World Cup in Falun 16 March 2024: Johanna Matintalo has coped with wind and demanding snow conditions with flying colors. In the finish area, she stands overjoyed after a resounding 2nd place in the 10-kilometer race, her best position in the World Cup. Matintalo shines in an interview with the Finnish media. So does her compatriot Kerttu Niskanen, who won the race. The tone is completely different with the Swedes and the Norwegians. – This was shit, says Frida Karlsson, who, like her teammates, had problems with her skis. “Sandpaper” and “worst skis ever” are among the descriptions. SWEDISH STAR: Frida Karlsson was tired and dissatisfied after the race in Falun. Photo: BILDBYRÅN Matintalo posts about the shock result, but is suddenly curt when asked about the skis. Were they the ones who had secured the victory? The reason for her evasive answer is simple: Matintalo has signed a non-disclosure agreement. She is prohibited from revealing what is under the skis. Got an answer from a boat engineer Behind the skis is a pair of Finnish brothers, who are terrified that their latest invention will be revealed. Asa and Pasi Vironen run the ski brand Custom Ski, and the details of the new skis are top secret. news made contact to find out more, but never received an answer from the brothers themselves. Instead, an email came in from Frese Gustafson, an engineer who does boat racing. – It is me you must communicate with, he explained. JUBILEE: Johanna Matintalo on the podium after the race in Falun. Photo: BILDBYRÅN The brothers reportedly do not speak English, and news wondered if Gustafson could answer the questions instead. – We are not doing interviews about this case yet, replied Gustafson, but hopes to be able to return with more information in the future. The brothers want to protect the business idea, and have applied for a patent for the new skis in Finland. The hope is to sell the invention on to a larger company, but the patent application has not yet been processed. Fortunately, news managed to find someone who has been able to try the skis. Secret testing in Norway “Test days on Sognefjell”. Whoever guesses the number of skis correctly gets a prize,” wrote the Swedish cross-country skier William Poromaa on Instagram this summer. Photo: Instagram/William Poromaa Among the skis tested were the top secret ones from Custom Ski. – I can’t say much, Poromaa opens to news. – It is secret. I’ve had some testing, and they have some exciting stuff going on. – Do you know what those things are? – No, that’s what I don’t know. – How did you notice that there was something different? – I’ve been on them for a bit on Sognefjellet, but I have no idea what was what. What I can say is that something under the skis made it easier, says the Swede. Poromaa resisted the temptation to look under his skis to see what it was he was actually walking on. – I wanted to show respect and not do it. They have been clear that they don’t want it, so you have to listen. Lightening the veil Around 20 Finnish athletes are said to have signed non-disclosure agreements before using the skis. – It is very hush-hush and secret about it, says Sweden’s national team manager Anders Byström. In front of Finnish YLE, Pasi Vironen has slightly lifted the veil on what they have actually developed. INVENTOR: Pasi Vironen. Photo: ANTTI LÄHTEENMÄKI / YLE – It’s not about lubrication as there are no chemicals involved in the process. It’s not about grinding or patterning under the skis either, but something completely different. It repels dirt and grime very well. For now, it might be best to just call it a treatment in the attachment zone. When YLE visited the brothers, they were not allowed to take close-up pictures of the skis. But they got to feel the product, which they described as a kind of smooth tape. How it provides a better grip for the athletes remains a mystery for the time being. – It’s about protecting against industrial espionage. A single image in the wrong hands can be fatal to us. We have a patent application in, we have spent a lot of money and even more time on the product, says Vironen to YLE. WC warning According to Sweden’s lubrication manager, Custom Ski’s basic business idea is to turn old lubrication skis into community skis. “A kind of communal skiing 2.0”, he describes. But Svanebo does not know if that is the case with the new invention. National team manager Byström is currently unsure whether we are facing a skiing revolution. – We know too little about that. But we are a traditional sport, doing what we have always done. It is only positive that something new is coming, he believes. NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER: Anders Byström. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Perhaps Matintalo has the answer? Now the cross-country skier has finally been allowed to say a little more about the skis. She reveals that she used the skis in Lahti and Falun last season. “Best in test” is the verdict, and Matintalo believes that the product under the new skis held up better towards the end of the race than traditional ski treatment. Now the Finn hopes to make a success of his skis during the WC in Trondheim. – It would have been nice if we had a competitive advantage under certain conditions and types of weather. Why not take advantage of it when the World Cup is approaching and you don’t know what kind of weather awaits there? says Matintalo to YLE. Sent Bergen to the sky with this long shot 00:31 Wiping the pitch with a helicopter: – Crazy idea 00:53 Norwegian 12-year-old got NBA opportunity: – Was very nervous 01:14 Cancer sufferer Filip got to meet Haaland 01:36 Show more Published 07.11. 2024, at 22.05
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Mysterious invention could revolutionize skiing – secret testing in Norway – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
