FIS World Cup 2013/14 - A
winter full of highlights
Robert Kranjec - FIS
The 2013/14 winter is a very special one for the
the ski jumpers. Besides the 4-Hills-Tournament
in Germany and Austria (Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
Innsbruck and Bischofshofen) from Dec. 29th - Jan.
6th and the Ski Flying World Championships in Harrachov
(CZE) from March 13th - March 16th, the Olympic
Winter Games in Sochi (RUS) are on the schedule
from Feb. 7th - Feb. 23rd. This is the top event
for the men, for the ladies it even is a historical
milestone.
But first things first.
For the men the FIS World Cup will not kick off
in Scandinavia late November as usual, but in Central
Europe, precisely in Klingenthal, Germany. Two factors
were crucial for the decision of the FIS to move
the World Cup opener from the far north to Central
Europe.
• Snow: A snow depot, that was set up right next
to the hill in Klingenthal last winter, guarantees
that there will be enough snow in order to get the
hill ready for the World Cup opener on November
23rd and 24th.
• Atmosphere / spectators: With a sold out stadium
and a great atmosphere, Klingenthal was a highlight
of the winter in the past years, although the competition
was always held during the week. In contrast, there
was not much of a special atmosphere for the opening
event in front of only a few spectators in Kuusamo
(FIN) and Lillehammer (NOR).
After Klingenthal, the series continues in Kuusamo
(FIN). A traditional venue for the FIS World Cup,
located near the Arctic Circle, which has been part
of the Ski Jumping World Cup calendar for many years.
Experts know: Athletes and spectators can look forward
to temperatures below -20°C, if anyone is actually
looking forward to such extremely low temperatures.
(Nov. 29th and 30th)
Third stop: Lillehammer (NOR)
Lillehammer is the third venue of the winter for
the men. At the same time, it will also be the start
of the World Cup season for the ladies. Important
points for the Nation's Cup can be scored in this
winter's only mixed team competition. (Dec. 6th
and 7th)
Titisee-Neustadt (GER)
After a long break (the last World Cup on the "Hochfirstschanze"
was held in 2007), Titisee-Neustadt is back on the
calendar of the Ski Jumping World Cup. In the past,
the temperatures and the snow always caused worries
for the organizers in the Black Forest at such an
early point of the season, but they won't have these
problems this time. Just like in Klingenthal, they
also set up a snow depot at the hill already last
winter. (Dec. 14th and 15th)
Engelberg (SUI)
The only Swiss location on the ski jumping calendar
has been an inherent part of the series for many
years. The events are traditionally held on the
last weekend before Christmas and serve as the final
test for the 4-Hills-Tournament. Who is among the
best in Engelberg, is also one of the favorites
at the 4-Hills-Tournament. (Dec. 21st and 22nd)
The 4-Hills-Tournament is the world's most popular
sports event at this time of year and attracts huge
interest of the media and the public every year.
And rightly so. There's nothing more to say. (Dec.
29th - Jan. 6th)
Bad Mitterndorf / Kulm (AUT)
After a break last year, the "Kulm" is
back on the ski jumping calendar. The "Kulm"
is located between the two communities of Bad Mitterndorf
and Tauplitz. All three terms are used to describe
the huge ski flying hill Kulm. Experts know, that
there will not only be long flights but also the
atmosphere will reach the fever pith despite the
frosty temperatures. For many years, the great atmosphere
at the Kulm is guaranteed by two-time 4-Hills-Tournament
winner Hubert "Hupo" Neuper and his team.
(Jan. 11th - 12th)
Wisla and Zakopane (POL)
Thanks to Adam Malysz, the great atmosphere that
athletes and spectators got to experience at the
World Cup events in Poland over the last years is
legendary. Since Adam Malysz started his unique
winning streak in the 2000/2001 season (The results
of Adam Malysz »), the World Cup is unimaginable
without Zakopane. With Wisla (only about 130 km
from Zakopane), there's a second location with a
similar atmosphere. The competition in Wisla is
held on January 16th, Zakopane follows on the 18th
and 19th.
Sapporo (JPN)
The home event for Noriaki Kasai, Daiki Ito and
their teammates. The only two competitions in Asia
take place under (most of the time) difficult conditions
in front of the fantastic backdrop of Sapporo, a
city of two million. For some athletes these two
competitions are a highlight of the winter, others
skip the events in Japan due to the long trip and
the full World Cup calendar. (Jan. 25th and 26th)
Willingen (GER)
Cult event in Germany. Similar to Zakopane and Adam
Malysz, Willingen earned it's reputation as a "cult
location" during the high times of Sven Hannawald
and Martin Schmitt. But also in times when the German
athletes were not among the best, Willingen organized
a great World Cup weekend at the "Muehlenkopfschanze"
with tireless effort and creativity. Now the local
heroes are on top again and therefore the crowd
will raise the roof on February 1st and 2nd.
Sochi (RUS) Olympic Winter Games
Feb. 9th + 11th + 15th + 17th
Sports history will be made on these four days at
the Olympic Games in Sochi, the dates can already
be marked in the personal calendars. The ladies
will get the chance to win their first ever Olympic
medals on the normal hill HS 106 on February 11th.
The men will have competitions on the normal hill
(Feb. 9th), the large hill HS 140 (Feb. 15th) and
a team event, also on the large hill (Feb. 17th).
Excitement and drama guaranteed.
Falun (SWE)
Believe it or not, it's been 12 years since Falun
hosted a ski jumping World Cup event. Two Finns
and two Germans were on the podium on March 13,
2002 in the last World Cup in Sweden: Matti Hautamaeki
won ahead of Martin Schmitt, Janne Ahonen and Sven
Hannawald shared the third place. Now the Nordic
World Championships will be held in Falun 2015 and
so a World Cup competition will take place in the
home country of Jan Bokloev as a test event for
the Championships. (Feb. 26th)
Lahti (FIN)
Was there ever a World Cup winter without an event
in Lahti? Probably yes, but it seems like there
wasn't. With its great facilities and the Lahti
Ski Games, an FIS World Cup calendar cannot be imagined
without Lahti. Besides the ski jumpers, also the
cross country skiers and nordic combined athletes
will be competing. The weekend in Lahti offers winter
sports on the highest level and is also always a
festival in Finland. (March 1st and 2nd)
Kuopio (FIN)
Also Kuopio, 300 km north of Lahti, has a great
tradition in ski jumping. It's the home town of
big names of the sport, like the Hautamaeki brothers
and Ari-Pekka Nikkola. After a two year break in
the 2011 and 2012 World Cup, Kuopio made an impressive
return last winter. Remarkable: The current hill
record on the HS 127 Puijo-hill in Kuopio was set
by Japanese Masahiko Harada on March 4th, 1998.
Trondheim (NOR)
After Lillehammer in December, Trondheim is the
second stop in Norway. With 180 000 inhabitants,
Trondheim is the third-largest city in Norway and
with the historic city center it's maybe the most
beautiful stop of the winter for the ski jumpers.
The hill at the Granasen has a HS of 140. Trondheim
hosted the Nordic World Championships in 1997. (March
7th)
Oslo (NOR)
Fascination Holmenkollen. The Holmenkollenbakken
is located on the Holmenkollen mountain in the city
of Oslo. The hill is considered the world's oldest
ski jumping hill. But this of course, only refers
to the location, because the Holmenkollenbakken,
that was built for the Nordic World Championships
in 2011, is just as modern as it is impressive.
A sightseeing trip to Oslo would not be complete
without a tour of this facility. (March 9th)
Harrachov (CZE) Ski Flying World Championships
The Ski Flying World Champions 2014 will be crowned
in Harrachov. The last Championships in Harrachov
were memorable. On March 10th, 2002 Sven Hannawald
took the title ahead of Martin Schmitt and Matti
Hautamaeki. Back then the second day of competition
was canceled due to strong wind. For the 2014 Championships
the organizers spared neither efforts nor costs
and installed a new wind net, so the fans can look
forward to exciting competitions on March 14th,
15th (individual) and 16th (team).
Planica (SLO)
The final in Planica. Tradition - long flights -
excitement - cult. Even if the event will not be
held on the flying hill this time, but on the new
large hill HS 139, the season's final competitions
in Slovenia will be exciting. The reconstruction
of the flying hill could not be started on time,
so the decision to move the season final to the
large hill was made early. With some luck, the overall
World Cup will not be decided before the final events,
then excitement is guaranteed - as so often in Planica.
Did you notice it? It will be a long, long winter
...
