FIS Cross-Country Committee spring meetings in Dubrovnik (CRO)

FIS Spring meetings took place in Cavtat, Dubrovnik (CRO) from 3th to 5th May.  The Cross Country family came together to vote on the proposals that were submitted to the Sub Committees and to discuss ongoing matters.

All decisions need to be approved by the FIS Council at the Spring meeting on May 24th.

Overview of Cross-Country (Sub-)Committees:

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

Sub-Committee for World Cup and Continental Cup

World Cup calendar 2023/2024

Sub-Committee for World Cup and Continental Cup

World Cup calendar 2023/2024

The calendar for the upcoming season will be published as a draft as soon as possible and will be uploaded on the document section of this website after approval by the FIS Council.

Period I

The S.C. spent a long time discussing the number of venues and weekends in the first period of the World Cup. Members of the Sub-Committee confirmed that the preferred option would be to start the World Cup season one week later, on the 1st weekend of December. However, due to organisational reasons the dates of Ruka Nordic 2023 could not follow the general line of the calendar framework and the FIS Cross-Country World Cup will start from 24th – 26th November. . In the future, the World Cup period I is going to feature racing on 3 competition weekends.

Therefore, the World Cup will have four tour stops before Christmas, including Ruka (FIN), Gällivare (SWE), Östersund (SWE) and Trondheim (NOR).

Period II – Tour de Ski

With three venues, the COOP Tour de Ski presented by Le Gruyère AOP will begin in Toblach (ITA), move to Davos (SUI) and Val di Fiemme (ITA). A special addition for this years Tour marks Davos Nordic, as they celebrate their 50 year anniversary.

Period III

With two new organizing regions, the January period will make stop in Oberhof (GER) as well as Goms (SUI). The FIS Cross-Country family is looking forward to racing on new course sets that are well established from international competitions and the JWSC 2018 (Goms). Both venues will have three race days scheduled (Friday to Sunday at each venue).

Period IV

Another highlight in the 2023/24 season marks the World Cup stop in North America with Canmore and Minneapolis on the calendar. After having to be cancelled due to Covid two years ago, the World Cup family is excited to be racing in the hearts of Nordic skiing venues in North America.

Period V

The final period of the World Cup season includes the traditional venues of Lahti (FIN), Oslo and Drammen (NOR) and Falun (SWE).

Long-term calendar planning

The established framework was reviewed and the members approved to 9 major points, around which the calendars in the future have to be put together. These points mainly concerns the beginning and end of the season, number of race weekends per period, number of races per weekend and to have a balanced World Cup calendar in terms of formats.

Decision on future race distances

After last years decision regarding women and men to race equal distances, the past World Cup period served as a test season which distances will be used. After evaluation with athletes, coaches and other stakeholders, the feedback was very positive to keep the used formats in the World Cup. As the World Cup sets the base for title events, all of those distances will be sent to the FIS Council to approve their implementation also in future World Ski Championships and the and an application process for the change of Olympic Winter Games distances will be initated with the IOC.

Approved distances

• 10 km | 20km | 50km

• Skiathlon 10 + 10 km

• Relay 4x7,5 km | Teamsprint

• Sprint

If approved by the FIS Council and IOC, the future WSC and OWG programme for Cross-Country Skiing will be:

• 10 km Interval start

• 10 km C + 10 km F Skiathlon

• 4x7.5 km Relay (same distance for women and men)

• Sprint

• Team Sprint

• 50 km Mass start

Sub-Committee for Rules and Control

The ICR were reviewed and the approved changes were implemented accordingly.

ICR updates related to the implementation of the fluor ban have been presented and approved.

The FIS technical officials and homologation matters have been reviewed and approved, including Para Nordic matters.

The FIS Point System - that was approved in 2022 - will be efficient as of 1st of July 2023.

All decisions need to be approved by the FIS Council at the Spring meeting on May 24th.