I wonder why Finland did not sent more substitutes. I am afraid in case of Selma Välitalo, as she lives in Oulu (600 kms north from Helsinki), the massive strikes we have here today and tomorrow affect if she did not get the information in time - or strikes do not affect but she did not get the information in time. Or maybe they just have personal obstacles. Nothing is announced and skaters have not been active on ig either. Emmi is shceduled on only one competition Merrano Ice Trophy, so it is her only chance to try to get the FS WC minimums and increase her scores, I counted it is just in time before worlds. Nella may have things at studies to do or injuries, and Linnea's last competition's FS was a disaster, so maybe there is some issue. No reasons is told. Some top skaters are at Bavarian open and that's why they are not shceduled here at the first place. An in juniors Iida is just on her way back to home from YOF, so she could not take part in here.
I'm watching the Icebeat Winter Trophy at the moment, and the Junior Ladies SP finished about an hour ago. And I was surprised to see three Finnish girls competing there. Silja SIVU was 3rd, Unna KUUSINEN was 4th, and Ulla NIEMINEN was 5th after the SP.
Meanwhile at the Bavarian Open, Heidi MOISIO was 3rd in both segments and overall in the second of the two Junior Ladies competitions. And at Advanced Novice level, Annika PELLONMAA was 2nd in both segments and overall in the first of the two competitions, while Jenna OLLANKETO was 13th (9th in SP, 15th in FS) in the second of the two competitions.
I wouldn't have expected any Finnish Singles skaters to be doing other events this week. I was going to ask if these were lower ranked skaters, and if they were competing elsewhere because they weren't in contention for slots at the Nordics. But then I saw who the Senior skaters that are at the Bavarian Open are. And they are certainly not lower ranked skaters!
Is the shine starting to come off the Nordics? Like, the Norwegian Championships were only a few days ago, so there is a lack of skaters from that country here too.
Is the fact that there are no international skaters another indication of this? Or have the Nordics reverted back to just being for skaters from Nordic countries, rather than the open event that it has been in recent years?
To be honest, I prefer the format of it being just the Nordic countries competing against each other. For me, having international skaters meant it lost it's unique selling point. It became just another Senior B.
But, it is worrying if the Nordic countries are not treating it as one of the headline events of the season like they they used to.
CaroLiza_fan
this year?
ALL THE BEST EVERYBODY!!! 