As the new training season has already begun, also Louna-Jukola is getting more and more attention in the minds of the many. After finishing second at Kuopio-Jukola, IFK Lidingö is going for the win next summer. As a kick-off for this, the club was getting some touch on Louna-Jukola trainings during last weekend.
Lidingö’s training season hasn’t begun without problems, and even the squad on Jukola camp – a handful of men complemented with Matleena Boström – had decreased by the day. For example, the Swedish national team runner Filip Dahlgren had to pass the camp due to back ailments. The Finnish star Mårten Boström in turn was present, but his training will be compensatory for a while due to an unusual reason: the man broke his shoulder blade when slipping from a tree trunk in a night training on the past week. Despite setbacks, team spirit is at the top and expectations for Louna-Jukola are high up.
– We don’t have any new recruits in men’s team, but we will surely be fighting for the win even at Louna-Jukola. This time it’s especially “easy” to invest in precision training, since after embarking an overnight ferry in Stockholm you’re ready for training in Turku region as the first thing in the morning, says Boström.
Indeed, the club has intentions to have at least one more Jukola camp as well as come over to Finland a few days ahead of Jukola. It’s important to get into the right feeling and “orienteering mood”, even if no big surprises are expected of Louna-Jukola terrain.
– Especially for those of us living in Stockholm, the terrain in Turku region is pretty familiar. However, mapping is somewhat different in Finland, and the maps are admittedly a bit better than in Stockholm region, reflects Norwegian sprint and relay specialist Øystein Kvaal Østerbø.
The ended season was nearly perfect for IFK Lidingö by relay success. After finishing second at both 10mila and Jukola, the club went on claiming victories in 25manna and Smålandskavlen in the autumn. In addition, Fredrik Johansson was a member of the Swedish gold medal relay team in the world championships. The club has won 10mila once – albeit already in 1951 – whereas the conquest of Jukola is still awaiting. However, victories in both were so close this year that there’s a good reason to expect the highest rankings on the upcoming years.
On an early Sunday morning in June we’ll find out whether the challenge cup will be taken over the Lidingöbron Bridge to the showcase in Grönsta club house for the following year. So, keep a close eye on number 2!
Nicolas Simonin, Mårten Boström and Øystein Kvaal Østerbø of IFK Lidingö go over the relay training in Paimio. Photo: Antti Veijalainen.
