The Nordic combined is fighting for its future. Innovations should make things more attractive. This also includes ski flying. The world premiere is on Friday.
Nordic combined is one of the oldest disciplines in winter sports and has been Olympic since 1924. Nevertheless, the NoKo is fighting for its Olympic survival. In order to become more attractive, you take new paths.
One such step is the first World Cup on a ski flying hill. The premiere will take place on Friday (February 27, 2026, 10 a.m., live on Erste) at the Kulm in Bad Mitterndorf (Austria). DSV sports director Horst Hüttel spoke about the “mission to stay in the league” in a media round on Tuesday (February 24, 206). At its core, it hits what it’s all about: the survival of a sport. “We have to ensure that the sport remains attractive, that can be an important step”says Hüttel.
Geiger: “We’re good enough as a jumper”
The premiere on the ski flying hill is also the right step for national coach Eric Frenzel. You have to gain experience and see how the athletes cope with this story, says Frenzel, who is convinced that ski flying also has a promising future for combined skiers.
The German combined athletes are not breaking new ground. In the past, Vinzenz Geiger and Co. have had the opportunity to test the ski flying hill in Oberstdorf. Back then it was just training, now it’s about World Cup points.
From Geiger’s perspective, there is “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t do that. We’re good enough at jumping”said the Oberstdorfer, who became a tragic figure in the Olympic team sprint with his two falls on the cross-country ski run. For the first time since 1998, the Germans remained without an Olympic medal.
Only the best 40 athletes fly
According to Coach Frenzel, the process of working through the “how-why-why” is already in full swing. “We have already carried out initial analyzes as to why we did not do so well”reports Frenzel, who was a coach at the Olympic Games for the first time and experienced a difficult time. Now the focus is on the three remaining World Cup stages – and above all on the ski flying premiere.
But not all combiners will experience this. Only the best 40 jumpers are allowed to start. Substitutes are not allowed, explains Hüttel. The German team is starting with seven athletes. In addition to Vinzenz Geiger, Johannes Rydzek, Julian Schmid, Wendelin Thannheimer, Richard Stenzel and the brothers David and Simon Mach are there at the Kulm.
Decisions in May and June
The Ski Flying World Cup is another attempt to promote Nordic combined. The sport is under scrutiny at the IOC. The IOC criticized the lack of performance density among women, little variety on the winners’ podiums and a lack of global awareness.
The NoKo searched for and found solutions. Whether these are enough to convince the decision-makers will be decided in May. Then the program committee and the IOC Executive Board meet, discuss and make a proposal as to which sports will be included in the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. This decision should then be announced in June.
