Finnish skating news, 2018 onwards

[Hanna]

Simonenko’s interview with Viveca for Russian press
https://rsport.ria.ru/20190130/1550097797.html

Translation

Thanks for this!

I'm shocked at the length of the answers. Also, I never realized that there are actually 5 children instead of 4 and that there's an older brother (who doesn't skate even though his name is Axel ). I always thought Viveca was the eldest!

I wonder if she and Emmi peltonen get along ... I remember seeing minimal communication between them at medal ceremonies in Finnish nationals

I always got the impression that Viveca is a bit of a lone wolf and not much friends with anyone. But that only comes from what I've seen in public, I obviously don't know her personally. I think Emmi is much better friends with Jenni Saarinen, for example.

 

[Kelvster]

I am excited that jenni Saarinen may get the chance to compete in euros next year! Must be great motivation for her. She's absolutely beautiful to watch

 

[nimi]

Just noticed this on SkatingFinland: Valtter defended his doctoral thesis earlier today! It's titled "Genetics of diverse phenotypes in Hirschsprung disease - extension of aganglionosis, heredity and medullary thyroid carcinoma".

For those who are interested, the thesis is available here: https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/284192

Yay for Dr. Virtanen!

 

[Kelvster]

Just noticed this on SkatingFinland: Valtter defended his doctoral thesis earlier today! It's titled "Genetics of diverse phenotypes in Hirschsprung disease - extension of aganglionosis, heredity and medullary thyroid carcinoma".

For those who are interested, the thesis is available here: https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/284192

Yay for Dr. Virtanen!

What is hirschsprung disease? Wonder if he has had time training for worlds while defending his thesis haha ... any news about whether he will be sent (since Galay doesn't seem to have the minimums?)

 

[doubleturn]

What is hirschsprung disease? Wonder if he has had time training for worlds while defending his thesis haha ... any news about whether he will be sent (since Galay doesn't seem to have the minimums?)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirschsprung's_disease

It is a birth defect in which nerves are missing from part of the intestine.

 

[nimi]

Wonder if he has had time training for worlds while defending his thesis haha ... any news about whether he will be sent (since Galay doesn't seem to have the minimums?)

That's why I was checking the SkatingFinland twitter in the first place ... but nope, nothing announced yet.

Meanwhile, the jr dance champs Poutiainen/Niskanen will skate in Egna later today. They only teamed up last summer, so this must be their international debut. At Nats, their TES scores for RD/FD were 13.80/25.28, so I don't expect them to get the TES minimums required for Jr Worlds (25/42) but it's cool they get a chance to compete internationally this early in their career!

According to the time schedule, their turn is around/after 5 pm local time. Live stream on YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/idealwebtv

 

[rfisher]

Just noticed this on SkatingFinland: Valtter defended his doctoral thesis earlier today! It's titled "Genetics of diverse phenotypes in Hirschsprung disease - extension of aganglionosis, heredity and medullary thyroid carcinoma".

For those who are interested, the thesis is available here: https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/284192

Yay for Dr. Virtanen!

Did he do a PhD and a MD? If so, that's really impressive.

 

[sus2850]

Did he do a PhD and a MD? If so, that's really impressive.

I guess MD only exists in the US. In Finland it might be like in Germany, where about 90 percent of doctors do their doctorate after their usual degree as well, it is considered easier though than a phd after which you are a Dr phil or a doctorate of science (Dr rer nat) and they are then a Dr. med., but the title in itself (Dr) has the same weight as a Dr phil.
In Germany there are 2 words though: you can call yourself „Arzt“ when you have finished the medical degree successfully, but you need to do a doctorate after that to call yourself „Dr“. So in hospitals or private practices you sometimes see doctors without the title „Dr“ on their name tags but they do have the degree that would be called MD in the US.
(Not sure this explanation makes sense if you do not have different Dr titles in itself apart from Dr phil)

 

[kwanfan1818]

In the US it is more likely for people to be pissy that a PhD gets to use "Dr." because a PhD isn't a "real" doctor.

 

[Orm Irian]

I guess MD only exists in the US

No, the degree of Doctor of Medicine (at my university, the specific degree is called an MBBS, Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, and entitles one to use the title of Dr) exists in many countries and is usually separate from a Doctorate (research-focussed postgraduate degree) in Medicine, Surgery etc. But the methods of achieving the title of Dr are different across those different countries too. For example, here you don't have to waste years and obscene amounts of money on a 'pre-med' degree but can go straight into the MBBS as an undergraduate provided you have the required Year 12 scores and pass the qualifications interview.

Valtter Virtanen completing both a medical degree and a research degree is a huge achievement and I'm stunned that he's been able to continue competing at the same time. I was barely able to stand upright by the time I finished my PhD! All my admiration to him.

 

[nimi]

I'm a bit shaken after watching the the Bavarian Open FD event. T/V were leading after the RD with a new PB of 72.30(!) and skated last in the FD... and then tripped and fell in their st sq and ended up 3rd overall. It was very sudden and I'm not 100% sure if Juulia hit her head or not (I really hope not) but it looked like she got a cut in her chin and was covered in blood spatters by the end of the program...

I really hope they both are OK. They've competed A LOT this season and they were still supposed to go to the Universiade before the Worlds (source). I guess we'll hear soon enough whether they still are going.

In happier news, Jenni Saarinen won the Nordics while Vera Stolt got bronze. Both are overjoyed!
https://twitter.com/SkatingFinland/status/1094597017760862208

Jenni has won this comp once before, back in 2015.

 

[nimi]

Linnea Ceder was picked for Team Finland in the European Youth Olympic Festival next month. She's the sole Finnish figure skater there: https://www.olympiakomitea.fi/2019/01/22/suomen-joukkue-eyof-talvikisoihin-valittu/

Linnea is currently 9th after the SP with 46.25 points (protocol). She fell on the 3F (and is bummed about that) and her spins looked labored but it was an okay effort overall. Linnea will skate her FS this afternoon, schedule & link to the official stream here: http://ksbih.ba

Also, the JWC entries are now up on the iSU site and looks like Linnea will be the sole Finnish representative there, too. Vera and Sofia are the alternates in ladies: http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat03109137.htm

 

[nimi]

I'm probably gonna stop monologuing here, but one more last update before I give it a rest...

Roman's last chance for getting the TES minimums was at the Jégvirág Cup last weekend but that didn't work out for him (DNF after a disappointing short). So, Roman goes to Universiade but Dr. Virtanen goes to the Worlds: https://www.stll.fi/2019/02/18/yksinluistelun-ja-jaatanssin-mm-edustajat-nimetty/

Team Finland for #WorldFigure 2019 has now been confirmed: Juulia Turkkila–Matthias Versluis (ice dance), Viveca Lindfors (ladies) and Valtter Virtanen (men). Congrats!

https://twitter.com/SkatingFinland/status/1097428263465562113

 

[Kelvster]

No! Please don't stop posting! I love me some Finnish skating news.
Roman is talented will get his chance. But go Dr. V! Not sure about his chance of making it to the free at all ... but he's someone with a lot of determination (judging from the way he tried to and did finish his doctoral thesis ...)

 

[Jeschke]

That @nimi does not feel lost and alone in here :

'Let's meet: Viveca Lindfors'
(ISU article)
https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/...t-s-meet-viveca-lindfors-fin?templateParam=15

 

[Finnice]

Dr V will represent Finland at the Worlds, although he has not had such a lot of time to practice.
Need to read his thesis in some phase...

 

[Finnice]

Viveca Lindfors is out of the Worlds, due to medical reasons and her season is over. Coming back next season.
I do not know more, but she has suffered both back and heart problems. So sad, she was excellent at the Europeans.

Emmi Peltonen will replace her.

 

[VenusH.]

Viveca Lindfors is out of the Worlds, due to medical reasons and her season is over. Coming back next season.
I do not know more, but she has suffered both back and heart problems. So sad, she was excellent at the Europeans.

Emmi Peltonen will replace her.

Heart problems? Oh noooo.

She was so great at euros. Good luck to Emmi though.

 

[SmallFairy]

Oh no Get well soon Viveca!

 

[ivagall]

Oh no, I was looking forward to see what she can achieve at Worlds this year with such a good season under her belt, but health is of course more important. Get well soon Viveca! Good luck to Emmi!

 

[Dobre]

Viveca has had such a great season. One of the athletes that has truly been at her best this year. It's sad she doesn't have a chance to close out the skating year, and show us all what she can do in the deepest field at Worlds. Especially after such a disappointment last year, she really stepped up to the plate to show us what she was capable of this season.

 

[alj5]

Such a shame. Hopefully it's not serious. I think she had a decent shot of finishing in the top 10 with two strong performances like Europeans.

 

[Jaana]

Very sorry to hear these sad news about Viveca! I understand that she has been really busy during the whole season and not just because of skating competitions. Maybe she just has had too way too many things on her plate, so to speak. Hopefully she can concentrate only on her skating next season?

 

[nimi]

Quick round-up of past week's Team Finland results...

At Jr Worlds, Linnea popped her way out of the free (she said it was just competition nerves and her legs shaking) and placed 29th. Sofia Sula had the exact same placement last year. If the JGP spots are awarded the same way they were this season, Finnish girls will get 1 spot in 4 JGP events.

The Universiade results page: https://www.fisu.net/results/winter...ter-universiade-krasnoyarsk-2019-main-results

- Roman had a decent short and a messy long program (no surprise there), 19th place

- Matthias screwed up the twizzles in the RD but survived the FD twizzles, 4th place for T/V plus an unofficial FD SB 107.42

- Team Unique won the synchro competition and Marigold IceUnity took the silver. However, because Unique's winning score 228.79 was a bit lower than Marigold's SB 229.56, this result means that the reigning World Champs get to skate in front of the home crowd at the synchro Worlds and the newly crowned Universiade champs will miss out. (The other Worlds spot went to the Helsinki Rockettes, who won the National title a week ago.)

 

[Hanna]

Saarinen keeps teasing us with her jump clips on Instagram. Last week there was a 3f-3t-eu-3t-2a and now 3lz-eu-3s-2a. And the jumps are big.

 

[nimi]

I had kinda forgotten that when the Worlds were last held in Saitama, Juulia was the sole Finnish singles skater there. She didn't qualify for the free. Now five years later and returning as an ice dancer, she did! (Shout out to the other veterans from the 2014 ladies' event who returned to Saitama in 2019: Daleman, Brezinova, Rajicova)

Congrats to her and Matthias -- who struggled with twizzles again in both programs but managed to avoid major twizzle disaster -- for placing 16th at their first Worlds together as a team! They are happy and Maurizio is proud.

 

[nimi]

The Novice Nats were held last weekend. Janna Jyrkinen and Matias Lindfors are the new champs.

Links to results:
http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1819/YLSMNOVSMHF/CAT001RS.HTM
http://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/1819/YLSMNOVSMHF/CAT002RS.HTM

Like this article points out, the Lindfors skating family produced a National Champion at every level this season: Viveca in seniors, Fanny in juniors and now Matias in novice boys. Pretty impressive!

I didn't find any videos of the competition (but then again, I only did a lazy/quick search on YT, so...) However, Matias' SP and FS from the recent Tallink Cup novice comp are online.

 

[nimi]

Vera Stolt competed in Egna Spring Trophy this weekend and landed all her jumps, including her 3Lz3T combos both in the short and in the long. Aside from a step-out on a 3S in FS, her both programs were more or less clean. (Her spin levels and GOEs need work, though...)

The archived competitions streams seem to get blocked pretty quickly, but here's the link to Vera's FS anyway.

Vera already has two bronzes from sr Bs she did earlier this season, so her 4th place finish here didn't gain her any more WS points, but I assume she didn't get a full set of senior TES minimums in those earlier competitions which is why they sent her to Italy this late in the season? Anyway, she got those minimums: her TES was 31.25 in SP / 56.76 in FS. I bet she'd like to get that 3rd Euros spot next season...

http://www.fisg.it/upload/result/4754/SeniorLadies_SP_Scores.pdf
http://www.fisg.it/upload/result/4754/SeniorLadies_FS_Scores.pdf

 

[Sylvia]

Saw this news on Twitter just now... "Finland has a new ice dance team Juho Pirinen who used to skate with Viveca's sister Monica Lindfors has teamed up with Yuka Orihara from Japan. Yuka used to skate with Lee Royer [5th in Junior Dance at 2019 Canadian Nationals] and Kanata Mori."
Link to Pirinen's IG post announcing the new team: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIG6Z7lwVf/

Orihara will turn 19 this year (IIRC); Pirinen is 23.

Lindfors/Pirinen did not compete at all last season according to their ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00101990.htm

(Cross-posting this news in The Dance Hall thread.)

ETA: https://www.stll.fi/2019/04/29/kauden-2019-2010-kilpailukalenteri/

The 2019-2020 Competition Calendar has been published

The competitions for the start-up season are listed in the first step on the Finnish Figure Skating Association website in pdf format. As the season progresses, the organizing club updates the information about its competition to the competition calendar.

https://www.stll.fi/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/04/kilpailukalenteri-2019-2020-v2-järjestäjillä.pdf

2020 Nationals will be held 14-15 December 2019 in Vantaa.

 

[Seerek]

Virtanen appears to be competing for 2019-20, with 2 new programs, no less.