Antikainen’s Guidance Paves the Way for Success at Tahko

For the third race of the WOC Tour competition at Tahko, experienced course planner Raimo Antikainen offers advice that could be key to a strong performance. According to Antikainen, competitors in starts 1 and 2 should take the departure marking calmly so they can conserve energy for the actual race.
– Also, start the race in a controlled and careful manner. Then, run the final part as fast as your legs will carry you, but still with caution, says Antikainen, who has spent countless hours in the terrain and started his orienteering journey back in 1964.

In starts 3, 4, and 5, the course planner offers some leniency for those searching for control points.
– You can navigate fairly normally, as long as you double-check your codes, since there are plenty of controls. There are about 200 of them in total across the terrain. And keep your pace at the highest possible level, as I won’t be showing you the scenery, Antikainen chuckles.

Antikainen is well acquainted with the landscapes of Savo, having taken his first orienteering steps while wearing the jersey of Riistaveden Urheilijat. Later, his surroundings changed as he moved through Pielavesi and Kuopio before representing Vetelin Urheilijat. Eventually, his journey brought him back to Savo, where he has been with Kuopion Suunnistajat since 2016. Leadership roles have always been a part of his life.
– I’ve always held some form of leadership position, from chairing orienteering sections of clubs to serving as chairman of the North Savo district’s orienteering committee in the ’80s and ’90s. Now, I’m “retired” from those responsibilities and primarily focus on project-based tasks, Antikainen explains.

For Raimo Antikainen, his greatest achievement in orienteering is rather unconventional— or is it?
– I met my wife at the Kainuu Orienteering Week in 1968, and we ended up having two daughters who became skilled orienteers. I also successfully coached a young athlete from Central Ostrobothnia to a silver medal in ski orienteering at the Junior World Championships in the late ’90s, Antikainen shares.

The race terrain at Tahko is visually captivating.
– If you had lived in Central Ostrobothnia for 24 years surrounded by marshes, even small hills start looking appealing to someone born in Savo. The landscapes at Tahko are truly stunning when viewed from the upper slopes. I’ve gotten familiar with similar terrains while competing at ski resorts in Finland, Sweden, and Norway over the years. Plenty of challenges ahead!

According to Antikainen, control brackets will be prepared in early May, and before the WOC Tour week and the World Championships, various national teams will hold selection trials.

Text and photo: Hannu Keränen