-country skiing is more common in daily talk of fans and media in the Nordic countries. What's your point in commenting on the national TV races in your future? Do you see yourself in the near future actively involved in the skiing fund as a trainer, manager, or with some assignment at the Federation? I had this project with Yle Tv until Lahti 2017 World Cup. In the future at the moment I have no commitments. I may also have left the world of cross country skiing, but at the same time cross country skiing will never leave me. I love this sport and I'll do it until I can. I'm sure I'll be around this sport somehow, somewhere.

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