FIS Open thrills in Idre Fjäll, setting the stage for the World Cup season

Over the weekend, the Idre Fjäll FIS Open took center stage for mogul skiing enthusiasts, hosting more than 100 athletes across two thrilling days of competition on the "Mascots Delight" course. The event brought together a mix of rising stars and experienced World Cup athletes, including 2022 Olympic champion Walter Wallberg, all eager to make their mark as the 2024/25 season looms on the horizon.

The action began on Saturday with Japan’s Hisako Kajiwara claiming her first international victory in the women’s competition. The 19-year-old delivered a standout run in the super final, earning 66.03 points. Germany’s World Cup veteran Hanna Weese followed in second place with 62.44 points, while Sweden’s Moa Gustafson secured third place with 62.02 points.

In the men’s event, the Swedish team, featuring Wallberg, Filip Gravenfors, and Rasmus Stegfeldt, was heavily favored. However, Japan’s Ikkei Fujimura, the 2024 Junior World Champion in dual moguls, stole the spotlight. Fujimura’s stunning super final run earned him 77.75 points and the top spot on the podium. Stegfeldt gave the home crowd something to cheer for, finishing second with 76.65 points, while Fujimura’s teammate, Takes Nashizawa, secured third place with an identical 76.65 points, narrowly edging Wallberg by just 0.02 points.

Sunday’s competition saw more incredible performances. Moa Gustafson improved on her third-place finish from Saturday to take the win in the women’s event with 70.33 points. Saturday’s champion, Hisako Kajiwara, finished second with 69.36 points, while Hanna Weese rounded out the podium also for her second top-3 finish of the weekend, this time earning 68.88 points.

In the men’s event, it was nearly a replay of Saturday. Ikkei Fujimura once again dominated, breaking into the 80-point range with an impressive score of 80.68. Stegfeldt claimed his second silver medal of the weekend with 78.77 points, and Nashizawa secured third place again with 78.58 points.

For complete results from the event - see HERE. 

As the FIS Open in Idre Fjäll concludes, excitement is building within the mogul skiing community. All eyes now turn to Ruka, where the FIS Freestyle Moguls & Aerials World Cup opener will take place in less than two weeks. With exceptional performances in Idre setting the tone, the stage is perfectly set for an exhilarating 2024/25 World Cup season.

If you missed the action, replays of both competitions are available below. Stay tuned as we gear up for an exciting season ahead!