Finland!

[Spun Silver]

Finland and the US are the only countries that get to send 3 ladies to World Juniors next year.

Is that amazing or is it just me?

Congratulations, Finland and Finns! What's happening over there?! Don't just tell me there is a lot of ice. Russia and Sweden have plenty of ice.

Disclaimer: I once went to Finland (in midwinter) and LOVED it!

 

[sussweden]

Finland have actually had at least one lady skater in the 1970´t or 80 who was quite good Kristina, don´t remember her last name.

/Lena

 

[Wolfgang]

You know, with all the beautiful ladies and ice they have there, all the Scandinavian countries should feel an almost moral obligation to have lots of figure skaters.....

 

[Jaana]

Finland have actually had at least one lady skater in the 1970´t or 80 who was quite good Kristina, don´t remember her last name.

/Lena

She was called Kristiina Wegelius. I loved her skating, beautiful spins and an awesome double axel. Unfortunately in competitions she never managed to jump a triple jump (which kept her from the podium).

WOW, for the Finnish junior ladies... In Finland there has been lots of interest towards ladies singles skating during quite many years now. Skaters like Alisa Drei, Elina Kettunen, Susanna Poykio and Kiira Korpi have achieved it with their skating. New talents are also there, e.g. Laura Lepisto and Jenni Vahamaa.

Disclaimer: I once went to Finland (in midwinter) and LOVED it!

I´m very glad to hear that!

 

[TtonyV7]

It is indeed a very exciting time in Finland for ladies skating. With the decline of skating from the former powerhouses such as France, Germany, and Ukraine (and momentarily Russia), it's absolutely refreshing to see Finland picking up the pieces. There is also a decent chance, if both Poykio and Korpi skate their best to garner three spots for Finland at Worlds! (9th and 10th last season)

 

[Tinymavy15]

wow. finland beat out the japanese and the russians!!

 

[Kati]

Hooray for our lovely figure skating ladies!
Kristiina Wegelius, she already had that soft and beautiful style.
I also loved to watch the peformances of Mila Kajas!
Alisa Drei, Elina Kettunen, Susanna Pöykiö and Kiira Korpi really seem to have started a skating boom...
And we have a great future in Laura Lepistö, Jenni Vähämaa, Sofia Otala etc.
Not bad for a little nation of only 5, 27 millions...

 

[Spun Silver]

What about your coaches? Who are they, what are they doing?

 

[Kati]

What about your coaches? Who are they, what are they doing?

Alisa Drei is coached by her mother, Elena Drei-Koskinen. She occasionally tried other coaches, too. Elena and Alisa are both born in Russia. Alisa represents Riihimäki figure skating club.
Elina Kettunen - coach: Susanna Haarala, later: Tiiu Valgemäe (her name is Estonian), Tarja Sipilä. Elina is from Helsinki.
Susanna Pöykiö's longtime coach was Berit Kaijomaa; now she is coached by her sister, Heidi Pöykiö (Oulun Luistelukerho club, Oulu)..
Kiira Korpi's coach is Maaret Siromaa (Tampere, Tappara club).
Jenni Vähämaa and Laura Lepistö are skating in the same club, Espoon Jäätaiturit. They are coached by Virpi Horttana.
Sofia Otala's coach is Sirkku Kaipio (used to coach f.ex. Markus Leminen). Sofia's club is Helsingin Luistelijat, Helsinki.

So they are from different towns and differnet clubs. I don't know anything of coaches background, but maybe somebody does?

 

[Mathman]

OT, but do any of these fine performers ever skate to Sibelius?

 

[Kati]

OT, but do any of these fine performers ever skate to Sibelius?

The only Finnish skaters I can remember using Sibelius' music are ice dancers Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko in 1993 (Valse Triste)... Might be more though. Valse triste or Finlandia have been used at least by some American skaters later (Johnny Weir comes into mind). BTW Susanna Pöykiö is using Finnish heavy metal band Apocalyptica's music in her SP this season...

 

[sussweden]

BTW Susanna Pöykiö is using Finnish heavy metal band Apocalyptica's music in her SP this season...

I´m so happy about this, have wanted someone to skate to Apocalyptica for some time now. They are 4 guys playing cello. By the way isn´t Brian J using them too?


/Lena

 

[Lumi]

Does anuone know what Elina Kettunen is doing now? It is such a shame she quite. I remember that I prefered her to Susanna, altough Susanna has always been nice skater too.

It would dream to earn three spots for Worlds 2008, but I think even keeping two spots will be hard. Deep is very deep this year.