Julia Kykkänen speaks to SkiJumpingItaly about the season ahead

From Julia Kykkänen photo album on her Facebook page I still remember the first time I saw her….She sat in the hall of the hotel (the same as mine) in Klingenthal back in 2009, a young lady with a shy look; That girl was Julia Kykkänen.She sat on her own with her laptop on the table not really caring about the others around.So I couldn’t help myself to take an interview with the lovely Julia for SkiJumpingItaly. SJI: So welcome to SkiJumpingItaly Julia, how is it going? Did you get some rest since the end of the season? JK: Good, thanks! Yes I did for couple weeks but then I started school and its kinda busy and hard. SJI: So tell us, what have you done during your time off from ski jumping? JK: After last comp I went to Planica just to see ski flying and then just hang out with friends and family so pretty much just relaxing and then started the new school. SJI: I suppose you already started with the training for the new season, how is it going? JK: Well the school where I`m studying is sport school so sometimes we might have like 6 hours just all the different sports so then that’s all what I need to do for one day but I still have some time for my own trainings and it have been pretty good. SJI: Please tell us what do you expect from the upcoming season, and what do you think about the idea to compete in a mixed team? JK: Well it’s gonna be pretty exciting and from myself I expect to make better results and get the jumping better on the flat level. About the mixed team, for sure it’s gonna be exciting but I think it’s a good idea, but for me I don’t know cause at the moment I`m the only one from Finland who is jumping in the World cup but maybe some other girls is coming soon so we will see then! SJI: This is going to be a busy year, you're all preparing yourself not just for the season ahead but also for the next Winter Games (the first ever for the ladies in ski jumping) in Sochi in 2014. What’s your feeling about the possibility to be one of the girls who will compete at the Olympics? JK: I am so excited and happy, I will work hard to make it there and all we can say finally the dreams came true, ladies will going to jump at the Olympics! SJI: But first the World Championships in Val di Fiemme, what’s your goal for this occasion? JK: Make two good and relaxed jumps. From Julia Kykkänen photo album on her Facebook page SJI: Tell us and tell all ski jumping lovers how did your ski jumping career begin? What made you decide you want to become a professional ski jumper? JK: Well I started jumping when I was 3 year old, both my brothers were also jumping so I wanted to try as well and I probably just fell in love immediately with the ski jumping so then I just continued and I knew it pretty soon after I started that this is what I wanna do. Ski jumping is just the sport that I love. SJI: What do you like most about this sport? JK: The whole ski jumping is awesome but maybe the best part is flying. SJI: What would you say to the youngsters who want to become a professional ski-jumper? What kind of advice do you want to give to them? JK: Just work/train for it but don’t forget to do all the other things also. Remember to have fun and never give up!SJI: How would you describe yourself outside ski-jumping fields? What do you like to do in your spare time? JK: Well I am a happy person and maybe a bit lively person who likes to have fun and make jokes, I think I`m pretty much the same also in the ski jumping fields but on the spare time I`m not taking things that seriously as in the competitions.

In the spare time I like to spend time with the friends and family, have fun and do all the other things.

SJI: Do you have any idols or person you admire most? JK: My brothers and Harri Olli. SJI: Ok Julia last question; Would you mind to describe yourself in three words and describe ski-jumping in also three words. JK: I`m happy, a bit lively and I have sense of humor.Ski jumping is the sport that I love, it’s awesome and you can always make better results and get on the higher level. We really hope you liked the interview we delivered to you, and we would like to thank Julia for spending some of her time answering to our questions, we are sure that this is helping you guys to get to know your favourite jumpers a bit better, and will also help you to understand better this sport and what kind of emotions it is able to give. Interview by Consuelo Conte [@KokkaMufc @SkiJumpingItaly]

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