KEPOSTI |
Number 1 March 2003 |
Kickmail for Ketkupolkka members
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The round glossy moon gave light to the dark night. Suddenly something else started to shine in the horizon. Soon one could hear a repeating sound biting the ice. A stranger wearing a headlamp was swiftly gliding on a kicksled.
Abruptly something splashed nearby. The kicksledder was no more in sight - or was indeed, he had only begun to swim as the ice had happened to melt at that place. After swimming for a while and lifting his kicksled up from the water our bold kepo hero continued his journey.
This short story was published in Keposti (Väiski's column) 10 years ago. Let it serve as a reminder for all kicksledders who desire to explore the treacherous spring ice.
The race venue was at the beach of kick hotel Hanhi. |
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The old sled of Rutumi manor house brought greetings from the golden age of kicksledding (photo Väiski). |
The youngest participants did not hide their tough efforts. |
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Roope Nurmi accelerated like a phantom on the ice. |
Jan Elmgren started out on the marathon from the pole position with number zero (photo Väiski). |
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Anne Muiniekka won the ladies' class quite clearly in the end. |
Hannu Vierikko finished strongly second in the men's race. |
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Happy faces of the champions (photo Väiski). |
The number of participants in the kids' races promises good for the future. |
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Don't lose that smile when you grow up ! |
Maarit Salovirta tangented the ladies' 200 meter world record. |
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In the men's sprint Richard van Camp pushed his sled past Hannu Vierikko. |
The Kepo relay team was not in such a shape as in last winter. |
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The Kensu team started out strongest and kept the position until the finish line. |
Timo Rinkinen is a reliable Kensu kicker in relays as well as individual distances. |
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The old champ Hannu paved his silver path with gold in the 10 kilometer race. |
Auli Suomalainen took the highest stand on the podium after the ladies' 10 km. |
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The news that Finland's fastest kicksledder comes from California made smashing headlines. |
Training camp in Vuokatti and Ostrobothnia, "complete training week" 13.15h incl intensity and enjoyment
Mon 23.12. PM 1.20h kicksledding from Vuokatti Sports Institute to downtown Sotkamo and back. The pedestrian path was in rather tacky condition.
Tue 24.12. noon 1.40h classic style xc skiing 24km -18 C + 1.20h kicksledding.
Wed 25.12. AM -11 C 2.30 h kicksledding on road nr 899 and highway nr 6 ! Now I can play Elvis and tell everybody that I've been kicksledding on highway number six. The highway goes also through Lapinjärvi and I could never have believed that I some day would kicksled on that road. The edges of the road here in the north, on the contrary, were in quite a decent shape. The spikes, however, tended to wear out fast and the grip deteriorated on my way back. PM 1.05 h xc skate skiing, visited the famous indoor ski tunnel.
Thu 15min run + wading in the snow to the entrances of the ski tunnel. I did 45 min fartlek on the icy ski path in the tunnel. The conditions there were excellent for kicksledding. The pipe is more undulating than I thought. In the lower part the temperature was above freezing but in the upper part it was below -10 centigrade. In the afternoon we drove to Vaasa sighting suitable road segments for kicking on our way.
Fri PM 42min run in Bothnia hall 10 km, in the end relaxed sprints. The intention was to ride Kb, but the supervisor expressed his disapproval of the idea.
Sat AM 10 km xc race in Jakobstad, II Fäbodasparket. The road was tacky. Elmgren and I kicked away from the others already before the first 1250 m intermediate control. Jan made his final charge 200m before the finish and won the race. I tried a long sprint like with Alpo last year, but Jan had one more gear left. Once again we were privileged to enjoy the warm sauna and hospitability at the Porthins' cottage. PM 35min run with Markus Holmlund in Vaasa.
Sun 7.15 AM KB-SWINE!!! In Bothnia hall partly paced by race cyclists 1.15 h warmup + repeats tot. 12km (=24.18min) 2 x 1000m without fairing 2.06, fairing 2.01 + 2 x 2000m 4.02+4.01 + 3000m fairing 6.09(km intermediate times 2.06,2.02,2.01) + 2000m (1.57+1.59 at "death" pace, second km all pipes open, trying to keep up with the cyclists) + 1000m standing run start 2.03 + cooldown = 2.25 h REALLY GOOD TRAINING !
Mon 55 min xc skat skiing -20 C
Tue PM Kick triathlon in Paloheinä. Read more in Kick News. Severe cold -27 C. Five crazy gringos at start line: Van Camp, Vickholm, Vierikko, Kuusisto and Elmgren. 10km xc skiing paced by Vickholm and Elmgren. Van Camp, Vierikko and Kuusisto followed a bit behind. I changed briskly from ski boots to spikes before the 7 km xc running leg. My spikes fit so perfectly that didn't even have to tie the laces. I kept the good pace throughout the running and the final 10 km kicksledding leg and won the race clearly ahead of Jan, Hannu and Richard. Alpo quit the job.
Paloheinä winter triathlon was held in a chilly athmosphere (photo Väiski). |
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Wed Rest
Thu 35min run + 35min circuit training
Fri 1.20 h kicksledding incl running -25 C
Sat 1.50 h kicksledding on a really tacky road surface -22 C
Sun 5.1. 2.30 h kicksledding on Church Road 5,5km 15.56 and 4,7km 13.50, -21 C felt stale, incl also kicksled carrying due to road sanding.
Mon 6.1. AM1 h kicksledding incl 10 x 40sec + 2.52 repeats in gentle downhill -18 C PM 30min J -25 C + 30min circuit training
Tue Rest Massage
Wed 1.20 h kicksledding to Sjökulla + Cruising around the church - 7 C felt like summer !
Thu 1 h kicksledding
Fri 40 min kicksledding
Sat Kepo-Hepo, One of the Toughest. Read more in Kick News !
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When the field gathered behind the start line of Kepo-hepo marathon the glide was still ok but the snowfall was intensifying. |
Sun 1 h skate xc skiing
Mon Rest Massage
Tue 45 min run + 30 min circuit training
Wed 1.25 h kicksledding
Thu 15min run + measuring the Finnish championships marathon ice = 58 cm thick + 50 min kicksledding
Fri 45min double poling on skis + 15min running
Sat-Sun 18.-19.1. Nakkila + Vikingarännet, more on the legendary kick weekend in the Kick News !
The finish of Vikingarännet was for the first time located in downtown Stockholm (photo Väiski). |
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Mon Rest
Tue 1.10 h easy skate xc skiing
Wed 1.10 h easy kicksledding
Thu 50 min skate xc skiing incl 10km race in snow porridge 31.26 + 30min run
Fri Rest
Sat PM 2.20 h kicksledding on Church road, return via Hommansby, Lapinkylä and Pekinkylä + 30min run
Sun PM 40min brisk running + 1 h hard weight session
Mon 1.30 h kicksledding
Tue 1.15 h kicksledding
Wed 1.50 h kicksledding incl Ollasvägen repeat 5.40min record pace
Thu 2.10 h kicksledding 10 x ca 3.30min submax effort in brisk tailwind -18 C, uneven snow-flacked ice
Fri 45min run + 25min circuit training
Sat 2.30 h kicksledding
Sun PM 0.20 warmup + uphill repeats 6 x Sjögård hill (3.30, 3.31, 3.29, 3.30, 3.23) Tough ! + same hill down 2.55 + cooldown = 1.20 h
Mon 1 h skate xc skiing and double poling
Tue 45min run + 30min circuit
Wed 40min kicksledding
Thu 55min run
Fri Track measurement 7km running and 5km on kicksled with a measurement wheel
Sat PM 3.30 h track measurement with tape
Sun Finnish Championship marathon ! Read Kick News!
The minimarathons gathered a delighting start field. |
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Mon Rest massage
Tue 1 h skate xc skiing
Wed Municipal ski relay, my leg 4 km was difficult = tot 1 h skiing
Thu 1.20 h kicksledding on marathon track incl several relaxed sprints in tailwind with emphasis on technique
Fri 30min double poling + 45min running
Sat 1.45 h kicksledding on the slick track of lake Tuusulanjärvi incl 10,8km test race with Jan and Hannu. Went very well. Read Kick News!
Sun AM 40min run PM 1h kicksled
Mon 1.50 h kicksledding incl running on the lake and in the snow, finally some kick sprints on fast road segments.
Tue 1.20 h kicksled
Wed 1 h fartlek kicksledding
Thu 1.35 h kicksledding incl sprints
Fri 40min double poling + 30min run
Sat Jyväskylä Finnish Championships below expectations. Read Kick News!
Finnish Kicksled Championships in Jyväskylä demonstrated the strong effort of Kensu. |
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Sun 2.40 h pleasant kicksledding on Tuusulanjärvi incl short accelerations under Hannu's tutorship.
Mon 1.40 h xc skate skiing
Tue AM 1.15 h kicksledding on sea ice near Loviisa. The municipality had opened a nice skate track to the small island of Dunkahäll. 5 km back and forth. PM 30min run
Wed Rest
Thu 1 h kicksledding incl "Sjögård downhill" 2.54
READY FOR BALCK!
The latest results and reports from Kick News maintained by Kensuporter Antti Lehtinen partly in English.
You can find the most current kick race schedule at Kickbike calendar .