March 22, 2013 (Falun, Sweden) – As the FIS XC World Cup Series Finale wraps up this weekend in Falun, Sweden concerns and protests regarding the final courses have led to a flurry of emails, tweets and a final Jury decisions resulting in last minute changes. Apparently there will no King and Queen of the dreaded Mördarbacken crowned this year… below is the FIS release and more detailed CCC release on these last minute revisions.

Carnage on Mördarbacken in 2010... © Nordic Focus

FIS XC Release
In consideration of the point of view of the athletes and in support of the OC, the Jury as decided to adapt the courses to ensure a successful competition. As result of this decision, approximately half part of the Mördarbaken and of the downhill will be removed for Friday and Sunday’s competitions.

– For Friday’s Interval Starts: all athletes will compete on the same 2.5 km course.
– For Saturday’s Mass Starts: all athletes will compete on the same 3,3 km course as decided yesterday.
– For Sunday’s Pursuits: a new map will be prepared today (with a short downhill).

CCC Release
Athletes arrived at the Falun World Cup venue to find some major changes had taken place to the course, particularly on Mördarbacken (Murder Hill) where the toughest of the tough are crowned King and Queen of Mördarbacken as the winners of the prologue.

According to reports an extra 30 seconds of climb had been already added to the monstrous hill, forcing athletes to herringbone much of the final section in classic.  In addition a series of “S-turns” had been added on the downhill part of the course, causing some coaches and athletes to protest it was a cross country race, not a Super-G race for which you need metal edges. Eldar Roenning described the changes as: “Dette er en katastrofe” which doesn’t really require an English translation.

The concern was not only for the added toughness and extreme technical challenge/safety of the downhill in the prologue, but also was related to any added difficulty that icy track conditions would provide, especially in the mass start events on the weekend.

Jesse Diggins (US Ski Team): “Sooo….anyone else thinking alpine skis might work better for the race tomorrow?”

Athletes raised their concerns on Thursday with FIS, through athlete rep Kikkan Randall, and FIS had modified the courses by Thursday evening.  However that wasn’t considered enough and the athletes refused to race unless further adjustments were made.

This morning FIS issued this statement which appears to have met the demands of the athletes.
In consideration of the point of view of the athletes and in support of the OC, the Jury as decided to adapt the courses to ensure a successful competition. As result of this decision, approximately half part of the Mördarbaken and of the downhill will be removed for Friday and Sunday’s competitions.

For Friday’s Interval Starts: all athletes will compete on the same 2.5 km course.
For Saturday’s Mass Starts: all athletes will compete on the same 3,3 km course as decided yesterday.
For Sunday’s Pursuits: a new map will be prepared today (with a short downhill).

This is not the first time that athletes have threatened or refused to participate in a World Cup event. Canmore in Dec.1989 was filled with controversy,  as major athlete and coach protests occurred over the innovative “wave start” format, introduced by Bjoerger Petterson with the aim of making the sport more attractive for spectators. At that time the interval start was “real” cross country racing, and mass and pursuit starts were concepts in their infancy.

So it appears that changes have been made that will allow the race to take place. Ivan (the Bulldog) Babikov, the distance specialist who feels that the tougher the uphill, the better I will do, doesn’t appear totally happy with changes however, probably due to the removal of the extra climb…

“Well, there will not be a King or Queen of #Murderbaken today, they cut it out, and it’s actually a 2.5km sprint instead of the prologue. I’m boycotting this race because it’s too short and too easy now. Alp de Chermis to every World Cup race… #WhosWithMe :)”

Everyone from athletes to organizers do agree that they don’t want to see a repeat of the course challenge that occurred at the 2010 Falun World Cup mass start.