Following the men's combined skiing event in Val di Fiemme, Finland's head of waxing, Heikki Tonteri, was engaged in testing skis, trying to understand the issues faced by the Finnish team. Iivo Niskanen, who finished in 17th place, expressed significant disappointment with his performance, having struggled notably with his classic skiing technique. It was indicated that Niskanen felt his skis were not providing the necessary grip, which he communicated briefly after the race.

Tonteri revealed that Niskanen had provided feedback suggesting that with better grip, he would have performed better in the competition. However, despite the feedback, it was clear that Niskanen’s skis were not competitive on the day, and Tonteri pointed out that there were substantial glide issues during the race. This kind of assessment is critical for competitive skiing, as the performance of the skis can largely impact the outcome, especially in challenging conditions.

As the waxing team began analyzing what went wrong for Niskanen, Tonteri emphasized that the discrepancy in performance among competitors indicates that the problems were primarily with the skis utilized. With varying degrees of success among Finnish skiers in the race, it highlights an ongoing concern for the team as they prepare for future competitions, where equipment could play a pivotal role in results.