The Swedish team Stora Tuna OK won the Jukola Relay at Lakia-Jukola in 2024.
How has your team prepared for Mikkeli Jukola during the last year before the competition?
We have the majority of our group home in Borlänge and we have been training a lot together during autumn and winter. Last autumn one weekend when there was no competition in Sweden we took the chance to travel to Finland, visited Mikkeli and participated in the Viestiliiga finals.
Have you already taken advantage of Mikkeli-Jukola’s training package and how much do you plan to use Jukola training maps before the competition?
Some of the competitors have already visited Mikkeli and we usually do a preparation exercise on Friday before the competition weekend.
Which specific qualities will be the most important in the Mikkeli-Jukola next summer?
Strong legs, we believe that the terrain is going to offer a physical challenge.
Which details are you specifically concentrating on in your preparation?
The relay competitions and relay exercises in the spring are important in preparation for Jukola and Venla.
How have you been training for the terrain and conditions in the upcoming Mikkeli-Jukola?
We are used to train at home in Dalarna and in the World Cup and not least in the World Championship in typical scandinavian terrain so we believe that we have a team which is ready for the Mikkeli forests.
How have you planned to schedule your training during the last weeks before Mikkeli-Jukola?
It’s going to be an intensive spring with a lot of competitions in Sweden, starting with Tiomila. Competition is the best way to exercise but one needs to rest and collect energy, too, as Mikkeli-Jukola is approaching.
Which specific orientating skills does Jukola competition requires compared to other orientating competitions?
There’s going to be a lot of people in the forest so you need to concentrate on your own doing, but you can take advantage of your previous laps.
How do you prepare mentally for the competitive pressure in Jukola?
We count on our experiences from previous years and we are humble for the relay and the challenges it offers.
How does training of one athlete differ from the relay team training?
All the team members have individual goals and the team has it’s goals. We can take advantage of the team training and competing, but in the end it’s everyone’s own job to train.
How important is it to collect experience each year from the Jukola relay?
We take with us the things we have done well last year and we know what is demanded. At the same time we are humble since every Jukola is a new competition.
How much have you used maps from previous years or analysis of the Jukola routes in your training?
We collect old maps from the competition area and we add some routes and legs and try to imagine the terrain and possible routes.
Which kind of training have you done in order to minimize mistakes?
We concentrate on the smaller relays during the spring and try to do more competition-like trainings in order to be ready.
How do you select orienteers for each leg?
Starting point is performance and condition before the competition. Those athletes who have performed well and are in good shape deserve a chance to compete.