Ski jumping
Women and men also 26/27 with separate World Cup competitions
Ski jumpers should actually compete in all World Cups together next winter. Nothing will come of it. The Fis race director also talks about reducing the starting field.
Contrary to what was originally planned, ski jumpers will not be holding all of the World Cups at the same location in the coming season. “The 2026/27 calendar will not be the same for men and women,” said Sandro Pertile, race director of the World Federation Fis in Bischofshofen.
“We were perhaps too optimistic that we would have the same calendar next season. It will take a little more time to completely align it,” said the 57-year-old. The fact that it won’t work next winter is also due to the planned first Four Hills Tournament for female jumpers.
Fewer jumpers in the future?
The athletes are currently jumping in Villach on January 5th and 6th. From the perspective of the Austrian Ski Association, the location must remain on the calendar. The tour finale traditionally takes place in Bischofshofen on January 5th and 6th. If the women are to be there next season, they will have to jump into Villach on another date. However, the men do not hold a World Cup there. The situation is similar with other places that should initially remain in the women’s calendar.
Pertile spoke at the Paul-Außerleitner-Schanze about further challenges that come with aligning the calendar and a joint Four Hills Tournament. In order to save time on competition days, the Fis is thinking about reducing the number of men and women. “We have to be prepared to reduce the number of jumps,” Pertile said. “The first step will be that we have to define how many men and women are there.”
In addition, the currently mandatory test runs should no longer be carried out. “I think that we will no longer have tryouts in our sport in the near future,” said Pertile.
dpa
