FIS CALENDAR CONFRENCE VARNA 2015. The FIS Council held its Spring Meeting at the Hotel International in Varna (BUL) on Sunday 7th June 2015 and dealt with a full agenda, including regular items such as reports from Organising Committees of the FIS World Championships, the appointment of technical officials, proposals from the FIS Technical Committees, FIS World Cup calendars and updates to various rules.

The main decisions of the Council in Varna are as follows:

Decisions directly related to FIS World Cup calendars 2015/2016 to 2018/2019

Minor modifications to the FIS World Cup Calendars for the 2015/2016 season proposed by the respective Technical Committees were approved and will be available on the FIS website from Monday 8th June, as well as calendar drafts until 2018/19.

Of note in the FIS Alpine World Cup calendar for the upcoming season is an increased number of alpine combined competitions with four scheduled for ladies and three for the men, therefore a FIS World Cup globe will be awarded. The competitions that will serve as the first test events for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang (KOR) are scheduled in February 2016 for men’s downhill and super G, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard cross and slopestyle competitions. Cross-Country Skiing will organise the 10th edition of the Tour de Ski and the FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Kulm (AUT) will be the highlight of the Ski Jumping season in January 2016. The Nordic Combined World Cup features the 50th anniversary of the competitions in Schonach (GER).

FIS World Championships and Junior World Championships

    The Council confirmed the Candidates for the FIS World Championships in 2020 and 2021 as well as the procedure for the election on 5th June 2016 in Cancun (MEX). The deadline for applications for the FIS Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard World Championships 2021 has been extended to 1st October 2015.
    The competition programmes for the 2017 FIS World Ski Championships in the Alpine and Nordic Events in St. Moritz (SUI) and Lahti (FIN) were approved.
    Park City (USA) was appointed as Organiser of the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships 2017.
    Val di Fassa (ITA) and Davos (SUI) as Organisers of the FIS Alpine Junior World Championships in 2018 and 2019. The final decision which one takes place in 2018 and 2019 will be made after technical inspections in view of ongoing development to the courses.
    Les Contamines (FRA) was appointed as Organiser of the Telemark Junior World Championships 2016.
    Dizin (IRA) was appointed as Organiser of the FIS Grass Ski Junior World Championships 2016.
    The Ski Jumping mixed team competition will be included on the programme of the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships 2016 in Rasnov (ROU)

Olympic Winter Games

A report was received from PyeongChang 2018 with a detailed progress update about the venues in anticipation of the FIS World Cup competitions that will serve as Test Events planned this season in both Alpine, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard.

Technical Committees

Various updates to the International Competition Rules (ICR) were made. A more detailed summary for each discipline will be published in the next edition of the FIS Newsflash. Key decisions include the following:

All Disciplines

The currency exchange rate on 15th October will be applied to the competition season relating to costs in the rules for prize money, accommodation, travel expenses.

Cross-Country Skiing

    A limitation on the number of support staff for the teams was defined.
    In sprint events, a decision is valid with the decision of two jury members including the Technical Delegate.
    For interval distance races the seeded group is reduced to 15 athletes (from 30) and the athletes will be assigned to four groups to define the starting order.

Ski Jumping

    Regulations for the construction and homologation of Jumping and Flying hills were updated.
    The World Cup final shall comprise the top 30 competitors of the overall World Cup standings.
    The quota calculation for participation in Continental Cup was amended.
    Wearing of ski gloves is compulsory for all events.

Nordic Combined

    Participation quotas for the World Cup were changed to include the top 55 competitors in the World Ranking List with a maximum of six per nation.
    The Nordic Combined format with one jump and 5km cross-country race may be carried out as part of the World Cup.

Alpine Skiing

    A qualification race for ladies (in addition to the men) will be carried out at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz 2017.
    The number of quota places for participation in the FIS World Cup alpine combined competition has been increased.
    Single pole slalom races may be carried out at all levels. A test will take place at the FIS Alpine World Cup in Levi (FIN) in November 2015. Alternative colour poles and gate panels (to red and blue) may be used for FIS World Cup and major events.
    Competition suits will require a label/plomb attesting to conformity with FIS specifications for competition suits.

Freestyle Skiing

    Wireless timing meeting FIS specifications may be used for ski cross qualification. Additional updates to the technical data and execution of ski cross were made.
    Changes to the jump criteria and specifications for moguls were agreed.

Snowboard

    Rules for the team parallel competition were decided.
    Updates to the technical data and execution of snowboard cross were made.
    Scoring procedures for the judging system were revised.
    Entry rules for big air City events were defined.

Further coordination of the rules between Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard has been made in view of more joint events, notably at the Olympic Winter Games and World Championships.

Other disciplines and FIS Committees

    Updates to the Rules for Masters Skiing, Speed Skiing and Telemark were agreed.
    The FIS Advertising Rules were finalised and approved.

FIS Congress

The 51st FIS Congress in 2018 will take place in Costa Navarino, Greece.

FIS Committee Members

The members of the Athletes Commission 2015 - 2017 were confirmed following the elections held during the last winter. Jessica Lindell-Vikarby was elected chair and Mike Janyk, vice-chair (both Alpine Skiing) by their fellow Athlete Commission members.

FIS World Snow Day

The fifth FIS World Snow Day will take place on 17th January 2016 after more than a half a million participants took part in the fourth edition. Audi is in its second full season as a partner of the Bring Children to the Snow campaign to jointly develop projects within the programme.

FIS news
07 June 2015 16:55

Alpine Committee updates from Varna (BUL)

As per tradition the last Alpine Meeting of the FIS Spring meetings was the Alpine Committee, which took place early Saturday morning in Varna (BUL).

Chairman Bernhard Russi started the meeting by Opening remarks and comments on successful season and comment on TV figures from last season. As done by the Chairman of the World Cup Committee Niklas Carlsson the day before, Russi encouraged the Committee to give some thought to the future direction of the sport.

“The world of sport is changing and growing fast,” Russi said in his opening remarks.

“I’m not calling for a revolution but more for an evolution guided by rules and regulations rather than personal and national interest. Changes mean also that we all might need to do some sacrifices. I believe sometimes less can be more and what can seem a disadvantage for personal and national interests can be a big advantage for the whole movement. This can be our future.”

Russi continued onto a report by the Alpine Executive Board where he highlighted some of the main points discussed in the past days:

-       A request has been put forward by the Race Directors for a change in World Championships qualification rules so for the World Championships in St. Moritz (SUI) in 2017 a qualification race will be held for the ladies giant slalom.

-       A lengthy discussion took place regarding the proposal for a change in the format of the bib draw for speed events, which would then include all top 30 athletes. But after being evaluated by the EB and other working groups it was not supported and the system will remain the same.

-       A clarification was made at the EB regarding the distribution of prize money which will be distributed to those competitors who finish in the results and who’s results are valid for World Cup points.

-       The decision to implement 27mm slalom poles in the ladies’ World Cup competitions already next season will be delayed by a year to establish working group which should provide a clear answer on whether the thinner poles are the right direction to go in the future.

-       The implementation of the single pole slalom concept has been accepted and a decision was made to test the concept on the ladies’ side first at the Levi World Cup race and evaluate if this is the way to go.

Next on the agenda were the reports of the Alpine Sub-Committees and Working Groups. Below are some of the highlights and proposals.

After the report of the Sub-Committee for Classification of Alpine Competitors, the Alpine Committee rejected by vote a proposal put forward by Belgium regarding an indoors competition.

The Sub-Committee for Alpine Rules presented the amendments done to the ICR and were approved by the Committee. The main changes were pertinent to the rules regarding Deadline for Entries (604), Double Entries (621.12), Disqualification before Start (627), Different Colors for Gate panels (695), Single pole rule for all FIS events (804) and Parallel course setting distance (1225).

Niklas Carlsson, Chairman of the Sub- Committee World Cup also informed the Alpine Committee members on the details of the meeting of his Committee and brought forward rule updates regarding Basic Quota, Prize Money, FIS World Cup Final, Nations Team Event and City Event rules.

Carlsson also gave a short update regarding the progress done in Korea in preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and Aspen, which is scheduled to host the 2017 World Cup Finals. A decision regarding the final confirmation of Aspen as host was tabled until autumn but the American venue will remain in the calendar and Russi expressed how the EB was quite positive the final confirmation should come in the upcoming months.

Minor changes were also approved to the Intercontinential Cup rules and the deletion of the rule limiting the maximum number of starts for U18 racers (607.3) has been approved as per recommendation of the Youth Questions Committee.

The Working Group for Alpine World Cup put forward a proposal for a change in the Competition Equipment and Commercial Markings and ICR rules regarding competition equipment where from the 2015/16 season onwards at World Cup level a label and not a plomb will be used to attest the suits conformity with FIS specifications. Until the end of the 2017/18 season both conformity systems (label and plomb) will be valid in all FIS competitions. A measurement tolerance would also be introduced and FIS Officials will no longer test suits prior to allowing them in World Cup competitions.

Before the end of the meeting, the Committee heard reports form the Organisers of the previous and next major championships. First up was an emotional video presented by Vail/Beaver Creek (USA) CEO Ceil Folz who showcased some of the best moments of the latest World Ski Championships.

The Committee also heard reports with updates from the Organisers of the 2016 YOG in Lillehammer (NOR), 2017 World Ski Championships in St. Moritz (SUI), 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang (KOR) and 2019 World Ski Championships in Are (SWE) before the meeting was adjourned.

The next meeting will take place at the FIS Autumn Meetings in Zurich in October.

FIS news
08 June 2015 10:02

Highlights from the Alpine World Cup Sub Committee in Varna

On Friday morning the Sub Committee for Alpine World Cup met in Varna (BUL) and over a full agenda discussed the past season and plans for the future.

The opening remarks were given by Chairman Niklas Carlsson where he challenged the Committee to give some serious thought about the direction of Alpine skiing.

“Where are we standing? Is the glass half full or half empty?,” Carlsson said in his opening speech at the World Cup Sub Committee.

“I believe we have to push for development but I also realize it’s hard when you love the sport as much as we do as it becomes hard to criticize it. And without criticizing it first we can’t develop it.”

Carlsson expressed his concern that the World Cup might currently be undergoing a small “midlife crisis” and this was the right time to decide what to do moving ahead.

“The World Cup will soon be celebrating its 50th birthday and I challenge you to take some time this summer and think of how we can help it not to los momentum in the next 50 years. We can agree and disagree but eventually should come together and give recommendations to the Council about our development and future,” Carlsson said in his opening speech at the World Cup Sub Committee.

Carlsson’s speech was followed by reports by Chief Race Directors Atle Skaardal and Markus Waldner, who provided the Committee with their reports on the past season. Both spoke about the weather challenges their respective tours faced this past season but also how the World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek and season finals in Meribel were excellent platforms to showcase the best skiing has to offer.

Next up was FIS Marketing Manager Marcel Looze who informed the attendees about minor amendments to the Advertising rules, including a change to the size of the ladies bib which will be proposed to the Council. In addition, a new look is being proposed for some of the Audi installations on site. The start installation and ceremonies backdrop could include some 3D elements.

Looze also showed a report regarding TV figures and concluded that there is room to grow out of the Central European market which is currently generating the most media impact and find ways to become more attractive to a younger audience.

The Chief Race Directors also clarified the proposals which had been put forward for minor adaptations and clarifications to the existing rules. These proposals would mainly impacting the Alpine Combine quotas and replacement of competitors, wording of the World Cup Final starting order, clarification to the Nations Team Event Rules and City Event rules, injury status and others.

During the meeting a discussion was also held regarding the increase of the Prize Money to 120’000 CHF and a proposal has been put forward to freeze the CHF exchange rate in light of the current economic climate. The topic will be further discussed on Saturday by the Finance Commission and then by the FIS Council to find a feasible solution so the exchange rate fluctuations don’t bring unbearable costs to Organizers.

Waldner announced that a proposal has been made for a parallel giant slalom to be added to the calendar and held in Alta Badia (ITA) next season.

“Parallel racers are good events, the younger generations like this format and by adding a PGS we are confident we can offer the audience a great and exciting product. This is not a new format, it’s an existing one and we believe in it.”

In addition to the PGS in Alta Badia, there are some new Organizers on the calendar for the upcoming season. Stockholm is set to host a City Event while La Thuile  (ITA) and Jasna (SVK) will be hosting a ladies’ downhill and super-G and ladies’ giant slalom and slalom respectively.

Santa Caterina (ITA) will for the second year in a row replace the men’s downhill in Bormio (ITA) but conversations are ongoing to try and bring back the race on the famous Stelvio slope in the near future. Also, Korea and Japan are back on the men’s calendar with a downhill and super-G in Jeongseon and giant slalom and slalom in Naeba in February. Chamonix (FRA) is also making a comeback on the men’s tour with a downhill and Alpine Combines.

An increased emphasis next year will be put on the revival of the Alpine Combined as four Alpine Combined races are scheduled on the ladies’ tour and three on the men’s. This will also mean that at the Finals in St. Moritz (SUI) a crystal globe will once again be awarded to the most successful racers in the discipline.

Long-term calendars were also discussed for both ladies’ and men before the meeting was adjourned. The next one will be taking place at the FIS Fall Meetings in Zurich (SUI) in October. 

FIS news
05 June 2015 10:30

FIS Cross-Country World Cup calendar 2015/16 confirmed

Meeting on Sunday, 7th June, in Varna (BUL), the FIS Council confirmed the calendar for the FIS Cross-Country World Cup presented by Viessmann for the 2015/16 season. The coming winter will feature many highlights including the tenth edition of the FIS Tour de Ski and Ski Tour Canada.

Three-day Tour returns to Ruka (FIN)

Traditionally, the world's best Cross-Country skiers begin their quest for the crystal globes in Finland on the last weekend of November with the opening Ruka Triple. The traditional three-day competition format will be featuring a sprint in classic technique, individual free technique competition and the pursuit in classical technique on Sunday. The World Cup then continues in Lillehammer (NOR) with skiathlon and relay competitions.

Leaving Finland and Norway behind, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup will then move to Central Europe where Davos (SUI) will host free technique sprint and middle 15/30 km F individual start competitions.
The Italian venue of Toblach will host the last World Cup before Christmas with sprints free and interval start races in classic technique.

10th edition of the FIS Tour de Ski

Eight competitions in ten days are scheduled for the 10th edition of the FIS Tour de Ski. The Tour will get under way on 1st January in Lenzerheide (SUI) with sprint free starting everything off. As a second stage, a classical technique middle distance competition will be held. A short pursuit will close the Swiss stages before moving to Germany. After a day off on Monday 4th January the Tour will continue in Oberstdorf with skiathlon and classic sprints. After Oberstdorf the Tour is going to traditional stages in Italy. Toblach (ITA) will host on 8th January distance competitions. The FIS Tour de Ski will conclude in Val di Fiemme (ITA) as has become tradition with a mass start competition on 9th and the Final Climb on 10th January.

Planica (SLO) and Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) in the calendar

The first weekend after the FIS Tour de Ski is traditionally reserved for sprint specialists and the FIS Cross-Country World Cup will visit for the first time Planica (SLO). Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) returns on the competition schedule the following week with interval start competitions and relay on 23rd – 24th January 2016.

Strong Scandinavian block in February 2016

February 2016 will be featuring a strong Scandinavian block. The period will start with the city sprint in Drammen on 3rd February and continue in Oslo with 50 km mass start classic for the men and 30 km mass start classic for the ladies. Stockholm is back in the World Cup calendar with the Royal Palace sprint scheduled on 11th February. Falun will take over from the Swedish capital to host interval start and mass start competitions on 13th and 14th February. The Scandinavian period will come to an end with Lahti Ski Games scheduled on 20th – 21st February.

Ski Tour Canada

The Ski Tour Canada 2016 – FIS Cross-Country World Cup will feature five iconic Canadian ski destinations as host venues. The first week of racing will feature 4 stages in Gatineau, Montreal and Quebec City while the second week will take place in Alberta (Canmore and Lake Louise).

Ottawa’s historic Parliament Hill will serve as a spectacular backdrop for the opening. Gatineau’s downtown sprint event will be staged in Jacques Cartier Park beside the beautiful Canadian Museum of History.

The second stage is slated for Montréal, with Mont Royal to provide a challenging playground for the world’s top Nordic athletes. The famous site in the heart of Quebec’s largest city was host to Canada’s first National Cross Country Ski Championships in 1921. Next, the tour will move to Québec City, which will leverage the successful Sprint Quebec 2012 World Cup in a spectacular city setting adjacent to the Plaines of Abraham and the fortifications of the famous World Heritage site.

The final stages will be set against the backdrop of the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains. One of the world’s most renowned and picturesque Cross-Country venues, the Canmore Nordic Centre will once again serve as the hub for an exciting mix of competition formats. Before finishing in Canmore the penultimate leg of the event will feature a classic distance race starting and finishing on iconic Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships 2016 in Rasnov (ROU)

Junior and U23 athletes will compete in their season highlight in Rasnov (ROU) from 21st - 28th February 2016.

Calendar Online
Please find the FIS Cross-Country World Cup Calendar at: www.fis-ski.com/inside-fis/document-library/cross-country/index.html#deeplink=calendar

FIS news
08 June 2015 09:15

FIS Conference in Varna: Ski Jumping Competition calendars approved

This year's FIS Calendar Conference was held in Varna (BUL) from June 3rd to 6th, followed by the spring meeting of the FIS Council on Sunday.

There the proposals of the various technical committees were discussed and the World Cup calendars for the upcoming winter were approved.

Concerning ski jumping the following decisions were made:

- The competition program for the 2017 FIS World Ski Championships in Lahti (FIN) was approved
- Park City (USA) was appointed as Organizer of the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships 2017
- The mixed team competition will be included in the program of the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships 2016 in Rasnov (ROU)
- Regulations for the construction and homologation of Jumping and Flying hills were updated
- The World Cup final shall comprise the top 30 competitors of the overall World Cup standings
- The quota calculation for participation in Continental Cup was amended
- Wearing of ski gloves is compulsory for all events.

Changes in the competition calendar

The final of the FIS Grand Prix 2015 of men and ladies will take place on September 26th and 27th in Chaikovsky (RUS), for the first time two competitions will be held in Hinzenbach (AUT) on September 19th and 20th.

Other than originally planned, Willingen (GER) will not host the World Cup in March next season, but already on January 9th and 10th, 2016, right after the 4-Hills-Tournament.

The competition in Szczyrk in January will not take place, instead Poland will get a second full World Cup weekend with Wisla on March 4th and 5th.

FIS Grand Prix 2015
FIS World Cup Men 2015/16
FIS World Cup Ladies 2015/16
COC and FIS Cup 2015
COC and FIS Cup 2015/16

Also the members of the Athlete's Commission for 2015 - 2017, elected last winter, were confirmed in Varna. The representatives of ski jumping in this commission are Kamil Stoch (POL) and Katja Pozun (SLO).

FIS news
08 June 2015 09:00