Dani: I'm worried about the Puijo Boys thing. Frankly, I understand why Pekka wanted to get rid of Rane, Hapa and Kalle. Hapa was so difficult, Rane wasn't motivated and delivering and impossible for Pekka to manage in anyway and well... it started to be quite sure, that Kalle would never fulfil his potential (and he too was once spectacularly talented
.) I understand him wanting to build a new.
But I'm not at all sure his Puijo Boys is way to go. Matti is not getting any younger. And while jumpers nowadays have longer careers, he has seemed to be walking a tightrope between being motivated or not a long time now. Counting too much on him is... well more than risky strategy. Havu jumped amazing today considering. And I may be a jinx saying this, but I'm not yet too convinced that we will see healthy, stable and successful season from Havu this year. There are just so many risk factors. And Havu isn't a young kid either anymore. And after Havu, Puijo has produced almost nothing. I'm not at all sure, that Puijo should be the start all and the end all of Finnish jumping. Oh, and if even one hill will be changed for more modern profile they are so much wanting, it will probably be Rovaniemi's normal hill. Not Puijo or even Lahti.
Anssi is already taking his distance as are other Kuusamo guys, same goes with Kajaani boys (who seem to have the young talents.) Pekka works closely with also Ville, whose personal coach - and dad - is the one carrying on National Team responsibilities in Lahti (note that Lahti's own coaches are not much included.) I'm really not sure, what Vili's job is nowadays? Look pretty? Before Kalle decided to let it go, he did change a trainer. Again, he has been in habit changing trainers more often than socks, but he did stick with the previous one little longer. But did he change because trainer wanted, because he wanted or because his trainer and Pekka seemed to be unable to speak to each others at all? If the last one has any bearing in it, I really find this troublesome.
It's just so, I'm not even so much worried about the next winter or even Sotchi. I'm worried, what will be left after Pekka's era... :hmpf:
EDIT: I asked this before, but I think no one answered. Do you know if Pekka was present at Hinzenbach or was he with his Puijo Boys training at Klingenthal?