The ski association loses a lot of money.
Too strong wind prevented Ruka’s hill race again. Pasi Liesimaa
The cancellation of Ruka’s hill race on Sunday is a big financial blow to the Ski Association.
According to information from Iltalehti, the cancellation means a gross loss of income of around 300,000–400,000 euros. When one lap of ski jumping deleted from Saturday is added to the sum, the total amount is in the order of half a million.
The Ski Federation had already budgeted the income from Ruka Mäki in advance.
– Of course they are budgeted. They are a significant part of our income. But we also know the risks of Ruka, and we have prepared for them, the executive director of the association Marleena Valtasola commented on the day when the organization of the hill race was at stake.
Why is the income already in the budget, when Ruka is such a venue prone to cancellations?
– Because our income generation is largely based on media income. We know what the financial situation of the Ski Association is. We don’t have such capital that we can, as it were, zero-budget this. We then have our own risk management mechanisms, Valtasola explains.
The ski association’s media and marketing contract revenues in the financial period 1 November 2023–30 June 2024 were 4,049,666 euros.
Now the Ski Federation is finding out whether it is possible to move Ruka’s Sunday competition to Lahti, for example, from 6th to 8th. in connection with the world cup weekend organized in March.
– That has been done before, and it’s quite a logical solution. It will be discussed with Fis and Salppur’s race organizers, says Valtasola.
Ruka’s hill race on Sunday was canceled due to strong and gusty winds.
The hill part of the combined start race was also not jumped, which is why the whole race is invalidated, even though the skiing part was completed.