Janne Ahonen – Dragster racing instead of Summer-Grand-Prix
Janne Ahonen, this name has been on the lists of the best jumpers in the world for over ten years. Smiling only in exceptional cases, Fin maintains such a tall and even form, like no other player. Ahonen won his first World Cup competition at the age of 16 years in a year 1993.
Sports crises do not concern the 27-year-old player today.
Ahonen's list of successes is long, but only last season after a fierce battle with the Norwegian Roar Ljoekelsoey he managed to win the World Cup for the first time.
In the coming days, Fin will marry his longtime friend Tiia. In addition to marital responsibilities, this summer, Ahonen will participate in drag races organized in Scandinavia.
For these reasons, the best rider of the last season will miss the Summer-Grand-Prix competitions with one exception.
We spoke to Janne Ahonen in his hometown of Lahti, Finland.
“Memories don't help for the future”
After more than ten years of being among the best players in the world, you finally managed to win the World Cup. When did you realize this success?
“Awareness, that I finally won this title came slowly.
But that belongs to the past, it brings no memories. They don't help in the future”.
There's no need to ask what you're going to do after you retire.
In April you started a new company with your friend Jari Mantila. What exactly does she do and how do you reconcile business and school responsibilities?
“We import Uvex snowmobiles and motor accessories, i.e. helmets, appropriate clothes and much more. We started the company in April, but the sale should not start until next winter. I will be working there on a limited time basis first. However, when in two or three years I hang up my skis, I won't have to think, what should I do”.
“For me, the BMI rule is optimal”
What Janne Ahonen thinks about the new BMI rule?
“For me, this recipe is optimal”, says Ahonen. smiling. “Nothing will change in my case, I'm just keeping my weight.
“I was really burnt out by the end”
You belong to those, who miss almost no occupations in the winter. Doesn't competing throughout the season get boring for you at times??
“I get very tired every year” Ahonen says with a laugh. “A few weeks before the end of the season, I regularly get fed up with it, every time i think: it's been going on for too long, I'll pull it to the end”.
Was the fatigue in the last season easier to bear thanks to the fight for the World Cup??
“Of course, the results had an impact on that feeling. But also last season I was tired and the last competition was a tough fight with Roar. I was always asked by journalists, Will I keep my advantage in the next competitions?. It was stressful. During the season, I didn't notice it like that, but after its completion i came to a conclusion, I was really burnt out”.
“I give up the FIS Summer-Grand-Prix”
The Finnish Grand-Prix will be held soon (Open 24.7., Kuopio 27.7. i Vuokatti 28.7.) and the FIS Summer-Grand-Prix with nine competitions. How do you approach summer competitions??
“I've never really liked competitions in the summer. It is important though. to see, where other countries stand, but for me the number of competitions in the summer has become too much. This year I will leave the FIS Summer Grand Prix except for the competition in Innsbruck. I won the Summer-Grand-Prix 2000. and later in the winter it had little to do with each other. In other words: after bad results in the summer, I'm doing better in the winter…”
The speed-loving Ahonen successfully competes in drag racing in the summer. The Finn won all three competitions, in which he has participated so far and is in the lead of the Finnish and Swedish classifications.
“Of course, I am very happy with the results in drag racing, but there are still four competitions, two in Norway, one in Sweden and one in Finland…” says Ahonen.
When the new season starts in November in Kuusamo, Finland, competitors won't know, how strong Ahonen is this time. However, as in the last ten years, will be on all favorites lists.