Nordic Combined season culminates in Schonach

After a marathon Nordic Combined week with five competitions in eight days, there is now one more weekend left on the World Cup calendar before the 2017/18 season is history: the World Cup Finals in Schonach are coming up.

One more Individual Gundersen event with the big Schwarzwaldpokal trophy as the main reward is waiting on Saturday, while the best 30 athletes of the World Cup will have to mobilise the last reserves in a gruelling 2 jump, 15 km Final Individual Gundersen event on Sunday.

While Eric Frenzel cannot get his hands on the crystal globe of the overall World Cup winner this year, he can add another achievement to his merit list: if he wins on Saturday, it would be the third time in a row, which means that the Schwarzwaldpokal challenge cup would find a permanent new home with the 29-year-old.

Three athletes will be able to approach the weekend in a very relaxed manner, waiting for the rewards for great a season to come: Akito Watabe is uncatchable in the overall World Cup standings and will be the first Japanese since Kenji Ogiwara 24 years ago to bring the big crystal globe of the overall winner to the land of the rising sun. A nice “side reward”: 14.440 CHF* in extra prize money for the overall win.

Watabe will furthermore collect 7.000 CHF for the victory in the “Best Jumper Trophy”, which was held for the first time this year and in which the Japanese now holds 1343 points (No. 2, Jarl Riiber has 930 p.). Joining Watabe as a beneficiary of the new blue and red bibs is Italian Alessandro Pittin, who will receive 7.000 CHF for the victory in the “Best Skier Trophy”. The Italian currently leads with 1221 points (No. 2 is Ilkka Herola with 960 p.)

* In case events in Schonach have to be cancelled, this sum will be adapted.

With the latest snowfalls and another cold period hitting Schonach and the Schwarzwald region again this week, the organisers are very relaxed concerning the upcoming events. The tracks and hill are in the final stages of preparation and the home crowd cannot await the return of local hero Fabian Rießle, who comes off a three-event winning streak but has to prove that he can translate his good shape also to the home ground.

The season will be concluded with the third edition of the Nordic Combined Awards that will be held on Sunday night in conjunction with one last night of celebration and enjoying each other’s company before the Nordic Combined family dissipates until the Summer Grand Prix 2018.

The programme

Friday, 23rd of March

10:00 Official Cross-country training

14:00 SJ HS 106 Official Training

16:00 Provisional Competition Round/Qualification HS106

Saturday, 24th of March

11:00 Trial Round HS 106

12:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN Competition Round HS 106

14:15 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 10 km cross-country race

Sunday, 25th of March

09:00 Trial Round HS 106

10:00 FINAL INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 2 Competition Rounds HS 106

13:00 FINAL INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 15 km cross-country race

19:00 Nordic Combined Awards & Final Party, Haus des Gastes

Quick Facts:

Langenwaldschanze

HS 106

TRACK

Wittenbachtal

2,5 km free-technique loop

Total climb: 100 metres

Maximum climb: 33 metres

Height Difference: 34 metres

2016/17 PODIUM

IG I: 1. Eric Frenzel (GER), 2. Willi Denifl (AUT), 3. Johannes Rydzek (GER)

IG II: 1. Eric Frenzel (GER), 2. Francois Braud (FRA), 3. Akito Watabe (JPN)