Change! FIS Decided on a Shift for Season Start: New Competition

Originally published in Przegląd Sportowy on November 21, 2024

In the upcoming Friday, ski jumping enthusiasts will witness the inauguration of a new World Cup season, which is anticipated to be groundbreaking for several reasons. For the first time, the competition will kick off with a mixed event, marking a significant shift introduced by FIS. Additionally, this will be the first time in 12 years that the initial competitions will be held in Lillehammer.

Lillehammer, known as a hub for winter sports in Norway, will serve as the arena for this unique competition. FIS has arranged the calendar so that the season begins with the mixed events, a change from previous seasons where these events were held later in the weekend.

Mixed competitions, which debuted in the 2012/2013 season, continue to evoke excitement and discussion among athletes and experts. Each team will comprise two female and two male jumpers, with the final outcome determined by the total scores from eight jumps. In this setup, women jump from a higher platform than men to balance the competition.

For the Polish team, Anna Twardosz and Nicole Konderla are expected to compete among the women, while Dawid Kubacki and Paweł Wąsek are anticipated to represent the men. Kamil Stoch, Aleksander Zniszczoł, and Maciej Kot are also making their way to Norway.

This season holds special importance as Lillehammer resumes after a 12-year break as the World Cup season opener. The last time this occurred was in the 2012/2013 season. Traditionally, the winter's start was associated with the Finnish venue Ruka, and more recently, it frequently began in Wisła, but not this time.

Following Lillehammer, both Ruka and Wisła will soon host ski jumping events, with Ruka being the second point on the FIS calendar and Wisła coming in third. Additionally, in January, the competitors will travel to Zakopane for another World Cup event.

Inaugural Program for the Lillehammer World Cup: - November 22, 2024, Friday, 4:15 PM – Lillehammer (HS140), Mixed Competition - November 23, 2024, Saturday, 4:00 PM – Lillehammer (HS140), Individual Competition - November 24, 2024, Sunday, 4:00 PM – Lillehammer (HS140), Individual Competition

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