Figure skating Jenni Saarinen got to train in Mecca for figure skaters – She rides a bike for practice

Clock is not yet nine in the morning when Jenni Saarinen finishes his first practice of the day at the Oberstdorf Ice Rink in Germany.

There is a second ice workout during the day and a third in the evening.

“Pretty normal, depends a bit on the day and the week,” Saarinen, 22, tells HS by phone from the edge of the ice.

Oberstdorf is a mecca for figure skaters, where Saarinen has been practicing and living for a year and a half. The place is familiar too Valtter Virtanen, who often visit there from Finland.

Saarinen will come to Finland next week and take part in the Finnish Championships in Pori before Christmas. He has never won a championship yet, although he secured a place for Finland in the Beijing Olympics in the spring.

For one there is fierce internal competition for the Olympic venue. At least they are competing with Saarinen for a seat Emmi Peltonen and Linnea Ceder.

Finland has two places in the January European Championships. Only after that will it be decided who gets the Olympic place.

“The European Championships are our last place on the screen. That is really important. The Finnish Championships, on the other hand, decide the European Championship places. It’s nice that we’re fighting each other for seats, ”says Saarinen.

Although Saarinen does not say it out loud, it is clear that he intends to hold on to the Olympic venue he has acquired.

Vice versa like last year, figure skaters now have a lot of competitions. Saarinen has already competed this season in Espoo (12th), Beijing (5th), Dortmund (5th) and most recently in Warsaw (9th).

“Now comes a good break before the Finnish Championships. There’s time to hone even more of the free program. ”

Saarinen is not completely satisfied with his early skating. The old short program has gone well: he improved his record from 63.54 points to 68.71 points. Instead, the free-to-air classical-style freestyle program with new choreography has produced difficulties.

“In a way, I’m disappointed with the season but at the same time happy. There have been a lot of inconveniences with the free program. I work on it a lot. There’s a mental block on it, but I’m glad it’s still coming from there. ”

Programs responsible for choreography Adam Solya and Michael Huth.

Solya is a professional dancer who uses classical ballet, modern dance and modern upper body movements in her choreographies. He also has experience as an actor.

Huth from Germany is also responsible for coaching Saarinen in Oberstdorf. In addition to Saarinen, the international coaching team includes skaters from Switzerland, Denmark and Germany.

The language of instruction is English. Although Saarinen has been in Oberstdorf for a long time, he does not speak German.

“Enkulla is doing well. The German language is not yet fluent. I understand a few words. I guess I still have time to learn it, but I haven’t decided how long I’ll be here. Season by season. ”

In Finland, he is responsible for additional training Jarkko Näppilä, who is also the physics coach of the Ilves league hockey team.

Training trips in the snowy Oberstdorf go smoothly by bike. The hall is two miles and ten minutes uphill biking.

“It’s about a good initial warm-up. Then you can only go home, ”Saarinen says with a laugh.

Saarinen lives in Oberstdorf with Valtter Virtanen’s German spouse Alinan in an apartment owned by parents.

Due to rigorous training and competition for the Olympic place, Saarinen did not start his undergraduate studies in physical education at Varala Sports College in Tampere.

“It was completely missed when I moved here. I couldn’t start it, but I did the first level coach training for the Figure Skating Association. It’s nice to be something else. ”

Between easing the corona pandemic has also come back to Germany by force. There is a must-have in shops and public spaces.

“You have to be careful in the hall that you are training with the same group so that you do not come from outside. Last year I didn’t even get to the gym. It’s easier now with two vaccines. ”