We ended our season yesterday at Plan Ice Gala where we performed with this year’s team for the last time. It was so nice to make some last memories with this team and to be a part of the Plan Ice Gala for a good cause before we are heading towards next season in a few weeks. In spite of the disappointment from Worlds we must not forget the success of the beginning of this season and the thrilling programs that we have showed in all of the competitions this year. Thanks again all of you, parents, fans, sponsors, friends and all the supporters who have made this season a wonderful journey! We will see you in next season! 

“Together we can go further than we ever could apart.”

We did the best short program on this season in Worlds but soon after our performance our feelings from a good skate went into confusion when we heard our scores. Because of very low technical element scores we were only in 5th place after short. The scores from quality and components were although very good but the placement for the free program day wasn’t something that we were expected.

On a free program day there were no signs of disappointment from a previous day. We stepped onto the ice with strong attitude and charged with fighting spirit. It was a good free program with the exception of two falls in the angled intersection. Despite the crash, we never gave up and managed to finish strong. The placing just wasn’t what we were hoping for but we can be proud of how we finished the program and the whole competition. We always think that the best should win and we work hard to do our best and be that best team. We congratulate all those who were better than us this time. 

Even the 6^th place from this competition cannot take this wonderful trip and our enthusiasm for this sport away from us. And the most important thing is still there, the feeling that we are doing something important for the development of this sport and we still are able to give unforgettable experiences and memories to our fans. Therefore we want to thank our loyal fans for their support for us and for all of the teams at Worlds, thanks to all of you who came to us with kind and encouraging words.

We may have lost this battle, but war is far from being over...

The first day on our World Championships trip has been very eventful because already at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport we heard that Tuomas Holopainen and Nightwish, our old friends from the season 2008-2009 when we skated our free program to their song “the Poet and the Pendulum”, would travel with us in the same plane to Gothenburg, where they would play one of their tour’s gig the same night. Eventually after a small exchange of words between Tuomas and Anu, Tuomas had promised to put free tickets on our name to Nightwish's gig in the evening! So the first evening in Gothenburg went amazingly well enjoying the wonderful music full-hearted and with a passionate interpretation for the music! A huge thanks to Tuomas and Nightwish for an incredible and memorable experience! What a great start for our trip!

Due to Easter most of the ice rinks were closed on Sunday so we decided to spent time together off ice at our coach's house. We ate a lot of ice cream and put the final touch on our new Finland dresses. Also a few of us relaxed in sauna and in the outside jacuzzi singing nice Easter songs, what a great way to spend a day off ice! 

Thank you all of today’s MIU send-off participants for your attendance, cheering and the lovely pillows that we skaters got! Tomorrow morning Finnair airplane will fly us to our beloved neighboring country where we will stay at the official competition hotel. A great week is coming up and especially an unforgettable competition, we cannot wait for the weekend! We are very glad there will be a lot of Finnish fans to share the awesome feeling of World Championships with us, but those who will not be on site in Gothenburg, remember to follow the competition live on YLE’s website (www.yle.fi) on Friday and Saturday and an aggregate on Sunday 15^th April on YLE TV2 at 16.45.

Now it’s your chance to see our programs for the last time live at home before the final highlight of the season in Gothenburg next week! So come on Easter Monday, April 9th, to the Barona Arena (Urheilupuistontie 3, 02200 Espoo) at 14.30-15.30 to cheer for us and wish us good luck to the World Championships! You have also a good opportunity to buy MIU merchandise there. Hope to see you all there!

Welcome! :)

Every year before the World Championships Anu has organized a surprise for us where we could relax a bit between the hard practices. On Monday after our Dumbo Ice Show Anu informed us that we had only two minutes to pack everything and go to the parking lot where we would get more information. We got a map that showed the directions to Espoo, more specific to Trainers’ House where we got the chance to meet the company’s founder and owner Jari Sarasvuo. He has worked with many athletes, coaching them mentally and giving them advices how to cope in life. Jari gave also to us a very inspiring lecture about the development in sports and in life in general. His words were left in our minds and it was a good impact to our next step, practice at Barona Arena, before the surprises continued.

Next we got the new driving directions to the Keuda Cooking School in Järvenpää, where our team leader Marke teaches cooking. Markes former student, Lasse Lindström, who is known from the TV-show “Top Chef Finland”, suddenly came from the kitchen to tell us that we would prepare a large menu together. Lasse gave us aprons and cooking hats to put on and excited as always we headed towards the kitchen to listen to the instructions. After we started to cook Lasse needed a lot of patience, when 22 girls created a fuss in the kitchen trying to get the multi-course menu together. Eventually we got to enjoy a menu that included salad, bread, fresh pasta, chicken, chocolate cake, hazelnut ice cream and macarons, all self-made! The whole day was such a wonderful experience and we had a lot of fun together.

A huge thanks to the sponsors Heinon Tukku, Metos Ltd, HK Ruokatalo, Suurkeittiömyynti Tapani Hahto and Keuda Cooking School in Järvenpää who all made the cooking evening possible! And thank you, above all, Lasse Lindström and Jari Sarasvuo for the memorable day and experiences. 

Lasse and MIU