The FIS Grand Prix 2018, the international Ski Jumping summer competition series, starts this weekend in Wisla (POL). Both defending champions, Sara Takanashi (JPN) and Dawid Kubacki (POL) are poised to defend their titles but, as experience has shown, newcomers are always among the best in summer, and are normally a force to be reckoned with in the following winter season.
The series has been held annually since 1994 for the men and 2012 for the ladies. Over the years, the Grand Prix has become a well-known fixture in the Ski Jumping calendar, attracting the best athletes and many spectators.
For the first time ever, a men's Grand Prix event will be held on the HS 97 hill in Rasnov (ROU). The organisers there have already successfully hosted ladies World Cup and men's Continental Cup competitions in the past. They gained a lot of praise for carrying out the FIS World Junior Championships in 2016 despite extremely difficult weather conditions.
The ladies will have five venues during this summer season, at four of them, the competitions will be held together with the men. The Grand Prix in Frenstat (CZE) on 17th – 18thAugust is only for the ladies.
