Cross-Country and Nordic Combined start season this weekend

The Nordic ski family is going to Ruka (FIN) this weekend where the FIS Nordic World Cup Opening is set to take place from 24th-26th November 2017.

The event is the traditional curtain-raiser for the Nordic season, with the first World Cup competitions presented by Viessmann in Cross-Country Skiing and Nordic Combined, while men’s Ski Jumping will make its second stop following its opening last weekend in Wisla (POL).

Organisers have confirmed snow conditions in Ruka are ideal ahead of the events.

In total, eleven World Cup competitions, six in Cross-Country, two in Ski Jumping and three in Nordic Combined will be held at the Nordic arena, with more than 25,000 spectators expected in northern Finland.

Both Cross-Country and Nordic Combined will hold stage competitions which will crown the best athlete at the end of the weekend.

In Nordic Combined, this ‘mini-tour’ is a new element, which will see all athletes take part in each of the three competitions, differing from the Triple format in which athletes are eliminated from day to day. The standings will be driven by World Cup points, with the athlete with the highest total on the third day earning the overall victory.

Click here for the full competition programme.

Interesting facts

In Cross-Country Skiing, winning in Ruka looks like a good thing as the last five winners of the opening weekend won the Overall World Cup at the end of the season.

In Nordic Combined, Ruka will see the much anticipated World Cup return of French superstar Jason Lamy Chappuis. It also marks the continuation of Finnish legend’s Hannu Manninen’s comeback, who will make one last Olympic appearance in PyeongChang.

Click here (ladies, men) to find out more about the favourites and challengers for Cross-Country Skiing and here for Nordic Combined.

Enjoy a preview of the new season below.