Aino-Kaisa Saarinen laments Finland women’s team situation after Ruka — questions FIS entry rules and calls for more Olympic-distance races

Yle’s cross-country skiing expert and multiple championship medalist Aino-Kaisa Saarinen assessed the main talking points after the Ruka World Cup opener.

On Finland’s women’s team after Pärmäkoski - Saarinen says the biggest topic is Krista Pärmäkoski’s retirement and, in particular, who can fill the void she leaves. She calls the situation on the women’s side “a bit painful,” noting that it’s a short timeframe to develop a replacement with similar breadth and consistency. - Potential step-ups exist, but Saarinen does not yet see a truly versatile skier on the verge of a full breakthrough. She mentions: - Johanna Matintalo can raise her level on a good day, but still has a gap in freestyle. - Vilma Ryytty flashed potential last season, but her results have dipped. - Amanda Saari has promising classic sprint results, but lacks broader success so far.

A surprise at Ruka - Saarinen highlights Emil Liekari’s strong classic sprint as a positive surprise: second-fastest in qualifying, winner of his quarterfinal, then out in the semifinals, finishing 11th — his second-best World Cup result. She adds that his endurance base still needs work, but the performance lifted spirits.

A flop: new FIS entry policies - Saarinen criticizes FIS’s recent approach that let athletes with little prior standing enter top-tier World Cups to chase FIS points, mentioning examples from non-traditional ski nations. She argues FIS points should be earned in national-level races rather than directly in first-category events, noting such entries created congestion and confusion in the field.

Olympic-season calendar questions - Saarinen wonders why, in an Olympic year, the World Cup doesn’t feature more Olympic/World Championship distances. She believes mirroring championship formats would simplify selection decisions for federations and give athletes clearer targets.

Women’s DNFs and technical demands - An unusually high number of DNFs appeared in the women’s race at Ruka. Four Finns — Eveliina Piippo, Anni Alakoski, Hilla Niemelä and Oona Kettunen — did not finish. Piippo and Alakoski cited caution on the icy course; Piippo is also managing a back issue. Kettunen fell early and felt there was no realistic way back to good positions. - Saarinen stresses learning downhill skills and fearlessness from a young age; losing seconds on descents forces costly efforts on the flats. Even in difficult conditions, she suggests finishing as training when possible, since such icy “tracks” are a recurring reality.

What’s next - The coming weeks will be decisive for Olympic selection opportunities. Saarinen hopes criteria and race choices can be clarified, ideally featuring more championship-standard distances in Olympic seasons to make selections fairer and simpler.

The World Cup now moves to Trondheim (5–7 December) with classic sprints on Friday, skiathlons on Saturday, and 10 km freestyle interval starts on Sunday, broadcast live on Yle.