Published 22 Feb 2003

Van Camp surprised even himself | results
Jyväskylä - The Finnish Kicksled Championships in Jyväskylä were a very suprising party. In the sprint (200 metres) the winner Richard Van Camp from the KENSU team surprised his acceleration. The old champion Hannu Vierikko had to be satisfied to the silver medal, because Van Camp had so strong end although he had problems with his balance. In the relay KENSU team beat the Ketkupolkka with a superior way even Van Camp fell down in a tight curve. Despite of it Vierikko did not catch him... But in the 10000 metres race Vierikko did not gave chance for suprise.


Enjoying Home Ice Advantage (Report from Richard)
There is nothing better than waking up at a reasonable hour, taking a short walk to the groomed ice on lake in the city center, and meeting your kicking friends for a national championship. Or, actually, it can be even better when the races are part of the biggest winter happenings of the year, Jää Jyväskylä (Ice Jyväskylä) you collect three medals, and wake up the next morning to see a cool picture of you and Hannu Vierikko racing your kicksleds on the front page of the newspaper. That is how it was. While in the background families of skaters enjoyed the 2.5 kilometer ice track, the world aerobics champion led “ice aerobics,” sled dogs entertained children with rides, and “ice footballers” inaugurated a new sport, we kicksledders took center stage in the 200 meter sprints, relay and 10 kilometer national championships.

The sprint gold went to me. I have no explanation for how it happened, it just did. The relay (3x1000) and 10k took place on a very technically demanding nearly 1 kilometer loop. Hannu and Antti Lehtinen showed their superior handling skills on these turns while others of us, skidded off the course or even kissed the ice. In the relay it didn’t matter I crashed because my fellow KENSU kickers, Antti and Timo Rinkinen had already given me a huge lead for the final leg. Another KENSU vistory!
Antti, by the way, is also largely due the thanks for making the kicking races happen, while KENSU director Keijo Ilmavirta did an amazing job in organising this whole community event, raising the profile of winter sports here in Central Finland In the10 kilometer race Hannu showed he is the one with both the fitness and turning prowess to win on such a course, while Jan too kissed the ice on the final turn to give me a lucky silver in this event. Antti was a strong 4th place, in front of Ville who was another victim of the tight corners. I must admit that this 2nd was extra lucky considering I was late to the start and nearly out of the race. Kicksledders are easy-going though and generously let me catch up even though I deserved to be disqualified.

In the post-race sauna fellow KENSU racer Vesa Ruuska and I discussed why this sport is perfect for northern climates: basic and inexpensive equipment, safe and easy to learn, and excellent exercise. Winter is more fun when you are kicksledding.

RVC (Source: Potku uutiset)