Meelis Aasmäe
Meelis Aasmäe ( born June 13, 1972 in Hellenurme, rural community Palupera, then Estonian SSR, Soviet Union) is an Estonian cross-country skiing and biathlon coach and former cross-country skier. Aasmäe 1998 and 2000 Estonian champion in the 50 km classic was.
Active sports career
His first international competition contested Aasmäe at the age of 23 in Skilanglaug -Continental Cup. About 10 km freestyle, he finished in November 1995 in the Norwegian Savalen the 75th Place. In the following season, he secured his place in the 28 Continental Cup 10-kilometer classic in Finnish Kittila the start at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, where he reached the 50 km classic 57th place in the victory of Mika Myllylä. In 1997, he won the Tartu Complex Event, a competition series consisting of four competitions in various endurance sports - Tartu Maraton ( alpine), Tartu Run Marathon ( Running ), Tartu - road cycling ( cycling race) and Tartu cycling marathon ( mountain bike marathon ).
A year later he had his first appearance in the Cross Country World Cup. In the Norwegian Beitostølen he could, however, about 10 km classic place with room 110 only in the rear starting field. On his second deployment in the World Cup in Russia Kawgolowo he was 45 over a distance of 30 kilometers freestyle. At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan launched Aasmäe the 30 km classic, where he finished in 52nd place. In the 1998/99 season he won the World Cup in the Estonian Otepaeae his first World Cup points. Before the home crowd, he finished 29th place 10-kilometer classic. His best finish at the Nordic World Ski Championships 1999 in Austria Ramsau was also a 29th place 30 km free style. About 10 km classic, he was 54th in the subsequent pursuit competition about 25 km freestyle he improved to 41st place. With the Estonian season, he finished tenth. Together with Pavo Raudsepp, he finished in Vantaa in the Team Sprint, which was held on the edge of the World Cup in Lahti and not yet part of the World Cup program at the time, the second place.
Also in the following years was Aasmäe integral part of the Estonian national team, but missed at World Cup competitions with top 40 rankings more World Cup points. In the Nordic World Ski Championships 2001 in Lahti, Finland classic he achieved his best career result in an international championship in the victory of his compatriot Andrus Veerpalu with 25th place over 30 kilometers. About 50 km freestyle he would 26 and 33 about 15 km classic. With the Estonian season, he finished in seventh place. 2002, Aasmäe part in his second Olympic Winter Games. In Salt Lake City, he raced in the competitions of the classical technique. About 15 kilometers he was 40 and about 50 kilometers 48th As at the World Championships in 1999 and 2001 was Aasmäe also used in the relay competition. Start runner Raul Olle handed ninth lying to the Olympic champion in the 15 km classic Andrus Veerplau that could improve the Estonian season in third place. To the surprise of many of Brozemedailliengewinner about 15 km classic could convince Jaak Mae also in the free technique and handed still in third place lying on Aasmäe. However Aasmäe could not follow the cage rotors of other nations and lost over 3 minutes to the winning season from Norway. The Estonian season finished at the end of the ninth. In the Nordic World Ski Championships 2003 in Val di Fiemme, Italy, he was 44 over 30 km classic ( mass start ) and 57 about 15 km classic.
In the following years Aasmäe launched only in World Cup competitions in domestic Otepaeae. Since 2004, he participated in the FIS Marathon Cup. In the Swedish Mora, he finished the 2004 Vasaloppet over the distance of 90 kilometers classic eleventh place. A year later he was 70 km classic in Val di Fiemme 19 and won the members of the Worldloppet series Finlandia Hiihto classic over 60 kilometers. In 2006 he became the tenth and won the Vasaloppet ski marathon Tallinn. In his final season in 2007 was followed by a 26 at La Sgambeda in Livigno, a 27th place in Val di Fiemme and a 24th place at the König-Ludwig- run in Oberammergau.
Coaching career
After his playing career Aasmäe has worked as a cross-country coach in biathlon and has been part of the 2007/ 08 season for the coaching staff of the Estonian national biathlon team. Since the season 2011/12 he is further chief responsibility for coach of the Estonian biathlete Kadri Lehtla exercising outside of the Estonian national team since that time and was able to improve their results in the World Cup and stabilize.