March 20, 2009 – The DKB FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season was marked by the introduction of a new competition format. The discipline went through a complete rule revision during last summer and presented an easy-to-understand competition mode for the 2008/2009 season consisting of a single jump and a 10km cross-country race.

From the beginning of the season, Anssi Koivuranta (Fin) and Magnus H. Moan (Nor) delivered an exciting duel for the title of the best combined athlete. Winning his career-first World Cup the first weekend on his home hill and trails at Ruka, Kuusamo (Fin), Koivuranta claimed the leader’s yellow jersey which he never relinquished throughout the course of the season. On the final weekend in Vikersund (Nor), Koivuranta all but secured his World Cup victory on Saturday by scoring full 100 points while Moan finished third. On Sunday, an eighth place finish was enough for him to confirm the season title, whilst Moan finished behind him in 13th place.

Both Koivuranta and Moan took seven victories each this season, leaving just nine victories to their challengers. In the end, just 111 points separated the two, with 20-year-old Koivuranta claiming the big crystal globe largely thanks to his great performances on the hill but also to significant improvements on the track. Magnus Moan was one of the best skiers throughout the season. Behind the duo, Bill Demong from the strong US team which took three gold medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec (CZE), amassed five wins and finished third in the overall ranking ahead of Germany’s Bjoern Kircheisen.

In the Nations’ Cup, Germany won the trophy narrowly (56 points) ahead of Norway. Altogether, eight nations made it on the Nordic Combined podium this season, with five claiming the top spot at least once.

DKB FIS Nordic Combined World Cup 2008/2009 champions

Overall World Cup: Anssi Koivuranta (FIN)

Nations’ Cup: Germany