Team Name: Viima
Location: Espoo, Finland
Year Founded: 2006
Website: http://www.euc.fi/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/5285062882/
Previous Windmill Appearances: 2
Highest Windmill Finish: 1st (2006)
Viima celebrates after winning the Finnish Championship Tour last summer.
Viima takes their name from a Finnish word meaning a strong, cold wind: an apt title for the reigning women’s club champions of windy Finland who describe their play as “so hard and fast that their opponent doesn’t know what hit them.” This year, the cast of furiously fun-loving ladies is looking to recapture their lost glory as previous Windmill Windup champions. Whether or not the winds are in their favor, Viima is looking forward to play, and party, hard.
For those who may be unfamiliar, can you give us a summary/history of your team? What is your team all about?
Viima is a team that was formed in 2006, when two of the top Finnish women’s teams (Espoo Ultimate Club and Discus) joined their forces in order to play in Worlds in Perth, Australia. Since then, Viima has ruled the Finnish Ultimate scene, both outdoors and indoors, and Viima players have made up a big part of the Finnish national teams.
In Windmill 2012 we’ll be a mixture of experienced gurus and younger players, and even some players from three other Finnish club teams. So this tournament will be a refreshing change for all the players, as we haven’t really practised together with this crew.
Are you just made up of players from Finland, or do you have international players as well?
We have only one non-Finn: Csilla “crazy Hungarian” Furka, who has played with us since 2008.
What player is most likely to make a huge play as a thrower? As a receiver? On D?
The crazy Hungarian Csilla (#62) and Jenni Oksanen (#63) are the ones that teams should watch out for, whether Viima is on offense or defense.
What are a few things your team does really well on the field?
We talk better (and more) Finnish than rest of the teams in Windmill.
Can you share a tradition, piece of history, or other trait that makes Viima unique?
Well, some might know Viima players from Paganello, as many of us have been there with a women’s team called Maitotytöt, wearing lovely red and white striped old-fashioned swim-/gymnastic suits and blonde wigs. Maitotytöt has a couple of medals and also the spirit prize from Paga. Also, we have a great tradition called “kossugolf”. A couple of times a year the team heads out to play disc golf, with rules that include drinking a lot of kossu (Finnish traditional strong liquor “Koskenkorva”) everytime one wins or loses or hits a tree with the disc (or actually does anything whatsoever). Since we Finns are quite shy and the only way to talk to new people is while being drunk, this is the perfect way to include new players on the team.
A few of the Viima women pose at the 2010 Windmill Windup.
How many years have you attended Windmill? If you’ve been before, what are your favorite memories?
If I remember correctly, we have been in Windmill only two times as Viima. One of the best memories for many is winning the tournament in 2006. But other great memories include sun, beer, a big elephant and great people!
Why did you choose to go to Windmill this year?
We wanted to go to a high level international tournament where it’s not only about playing seriously but also having a great time outside the fields. And since many of us are preparing for Worlds in Japan, this seemed to fit in the schedule the best. And of course, we have always enjoyed Windmill. It is by far one of the best European ultimate tournaments.
What are you most looking forward to this year at Windmill?
The same as always: tough games and three days of absolute relaxation.
What are your goals for the tournament?
Play hard, party hard, and win the tournament of course! Well, if we don’t win the whole tournament, then at least we want to beat the German national team that is coached by a former Finnish teammate.
What other international tournaments have you attended? How were your results?
Viima usually attend the European and World Club Championships and other smaller tournaments also, but the results haven’t been very flattering lately.
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