Ski Jumping World Cup begins: Lillehammer is ready

The Viessmann FIS Ski Jumping World Cup opener in Lillehammer (NOR) takes place as planned next weekend.

Event organizers at the 1994 Olympic venue had the foresight to create a snow depot last winter in view of the early-season date.

And as no snow has yet fallen in Lillehammer, the stored snow was needed and the ski jump is now ready for the five opening competitions of the Ski Jumping Word Cup for women and men, from 22-24 November.

“We are all incredibly happy that things are finally starting again,” FIS Race Director Sandro Pertile said.

“The organizers in Lillehammer have done a great job and have had the foresight to set up the snow depot.

“You can see that even in the far north, snow cannot be taken for granted at such an early stage.

“Now we are all very excited about the first competitions and which of the athletes will get the best start to the season.”

The snow has been spread over the facility over the past few days, so all five competitions can be staged across the weekend on the HS 140 meter large hill.

There will be one mixed team event on Friday 22 November, and one in women's singles and one in men's singles on both Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November.

After jumping in Norway, the men continue their World Cup campaign the following weekend in Ruka (FIN).

The women's World Cup will return after a two-week break, from 13-15 December, when competition takes place in Zhangjiakou, Beijing, for the first time since the 2022 Olympic Games.