“We have to get a Women’s World Cup as soon as possible!”

After a breakout year, 2017 Junior World Champion Arttu Mäkiaho from Finland did not have the best winter 2018/19. In this week’s TUESDAY TALK, the 21-year-old analyses the past season, looks ahead to the future and lists why the development of a Women’s World Cup is so important for Nordic Combined.

Looking back on last season, are you satisfied?

Arttu Mäkiaho: No, I’m not really satisfied about the last season. I had a few good competitions for sure for me but especially the first period of season was really difficult.

What are your goals for the next season, which is without any “big” highlights and title events?

Mäkiaho: My main goal for next season is to improve my results in the World Cup. Of course I want to get a new personal best result and I will try to establish my performance closer to the top.

While you yourself are also still a young athlete, last season, some of your even younger teammates got the chance to show their skills in World Cup. What do you think about their performance?

Mäkiaho: It's always important that the young athletes get a chance to show their skills in World Cup and to experience the level of the world’s  best athletes. There were good signs that they have done a really good job in the last years and surely they will bring good results in World Cup sooner or later.

The upcoming Summer Grand Prix will feature new venues and also a competition together with the women. How do you rate the development of the women in your sport?

Mäkiaho: It's really important. We have to get a Women’s World Cup as soon as possible. We are a niche sport and it's not easy to find new athletes for Nordic Combined but when we can arouse more interest (on TV, social media and so on) I hope it will help to recruit more children and teenagers to our sport.

What is the benefit of competitions in the summer, even when Nordic Combined is a winter sports and the conditions vary considerably between summer and winter events?

Mäkiaho: It is quite important to have these events in the summer to see where you are compared to the other athletes. Especially for the jumping level, it’s crucial to have this comparison.

What do you think about you team’s development in last years?

Mäkiaho: We have done a really good job in our team for many years. We have one of the strongest team in the skiing part. Our problems have been in jumping but I think we can (and already have) solve those problems. Everyone in our team wants to learn and improve themselves every day. That is the team spirit that make us stronger every day!

Source and special thanks to: Finnjumping Fans Germany