Slope Controls Challenged Orienteers on Day 2 of Kainuu Orienteering Week – Klemettinen and Aho Lead the Overall Standings
Published: 01.07.2025
In the women’s elite class, ski orienteer Mira Kaskinen from Rastikarhut claimed victory in Tuesday’s second stage of Kainuu Orienteering Week. She said her form was clearly better on the demanding and steep slopes than on Sunday.
After a slow start in the first race, Kaskinen was pleased with her speed this time, completing the 6.3 km course in 55 minutes and 56 seconds.
"You really had to navigate from control to control. This terrain isn’t easy to move through for me," Kaskinen commented after the race.
Sunday’s winner, Veera Klemettinen from Suunta Jyväskylä, finished 40 seconds behind Kaskinen but continues to lead the overall standings in the women’s elite class. Tampereen Pyrintö’s Saila Kinni took third place on Tuesday, 1 minute and 7 seconds behind the winner.
Kinni holds second place in the overall standings, with Suvi Heittola of Rastikarhut currently in third after two stages.
Directness and Confidence Took Aho to the Top in the Men’s Elite Class
Aaro Aho of Valkeakosken Haka topped the men’s elite class on Tuesday, completing the 8.8 km course in 1:01:52. With the win, he moved into first place in the overall standings of Kainuu Orienteering Week.
The 26-year-old, who has been selected for Finland’s World Cup team, said his orienteering was smoother than on Sunday, and he was able to maintain a good pace on the slopes of Porttivaara. The long route choices led to new areas on the map, with dense forest sections and fallen trees offering extra challenge.
"I made some small mistakes when I didn’t quite navigate all the way to the controls. Luckily, I kept a cool head and didn’t let the mistakes throw me off," Aho said.
After finishing second on Sunday, Aho said he made tactical changes for the second race.
"This time I had to slow down a bit, adopt a more relaxed approach, and look for better running paths. I aimed to be more direct and confident – and it paid off."
Santeri Kirjavainen of Kalevan Rasti came second on Tuesday, 1 minute and 51 seconds behind Aho. In the overall standings, Kirjavainen is currently third, behind Aho and Elias Kuukka. Matti Suutari from Vehkalahden Veikot finished third on the day, 2 minutes and 43 seconds behind Aho.
At Kainuu Orienteering Week, Every Course Matters
After Sunday’s rainy conditions, the weather improved for stage two, but the steep slopes of Porttivaara continued to challenge the athletes. In the elite categories, long route choices and few catching features demanded accuracy and smart navigation.
Course planner Teemu Köngäs explained that the runners navigated through dense hillside forest on the second day. The terrain was slow-going and required precision at times, though running speed was generally better than on the opening day.
"The lushness and wetness of the terrain this summer came as a bit of a surprise. It was easy to design technically difficult courses in this forest," Köngäs said.
Köngäs, who also creates maps for Vuokatti-Jukola, designed most of the children’s courses for the Kainuu Orienteering Week. These courses loop around the flatter areas near the event center, making them more suitable for both younger and older participants.
"We were also able to provide a good level of challenge for the older age groups. At Kainuu Orienteering Week, every course is equally important," he emphasized.
