Helsingin Suunnistajat, Tampereen Pyrintö, Asikkalan Raikas, Almby IK, NTHI, Halden SK and Kalevan Rasti. These are the teams that have taken the Jukola double - won the race in two consecutive years during the 58-year history of the relay.  Will the last year's winner, Vehkalahden Veikot, do the same?

The Virkiä Jukola organizers met with Mr. Jarkko Liuha of the Vehkalahden Veikot team in Tampere. Let's see what he has to say about the past winter season training and plans for the Jukola summer.

VJ: Tell us about your winter training, Jarkko.
JL: Due to the extraordinary winter weather this year I could continue orienteering as late as January 13th. After that I have mostly been skiing.

VJ: So all is good?
JL: All is good. No major leg injuries etc, although I didn't get to ski as much as I would have liked. We spent 1,5 weeks in Portugal in February, which was nice. The most important thing is though that I haven't been ill all winter, so I have had a full training season. This keeps motivation up. This season I've also tried to improve my running technique and gain extra muscle strength. I'm very confident in starting the new season.

VJ: How is the rest of the Vehkalahden Veikot team doing? Were they all in Portugal?
JL: We were 6 men alltogether plus some junior members. All in all, the winter has not been so great for the team - there have been more injuries this year than the last. But, come spring, people seem to be healing pretty well.

VJ: Enough about the injuries - who's going to be the best Vehkalahden Veikot orienteer this year?
JL: Everyone that did really well last year have kept fit this year, too...But Marko Närvä, who especially likes the Simpsiö grounds, has trained extra. Also, Tero Föhr will be a tough anchor for the team. He is training in New Zealand at the moment. Our Swiss team members Marc and Baptiste have ran faster times than their countrymen, so we'll have a top team for both
Tiomila and Jukola.

VJ: If you win the Jukola again, what are your other goals for the coming season?
JL: The spring will be all relay in the Finnish Championships. The autumn goals are the same with middle length relay and the regular relay.

VJ: What are your team's training routines before the season start?
JL: Vehkalahden Veikot is going to train in Gothenburg in 4-9th of April. That is followed by a busy competition schedule: Nordic Championships qual races, Tiomila, FinnSpring. Then a short break for training again, and then the Finnish Championships and Jukola. After Jukola I'll be relaxing and training until August when the World Championship qualifications. No tricks, just basic training with varying paces.

VJ: The last time we spoke, the team speculations were just beginning. Now that the cards are on the table, who will win do you think?
JL: Kalevan Rasti is better than ever. Terä and Pyrintö are right there in the top 3. For the foreign teams I don't really have an opinion.

VJ: Who's going to win the Lapua World Cup semifinal?
JL: I think Thierry will be tough to beat after his disappointment in the World Championships. So it'll either be Thierry or one of the Finns.

VJ: And will it be another Jukola double?
JL: We'll see!

VJ: Thanks again for the interview. See you in the Jukola pizza tent or media tent, or in the sauna.
JL: Mmm, the delicious Jukola pizza! Thanks!