On Thursday, the International Ski Federation FIS published the framework schedule for the coming World Cup winter – unusually late. The calendar leaves many question marks, including the planned ski jumping in Russia and possible collisions with the World Cup.
It’s rumbling in the ski circus. The not uncontroversial FIS President Johan Eliasch is making revolutionary plans behind the scenes.
In addition to centralized marketing, world cups on the Olympic slopes in China and nightly speed races, there are also ideas about new disciplines and a new racing series, as well as the reduction of the giant slalom to one run, which are explosive.
The Swiss ski director Walter Reusser spoke of an “open heart operation” to the “SRF” in relation to Eliasch’s project.
Alpine World Cup threaten collisions with the World Cup
Race organizers and associations eagerly awaited the framework schedule for the coming alpine season – and were disappointed by the FIS.
Apparently there are still too many question marks surrounding the plans. As the FIS announced on Thursday after its virtual council, the calendar needs to be revised again.
According to the current status, there is a risk of collisions with the World Cup in Qatar, for example. On November 27, a women’s slalom was scheduled to take place in Killington (USA) and a men’s super-G in Lake Louise (Canada).
On the same day, however, the World Cup cracker between Germany and Spain will also rise, which should then focus the interest of the TV audience.
Ski jumping planned in Russia
The provisional World Cup appointments for ski jumpers also harbor potential for conflict. Regardless of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the alleged massacre of civilians by Vladimir Putin’s army, the start of winter is planned in Nizhny Tagil, Russia – for the men on November 19/20. November, for women on 3./4. December.
Snowboard cross competitions, a ski cross world cup and competitions for snowboard racers are also set to increase in Russia. An Aerials World Cup is also planned for Minsk-Raubichi, a suburb of the Belarusian capital.
After all, all these appointments are marked “under observation of the situation in Russia” in the FIS calendar.
Less ski jumping in Germany
The general schedule of ski jumpers for the German World Cup locations is not good news.
Instead of eleven men’s competitions last winter, there should only be seven in 2022/2023. For women, the number of competitions in Germany has been reduced from seven to five.
However, these plans are not final yet. They still have to be approved by the technical committees of the respective sports.