FIS Cross-Country Committee spring meetings 2021

May 22, 2021·Cross-Country

On Friday, 21st May, the Cross-Country Committee has met during an online meeting to discuss and conclude the final proposals which will be submitted to the FIS Council.

As previously communicated, this years approach to the discussions in the Sub-Committees was organized differently through the so-called expert working groups who prepared specific topics ahead of the meetings. The expert working groups also included FIS Family members out of committee positions, such as athletes, coaches, TV experts and so forth.

Additionally to the previously named working groups, the Cross-Country Committee agreed on creating a working group that will focus on waxing and ski preparation matters along the World Cup. The working group will be challenged to completely re-think the status of ski preparation as the current system is interfering with the set focus to make the World Cup more sustainable. A main point for the working group to focus on will also be the big impact the different possibilities of ski preparation between larger and smaller nations have on race results and their financial possibilities.

FIS Cross-Country sees some chairwomen and chairmen pass on their lead of the Sub-Committees. The FIS Cross-Country team would like to thank Gabriella Paruzzi, Karl-Heinz Lickert and Angelo Corradini for their leading work throughout the years and extend our thanks to Dietmar Miklautsch who is retiring as a longterm member of the Cross-Country Committee after more than 30 years! Great thanks also go to all members of the expert groups and active Sub-Committee members involved for constructive Spring meetings throughout the past month.

All proposals are still subject to the approval of the FIS Council.

Find the most important updates below:

Sub-Committee for World Cup and Continental Cup

World Cup calendar 2021/22 and long-term calendar
The creation of a suitable calendar planning contrasted various interests. The main aspects remain an optimized planning for athletes and teams to ensure their participation, equality and internationality. With all additional demands in the back, the World Cup calendar was discussed and a long-term calendar frame was established that follows basic principles:

Season starts last weekend of November and ends after the third weekend of March
the calendar consists of 5 blocks including free weekends
the organizing nations and venues will be selected in order to reduce travels and optimize logistics
combine with other Nordic disciplines wherever possible

The long-term calendar frame will be finalised with the NSA throughout summer and published after the autumn meetings.

Proposed 2021/22 World Cup calendar

Specifications
Ruka Nordic (FIN) will not be held as a Mini Tour.
Prémanon (FRA) and Falun (SWE) agreed to host one additional competition day. Falun will undergo a feasibility study for possible mixed team events for Sunday, 13th March.
The World Cup Finals will be held as a Mini Tour and take place in Tyumen (RUS).

World Cup rules
After having to adapt rules for World Cup organizers this past season due to Covid-restrictions, many aspects were re-considered and implemented permanently in the World Cup rules. Various updates were made to reduce the financial burden for LOC's and smaller teams.

Sub-Committee for Rules and Control

ICR on obstructions and overtaking
Due to latest events on the World Cup connected to the overtaking rules, the expert group - including 6 active athletes - started open discussions on the matter. The conclusions were taken up in the Sub-Committee which established a respective working group to set up a wording that is clear and explicit. The rule change will be presented in autumn in connection with educational material for teams.

Further information from the Sub-Committes for Rules and Control

Proposal: ICR on Teamsprint qualification system
The qualification system in Teamsprints from Semi-Finals to Finals was proposed to be modified to 4 qualifying teams from each Semi-Final (instead of 2) plus 2 lucky loosers (instead of 4).

Sub-Committee for Rollerskiing

Rollerski World Cup calendar 2021
Despite ongoing travel restrictions, the Roller Skiing World Cup is scheduled with 4 World Cup events plus the FIS Rollerski World Championships. Due to the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, neither the World Championships nor the Junior World Championships can take place in Russia. Therefore a substitute was requested and the Italian Ski Federation together with Val di Fiemme have offered themselves as a substitute for the event. The majority of the Sub-Committee members supported Val di Fiemme to host the WSC and JWSC of Rollerskiing.
All events will be organized with strict Covid countermeasures as well as the obligation to fill in the FIS Passport as established and proved throughout the previous winter season.

Provisional Roller Skiing World Cup schedule 2021:

23rd to 25th July Banska Bystrica (SVK)
20th to 22nd August Otepää / Tartu (EST)
27th to 29th August Madone (LAT)
3rd to 5th September Khanty-Mansijsk (RUS)

FIS Rollerski World Championships - 16th to 19th September Val di Fiemme (ITA)

Sub-Committee for Popular Skiing

Proposal: FIS Points
FIS Points penalties at popular races could so far only be sanctioned on chosen popular races if the race is at least 30km long and 5 FIS licensed athletes finish the race. The proposal suggests to extend these regulations to all popular races that fulfill the given criteria.

Temperature limit
The current temperature limit in popular races of -25°C was discussed to be lowered. A working group was established to analyze the situation and to come up with a proposal for the autumn meetings.

FIS Cross-Country Committee meetings in a nutshell:

The Cross-Country Committee is the highest authority within FIS Cross-Country and consists of representatives of the National Ski Federations. In order to discuss and evaluate current matters thoroughly, the Sub-Committees were formed into specific sections and from Spring 2021 the discussions and evaluations on specific proposals were beforehand worked out by an external group of experts concerning of coaches, athletes, TV expert and so forth.

Overview of Cross-Country Sub-Committees:

Sub-Committee for World Cup and Continental Cup
Sub-Committee for Rules and Control
Sub-Committee for Nordic Women*
Sub-Committee for Youth and Children
Sub-Committee for Cross-Country Development
Sub-Committee for Roller Skiing
Sub-Committee for Popular Skiing

*New from 2021: Sub-Committee for women to discuss matters concerning all three Nordic FIS disciplines.

Overview of expert working groups: