The FIS Grand Prix 2018, the international Ski Jumping summer competition series, starts this weekend in Wisla (POL).

This competition series is already held since 1994 (since 2012 also for the ladies). Over the years, the Grand Prix (often also referred to as the FIS Summer Grand Prix), has become a well-known fixture in the Ski Jumping calendar. 

The men will compete in a total of 13 competitions (11 individual / 1 team / 1 mixed) at 9 venues. The events 2018 will take place in Wisla (POL), Hinterzarten (GER), Einsiedeln (SUI), Courchevel (FRA), Hakuba (JPN), Chaikovsky (RUS), Rasnov (ROU), Hinzenbach (AUT) and Klingenthal (GER).

For the first time ever, a men's Grand Prix event will be held on the HS 97 hill in Rasnov. The organizers 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 2016 despite extremely difficult conditions.

The ladies will have five events during this summer season, four of them will be held together with the men. In Hinterzarten, Courchevel, Chaikovsky, and Klingenthal, the fans will get to see the ladies and men compete on the same weekend. The Grand Prix in Frenstat (CZE) on August 17th and 18th is only for the ladies.

From a sporting point of the view, the fans can definitely look forward to exciting competitions again. Last year's overall winners Dawid Kubacki of Poland and Japan's Sara Takanashi are again among the favorites this summer. But, as experience has shown, some up-and-comers are always among the best in summer, and then they also have to be reckoned with in the following winter season.