Fresh snow has arrived in Ruka (FIN) just in time for the Cross-Country and Nordic Combined World Cup seasons to get underway as part of the traditional FIS Nordic Opening together with Ski Jumping from 26th- 29th November 2015.
In total, ten World Cup competitions, six in Cross-Country, two in Ski Jumping and two in Nordic Combined will be held at Ruka’s Nordic arena. Ski Jumping celebrates its season opening in Klingenthal (GER) already this weekend.
Cross-Country Skiing
In Cross-Country, after a one-year break, the ‘Ruka Triple’ stage competition will take place for the fifth time featuring six competitions in three days. Among the top athletes are last year’s overall FIS World Cup Champion Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR), Therese Johaug (NOR), Charlotte Kalla (SWE), Dario Cologna (SUI) and Alexander Legkov (RUS).
With 36 competitions per gender across nine countries on schedule during the 2015/16 Cross-Country season presented by Viessmann, one of the highlights this winter will be the 10thanniversary of the FIS Tour de Ski.
Nordic Combined
Meanwhile, the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup 2015/16 presented by Viessmann will take the athletes to twelve different competition venues across Europe. A season highlight will be the third edition of the Nordic Combined Triple in Seefeld (AUT) when Eric Frenzel (GER) can make history by taking his third consecutive win. The 50th edition of the Nordic Combined competitions in Schonach (GER) will also be a special occasion.
But the number of contenders this season is large: Akito Watabe (JPN) was on the overall podium the last three years and finally wants to get his hands on the crystal globe. Stiff competition will also come from Frenzel’s own team, with World Champion Johannes Rydzek or from another World Champion Bernhard Gruber (AUT). But also other athletes could make it big this winter, including Alessandro Pittin (ITA), Francois Braud (FRA) or even the reigning Junior World Champion and freshly minted Norwegian national champion Jarl Riiber.
Source: fis-ski.com
