Mika Kojonkoski “I would prefer to progress more slowly”
It seems, that Mika Kojonkoski travels the world, stopping only at selected ones “ports”.
After two years in Austria and two in Finland, Kojonkoski took over the position of coach of the new team in the spring, this time in Norway.
The first achievements came very quickly, because already during this year's Grand Prix.
Thus began a new era for Norwegian ski jumping.
Too fast for Mika Kojonkoski: “I would rather, make it go slower, but keep growing. Such a rapid rise is often followed by an equally rapid fall.”
The Finnish coach did not expect such a rapid increase in the form of Norwegian ski jumpers, especially with the best of today Roar Ljökelsjöy and Björn Einar Romören:
“The technical difference between mediocre players, and world-class jumpers is very small in ski jumping.
Often it's just a psychological factor, how to properly believe in your own strength.
Simon Ammann proved this last winter.”
“Nobody could use the knowledge”
Norwegian players generally have a lot of potential, but also shortcomings in many other areas.
Mika Kojonkoski undertook hard work.
Too much has been wanted and tried in recent years.
New methods will bear fruit in due time.
“There were so many different ideas in Norway, great knowledge, but no one could put it together. ”
Last season there was a lot of emphasis on fitness training, neglecting technique.
However, this concept did not bring the desired results and the path was changed immediately.
This was Kojonkoski's first reform: change of structure and choice of path, so that you can follow it consistently. Step by step, but in the right direction.
In practice, it looks like this, that Mika Kojonkoski lives in Kuopio for the time being, but about every two weeks he gathers his players at a training camp.
“Norway is so big, that it is not possible to train together every day. Juniors live too far apart.”
Therefore, the team has two points: the first southern one in Oslo, where the players are looked after by Kjetil Strandbraten, and the other up north in Trondheim with Geir Ole Berdahl.
“We would like to have an easy system”
“We would like to have an easy system”, explains Kojonkoski.
“The successes from the summer were important and in the fall we will be able to work in peace.”
Mika Kojonkoski still has a few question marks ahead of him.
“If the job requires it, I will move to Norway.”
Currently, Fin lives in Kuopio, but after a two-hour flight, he's already in Oslo. Kojonkoski holds a political office on the Kuopio city council, as before.
“I travel a lot, I took responsibility for the Norwegian team and I will also fulfill this task..”
“One competitor in the top ten…
…and two in the top twenty”
Kojonkoski's goal for the next winter season can be expressed in numbers. The Finnish coach would like, for one competitor to be in the top ten of the World Cup, and second in the top twenty.
In the last season, the best result of a Norwegian jumper in the final classification of the World Cup was 36. deposit.
Kojonkoski is particularly pleased with Roar Ljökelsjöy and Björn Einar Romören currently, but he admits, that all players have a chance. “It's a pleasure to work with such a group.
These are talented and smart guys, who have learned to work together. They are motivated and I know, hard work awaits us.”
Or young, the Norwegian team manages to keep the tireless coach for more than two years, no one knows today.
Norwegian team for the winter season 2002/2003:
Staff:
The first trainer: Mika Kojonkoski
Second trainer: Kjetil Strandbraaten in Geir Ole Berdahl
Team-A
Tommy Ingebrigtsen
Row Ljoekelsøy
Henning Stensrud
Anders Bardal
Sigurd Pettersen
Bjørn Einar Romoeren
Olav Magne Doennem
B-team:
Morten Solem
Daniel Forfang
David Andersen
Lars Bystøl
Be Chr. English
Kim-Roar Hansen
Jan Ottar Andersen