JONNE KOSKI
Jonne Koski is the mastermind behind Tuomiopäivä’s competition programming.
What does he prioritize in the programming, and what makes being part of Finland’s biggest CrossFit competition so special?
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
The competition events for Turku Tuomiopäivä are programmed by Finland’s most successful CrossFit athlete, the internationally recognized Jonne Koski. Tuomiopäivä was held for the first time in 2019, and Jonne has been part of the competition team from the very beginning.
"Tuomiopäivä has grown quite a lot in five years. The first competitions were entirely national, without any international athletes," Jonne recalls.
Jonne highlights how Tuomiopäivä offers something that wasn’t available in Finland before. "There are plenty of good and high-level competitions in Finland, but Finnish athletes haven’t had the opportunity to test their fitness against Europe’s best on home soil. It’s been great to see the event develop and attract international athletes to Turku, Finland."
"From the very beginning, the goal was to build one of the most respected competitions in Europe, to attract international elite athletes. In the past couple of years, we’ve seen some really high-caliber athletes from around the world join us."
Photo: Jonne at Ispoinen Beach during Turku Tuomiopäivä 2022.
"We have a highly skilled team, and Meri and Aino (the event’s founders) put in a lot of work to keep this growth going. It’s been wonderful to be a small part of this development and to give something back to the community through Tuomiopäivä – a community that has given me so much and created the opportunity for my career as an athlete", Jonne says gratefully.
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REFLECTING ON HIS OWN COMPETITION EXPERIENCES
Jonne’s own competitive experience heavily influences his approach to event programming. "I’ve competed in a lot of different competitions and done a wide variety of events. I’ve tried to learn from them, what works and what doesn’t – especially when it comes to movement selection and combinations. My own experience helps me understand what makes an event truly interesting and challenging."
"Often in the planning phase, I find myself remembering similar events that I’ve competed in before. I revisit those memories and think about what worked and what didn’t, and how I could possibly adapt them to our competition environment at Urheilupuiston Yläkenttä", Jonne explains.
Photo: Jonne giving the equipment one last try before the competition, Turku Tuomiopäivä 2023.
"From the very beginning, the goal was to build one of the most respected competitions in Europe, to attract international elite athletes. In the past couple of years, we’ve seen some really high-caliber athletes from around the world join us."
Photo: Jonne at Ispoinen Beach during Turku Tuomiopäivä 2022.
BALANCE AND FAIRNESS ARE KEY
Jonne emphasizes the importance of balance and fairness in event programming. "The most important thing is that the overall test is as balanced and fair as possible. We usually have only six to seven events, so it’s challenging to build a comprehensive test for all aspects of physical fitness."
"We always aim to ensure that the overall test isn’t too weightlifting-heavy or endurance-focused. Movement selection must also be carefully considered to avoid favoring a particular type of athlete. The events should be as enjoyable as possible to perform, although they should, of course, be challenging. I want to bring something unique to the events – movements or combinations that you might not encounter at every gym. We also aim to make the events as entertaining as possible for spectators. Event watchability has improved for us year after year, and we continue to develop it further."
WHAT MAKES TUOMIOPÄIVÄ SPECIAL?
"One of the special things is that we have a highly skilled and motivated team that has remained mostly the same from the beginning. The team has grown and developed along with the event, and the great team spirit is evident in everything we do", Jonne says with a smile.
"Additionally, the location of the event is unique. We’ve utilized different venues around Turku, such as Ispoinen Beach, the riverside, and Hirvensalo. It’s fantastic that we can use the city of Turku and its diverse environments for the events. It brings a unique atmosphere to the competition and makes it truly special."
"As an athlete, I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to compete ‘out of the box’ – away from the gym and in new environments. That makes Tuomiopäivä a unique experience for the competitors as well", Jonne emphasizes.
Photo: Jonne at Hirvensalo during Turku Tuomiopäivä 2021.
THE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES
"It’s especially rewarding to see how the event grows and evolves year after year. We always learn something new and aim to keep moving the event forward. I believe that this year, we’ll see something even better and more impressive. The development continues", Jonne assures.
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