Sport News
Ruka: Starting shot at the polar circle
It’s Nordic Opening time again! Finally the long months or waiting come to a close and the stars of the Nordic Combined World Cup will go on the hunt for victories, World Cup points, TRIPLE wins and this year also for World Champion titles at Lahti 2017. First up, though, is Ruka, the traditional place of the Nordic Opening, bringing together the Nordic family of Cross-country Skiing, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping for a packed weekend of competitions.
The two Individual Gundersen events on schedule in Ruka mean a maximum 200 points are up for grabs on the way to the overall title 2016/17, which will go to the most complete winter sports athlete after 12 venues and 25 events. Superstar Eric Frenzel is off to achieve something unprecedented: a consecutive fifth overall World Cup win. But over the summer, Norwegian youngster Jarl Magnus Riiber has proven to be something of a game changer for Nordic Combined.
Lifting the jumping level to as yet unreached heights, especially a venue with a very large and very unpredictable hill that favours strong jumpers like the Rukatunturi HS142 hill will certainly add spice to the proceedings and give first pointers towards the big names of this season.
One thing that Nordic Combined fans definitely have to do is cross their fingers that the weather god will smile on the weekend. After last year’s completely windswept events, everybody is eager to enter new names into the winner’s lists - given that it is possible to jump, of course. But with a new ice inrun track and new wind nets in place, the OC has done everything in their power to ensure a positive outcome. May the season 2016/17 begin.
Program (local times! CET +1h)
Friday, 25.11.
10:00 Official training HS 142
12:00 Provisional Competition Round/Qualification
15:30 Official training cross-country
Saturday, 26.11.
10:30 Trial Round HS 142
12:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN Competition Round HS 142
16:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 10 km cross-country race
Sunday, 27.11.
10:45 Trial Round HS 142
11:45 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN Competition Round HS 142
15:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 10 km cross-country race
Quick Facts:
HILL
Rukatunturi
HS 142
NC Hill Record: Eric Frenzel 148,5 m (2010)
TRACK
Kilparata Race Course
2,5 km loop
Total climb: 83 metres
Maximum climb: 55 metres
Height Difference: 56 metres
Source: fis-ski.com
The two Individual Gundersen events on schedule in Ruka mean a maximum 200 points are up for grabs on the way to the overall title 2016/17, which will go to the most complete winter sports athlete after 12 venues and 25 events. Superstar Eric Frenzel is off to achieve something unprecedented: a consecutive fifth overall World Cup win. But over the summer, Norwegian youngster Jarl Magnus Riiber has proven to be something of a game changer for Nordic Combined.
Lifting the jumping level to as yet unreached heights, especially a venue with a very large and very unpredictable hill that favours strong jumpers like the Rukatunturi HS142 hill will certainly add spice to the proceedings and give first pointers towards the big names of this season.
One thing that Nordic Combined fans definitely have to do is cross their fingers that the weather god will smile on the weekend. After last year’s completely windswept events, everybody is eager to enter new names into the winner’s lists - given that it is possible to jump, of course. But with a new ice inrun track and new wind nets in place, the OC has done everything in their power to ensure a positive outcome. May the season 2016/17 begin.
Program (local times! CET +1h)
Friday, 25.11.
10:00 Official training HS 142
12:00 Provisional Competition Round/Qualification
15:30 Official training cross-country
Saturday, 26.11.
10:30 Trial Round HS 142
12:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN Competition Round HS 142
16:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 10 km cross-country race
Sunday, 27.11.
10:45 Trial Round HS 142
11:45 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN Competition Round HS 142
15:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 10 km cross-country race
Quick Facts:
HILL
Rukatunturi
HS 142
NC Hill Record: Eric Frenzel 148,5 m (2010)
TRACK
Kilparata Race Course
2,5 km loop
Total climb: 83 metres
Maximum climb: 55 metres
Height Difference: 56 metres
Source: fis-ski.com
