Ice Sports
Opportunity for ice sports and public skating in the rinks
Figure skating is one of the focus sports at Vierumäki. Training facilities for figure skating have been developed with elite level athletes in mind. At Vierumäki figure skating can be enjoyed by participants of all ages and levels of participation. Figure skating training camps have been designed to support the athlete’s training periodisation.
Figure skating training camps for lower secondary schools pupils provide an opportunity for more intense training at the lower secondary school stage. The Finnish Figure Skating Association works in close cooperation with Vierumäki and organises training camps for the national team groups (singles skating, synchronised skating and ice dancing) at Vierumäki. Vierumäki also hosts seminars and projects backed by the International Skating Union (ISU) in all figure skating disciplines.
The Pro training camp for synchronised skating is intended for teams competing in the Finnish Novice Championship series that aim and have the opportunity to advance towards the top of their own series and the Finnish Junior Championship series.
Pro training camp aims at developing the team in a comprehensive manner: athletes, coaches and team support (team and parents) alike receive their share of the training. Pro training camps feature training in the sport itself, strength and conditioning, lectures and monitoring of development. Teams receive tasks that they complete between training camps and that support the team’s advancement towards the top.
The Pro training camp team consists of professionals of psychological and physical coaching, teaching and performance testing. Milja Sarkkinen, known for her work as Team Fintastic’s coach, is responsible for coaching the sport in the 2022–2023 season.
The Pro training camp for synchronised skaters is organised together with competitive cheerleaders of the same age, so the training camp is also a unique opportunity for cooperation and cross-sports learning!
The next application round for the Pro training camp will start in the spring of 2023.
The Finnish Figure Skating Association organises coach training at Vierumäki. Figure skaters can combine studying and training at Vierumäki by studying for a Vocational Qualification in Sports Instruction or by studying at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (LOT and DP).
The @lpttaitoluistelijat group trains at Vierumäki every day. All students studying at the Vierumäki campus have the opportunity to complete studies and do study-related practical training in the Vierumäki Figure Skating sport group as well as at STLL’s training camp and seminar events. A figure skater planning to study at Vierumäki should contact the Sports Director before the start of their studies. University of applied sciences studentcan partake in paid internships working in figure skating as their studies progress and their competence grows.
Figure skating expert Riina Valto has conducted physical tests for figure skaters for 20 years and worked as a trainer for the International Skating Union ISU and as the person in charge of the physical testing for the Finnish Figure Skating Association STLL’s national teams.
At Vierumäki, we have compiled various test packages for figure skaters based on the protocols designed for STLL. We have studied the development of the physical fitness of figure skaters up to the international level for decades. Our reference values allow us to determine the skaters’ strengths and points of development. Coaches and clubs are able to receive expert advice on interpreting their test results as well as on training planning.