November 17, 2009 – The first step of the new Cross-Country promotion project which was launched in the FIS Calendar Conference 2009 in Cavtat (CRO) in May is complete: FIS Cross-Country has developed a brand-new discipline website during the autumn and is now happy to present it here.

On the new site, you will find from today on a lot of news, information about the teams, the Cross-Country venues, videos, blogs and much more…check it out and make sure to return regularly during the entire winter season!

“I’m happy that we could launch our new website just before the start of the season,” explained Jürg Capol, FIS Race Director. “Our goal with the new communication tools is it to create interest in Cross-Country Skiing and grow our Cross-Country family. We would also like to give the fans the possibility to see behind the scenes and get some good tips.”

Beside the website, the FIS Cross-Country department is now present in the social media as well. It has created its own Facebook fan page to communicate directly with the fans. Become a fan and join the family of FIS Cross-Country on Facebook . If you prefer Twitter over Facebook – no problem, you will find us in the Twitter-community under here.

Hope to see you soon as part of the FIS Cross-Country community!

Record 23 will take part in the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear
In 45 days, the 4th Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear will kick off and the preparations and promotion for this unique event are at full speed. 23 nations have in the end registered their participation for this year’s edition – this is a new record in the Tour de Ski history.

Beside many traditional Cross-Country nations like all the Nordic and Central European countries, the United States with Andrew Newell has also announced their participation in the Tour for the first time. A total of some 130- 140 athletes are expected to take part in the competition series staged in three countries.

The final entries for the teams have to be done latest by 15th December. For more information, please click here.

Beitostoelen World Cup Kick Off
On the upcoming weekend, 21st-22nd November, the 29th FIS Cross-Country World Cup season is kicking off in the well-known Norwegian winter sport resort Beitostoelen.

Beitostoelen – situated about 220km in the north-west of Oslo at the foot of the Jotumheimen Mountain – has organized 20 FIS Cross-Country World Cup races so far. The venue is developing year by year and presents itself this year in a great condition with a good amount of snow.

The World Cup organizers led by Asbjoern Windingstad had an amazing test with the Norwegian National Opening last weekend. Ten races in three days (Cross-Country and Biathlon) were carried out between Friday and Sunday. “It was a great ski festival here with good snow conditions which will be even better next weekend for the World Cup as we are expecting some snowfall in the upcoming days,” stated Erik Oestli, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee. “We are all looking forward to welcoming the top athletes in the World and wishing them good luck for the start into the 2010 Olympic winter season.”

On the Beitostoelen competition schedule for the 240 entered athletes from 28 nations, there are, on Saturday, individual start competitions in the free technique over 10 km for ladies and over 15 km for men with a new athletes’ presentation format for the TV viewers and spectators. On Sunday, the first World Cup weekend will be concluded by relay competitions.

More information here.

Starting Times (local time):
Saturday, 21st November
– Distance free technique 10 km ladies 11.30h
– Distance free technique 15 km men 13.15h

Sunday, 22nd November
– Relay 4 x 5 km ladies 11.30h
– Relay 4 x 10 km men 13.15h

Top three in November 2007
Interval start race 10/15km in free technique

Women
1. Marit Bjoergen (NOR)
2. Vibeke Skofterud (NOR)
3. Charlotte Kalla (SWE)

Men
1. Axel Teichmann (GER)
2. Lukas Bauer (CZE)
3. Anders Soedergren (SWE)

Relay competition

Women
1. Norway I
2. Germany I
3. Finland
Men
1. Norway II
2. Norway I
3. Russia