Poutiainen to help Finnish females find the podium

By Published On: September 17th, 2014Comments Off on Poutiainen to help Finnish females find the podium
Poutiainen poses with Ivica Kostelic in Lenzerheide. GEPA/Christian Walgram

Poutiainen poses with Ivica Kostelic in Lenzerheide. GEPA/Christian Walgram

The 2014-15 alpine season opens in Soelden, Austria in a little over a month, but Ski Sport Finland is looking further down the road with its latest initiative, and it has enlisted the support of one of its past champions. The association announced its updated strategy and coaching system in Helsinki on Wednesday.

During the spring and summer, the association’s board of directors and President and CEO Marko Mustosella made plans to reform the entire system of national team training for alpine skiing.

Strategic reforms in three areas are expected to culminate in top-level performance: efficient and effective coaching in the Finnish system— which relies on strong teamwork and cooperation between key players in the national teams system (i.e. alpine schools and academies), strong emphasis on coaching skills and their implementation on a large scale, and, most importantly, the winning attitude that it takes for individuals to perform to their potential and find success.

As part of the training system reform, special attention was paid to the low number of female skiers on alpine national teams. In addition to Merle Soppela, the national team needs more top-class women, so Ski Sport Finland set up TEAM 2018 over the summer which will first look to fill the void below the national teams.

The program aims to raise Finnish female skiers to the World Cup podium in 2018. The hard objective behind the team will be tackled by Jan Tuupainen, coach Bozo Jaklin, and expert Tanja Poutiainen.

“We interviewed the group of 41 athletes, of which we selected a total of 10 for the team. We assembled a talented team and the goals are set high, but keep in mind that success comes only through work and dedication,” Poutiainen said. “A strong team is an important part of the entire program for females… a strong and steady team will also produce results.”

The trio of Poutiainen, Tuupainen and Jaklin will oversee the initiative in the first year and operation period with the aim of consolidating and creating the operational resources necessary for to achievement of the long-term goal.

Ski Sport Finland TEAM 2018 

FIS group:

Camilla Andersson (Ruka Slalom)
Kia Hakala (Harjavalta Scoot)
Hilla Hannola (Santa Claus Ski Team)
Riikka Honkanen (Alpine Race Team Tabor)
Julia Toiviainen (Santa Claus Ski Team)

Audi Group:

Inka Antikainen (Espoo Slalom)
Nella Korpioja (Espoo Slalom)
Netta Lappalainen (Siilinjärven effort)
Kia Larilahti (Espoo Slalom)
Erika Pykäläinen (Hyvinkään Slalom Society Shuttle)

Release courtesy of Ski Sport Finland

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