Before the races start, we asked some of the strongest athletes about their shape and expectations and find out their secrets of preparing for competitions and getting good mood. Brief interviews from TOVE ALEXANDERSSON (SWEDEN), SONJA MÖRSKY, (FINLAND), MARIA KECHKINA and ANDREY LAMOV (RUSSIA).

In which physical condition (shape) you are now? And do you feel able to show your best results?

TOVE ALEXANDERSSON: WSOC is of course the main goal for the season but I hope that I will be in good shape also this week.

SONJA MÖRSKY: I believe my shape is good but in the beginning of the season I have had problems to find my best speed and I am still struggling little with that so I am not so confident than I would hope to be. Luckily it is still time for world championships that is main goal of this season. But of course I want to show my best already now on homeground.

ANDREY LAMOV: I am in a good shape now. It is February and I have already done a lot of kilometers. This is the second important start in this season after the World Championship. But anyway I would like to show good results and get a medal.

MARIA KECHKINA: For this moment I am in a good shape. Cannot say, how it is good according to other athletes, but all in all I will compete in this certain condition. This is one of the most important events of the season, and, of course, I want to show high results and will do all my best for it.

Which achievements for the last season you think were the main and most important for you?

T.A.: The overall World cup victory was the most important for me last season.

S.M.: The most important competitions in European Championships were disappointing for me so the biggest and most important achievements were in world cup opening in Ylläs where I did many good races and reached the podium in one competition.

A.L.: Last season I failed in total rank, but happy that I was able to win some medals in the European Championship at least.

M.K.: Last season was remarkable for me for the two golden medals in European Championships in Austria and my second position in world Cup.

Do you familiar with the terrain in Imatra? What do you like or dislike in it?

T.A.: I have looked at some old maps but in ski orienteering you can never know how it will look like before the competitions so it will be interesting to see.

S.M.: Yes, I am familiar with the terrain. It will be technical Finnish ski-o that I like a lot. I don´t think there is anything I don´t like, I just hope that there are not too many steep downhills because I am not the fastest one in those.

A.L.: I have not been in Imatra before, but comparing with old maps the terrain is similar to the northern part of Leningrad region, where I have taken part in different competitions since I was a child. The terrain suits me well, because I do like small and deep downhills and uphills.

M.K.: This will be the first time for me in Imatra, so the terrain will be new for me.

Who will be your main competitors in these competition?

T.A.: It’s hard to say I think it’s many who can be in the top!

S.M.: As previous years, the strongest competitors come from Sweden and Russia also this year.

A.L.: There will be a lot of competitors in this year. I do not want to say by name, but I think that about 10 athletes can pretend for top-3. Also I think that Finnish sportsmen will do their best at their local area to surprise their host-supporters.

M.K.: In this season many athletes from different countries will see each other at first time. This is because in Ski-o tour in January not all athletes could take part. That`s why it is difficult to say what are the physic conditions of others competitors. There is a lot of contenders for leading positions.

How do you prepare for the start, what actions make you feel comfortable?

T.A.: I check all the equipment so everything is fine, ski-testing and warm-up

S.M.: I warm up, where I do some sprints and try to find the right mood.

A.L.: Good meal and good sleeping. Also sledging, if it is possible.

M.K.: Everything that distracts me from thinking about the upcoming race helps a lot. Crafts, reading books, music – everything.

Svetlana Korneva