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Iivo Niskanen aims high next season
Iivo Niskanen aims high next season and looks for victory in 50 km at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun 2015.
Finnish Cross-Country team is now at the high altitude training in Val Senales, Italy. The rising star of the Finnish Cross-Country skiing Iivo Niskanen has focused on double poling during the off-season.
“40% of my roller skiing workouts have been double poling. I seem to have moved forward. It will be interesting to see how I will feel in the winter,” Niskanen said to YLE.
There is a good reason for his training focus. “I have set myself a goal - 50 km in Falun next year. It is the last competition, and the crown race of the event. Last year I had a chance to inspect the courses and that is why I have focused on improving my double-poling. That has not been my strength since I only recently moved from the juniors to the senior category,” Niskanen said.
Niskanen had a breakthrough season last winter. In January 2014 he became the FIS U23 World Champion in 15 km classic. Only a few weeks later a highlight of his career came when he and Sami Jauhojärvi claimed gold medal in the team sprint classic at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
“I learned a lot last season. Competing at the World Cup will be different now when I know I can fight with the best for top results,” Niskanen claimed.
Finnish Cross-Country team is now at the high altitude training in Val Senales, Italy. The rising star of the Finnish Cross-Country skiing Iivo Niskanen has focused on double poling during the off-season.
“40% of my roller skiing workouts have been double poling. I seem to have moved forward. It will be interesting to see how I will feel in the winter,” Niskanen said to YLE.
There is a good reason for his training focus. “I have set myself a goal - 50 km in Falun next year. It is the last competition, and the crown race of the event. Last year I had a chance to inspect the courses and that is why I have focused on improving my double-poling. That has not been my strength since I only recently moved from the juniors to the senior category,” Niskanen said.
Niskanen had a breakthrough season last winter. In January 2014 he became the FIS U23 World Champion in 15 km classic. Only a few weeks later a highlight of his career came when he and Sami Jauhojärvi claimed gold medal in the team sprint classic at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
“I learned a lot last season. Competing at the World Cup will be different now when I know I can fight with the best for top results,” Niskanen claimed.
Source: fis-ski.com
