Please introduce the members of the team and tell us how did you end up racing together.
Veli-Matti “Vessu” is quite a happy fellow with lots of ideas, a bit of a “suunnaton” as we could say in Finnish. Meanwhile Jarkko has found some directionless moments during orienteering in the small-scale rock areas which are probably ahead in this race. We are workmates and both enjoy nature in our freetime, so we ended up forming a team for LWC.
Vessu has a background from early days with shorter wilderness hikes. Lately Vessu has spent more time on nature when completing wilderness guide training and working part-time with special needs customers.
Jarkko did earlier yearly hikes. Nowadays focus is on trail running, orienteering and rogaining as a hobby.
What are your biggest achievements in (adventure) sports or hiking/trekking so far?
We haven’t really hiked that much in this composition. Biggest achievement together is a six day hike in UKK park. Personally Jarkko’s moment of adventure has been a week-long glacier-course in Kebnekaise back in the early 2000. Recently it’s been more like surviving 12h rogaining that gives an adventurous feeling. Vessu has done multiple week long winter treks in Lapland. Loving silent cold winter scenery and northern lights.
What is your goal in LWC 2024?
Trying out lighter backpacks and bit longer traveling days without sacrificing recent night sleep. Keeping focus on orienteering for 5 days without bigger misses feels worth reaching. We’re not gonna run… but will have long walks 🙂 Steady pace should make at least a full micro course, but we’re eager for more if it turns out possible.
What is your team’s motto?
There’s always a road in the west and a border in the east, so no worries.
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