May 27, 2015 – FIS Cross-Country Race Director Pierre Mignerey took a moment to reflect on the past 2014/15 season and discuss the main topics for the future development of the sport and highlights for next season.

Pierre Mignerey © Nordic Focus

Looking ahead, what is the main focus for the upcoming months?
Pierre Mignerey: An important question for the future is the development of cross-country skiing around the world. Over the last few years the trend has been dominance by the two or three biggest nations. I’m not concerned with a temporary surge of one nation but for the long-term, the best possible insurance for cross-country skiing is to have more countries experiencing success.

Finally our calendar frame needs to be strengthened. There is a relatively weak period between the end of the Tour de Ski and the beginning of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. January and February are the best period for winter sports in terms of media and spectator interest. I think that we are on good track to build up stronger events in January and I am confident we will be able to approve this new long-term calendar planning in Varna.

What were the biggest challenges last season?
PM: The snow conditions are, and will be, the biggest challenge for winter sports. Our new “snow control” process was a success, but we have to learn more about snow storage, snow production and snow preparation including salting. Collecting the experiences and sharing it with all the Organising Committees is a priority for us in the upcoming two years.

Is Cross Country going in the right direction in terms of TV figures?
PM: We will have a better overview in June, but we already know that the viewing figures for the World Championships in Falun are higher than Oslo 2011 and Val di Fiemme 2013 with a cumulative audience close to 250 million. Meanwhile, the first feedback for the Tour de Ski shows stability compared to 2014/15 and the TV audiences in Norway are at their best with impressive market shares (up to 90%).

The 2015/16 season does not have a title event, however, there are several highlights. What are they?
PM: First will be the 10^th anniversary of the FIS Tour de Ski which will definitely be the highlight of the 2015/16 World Cup season. The Tour will start in Lenzerheide (SUI) with a new competition programme including a sprint and a long distance race. Then we will move to Obersdorf (GER) and finish as usual in Italy with Toblach and Val di Fiemme.

I am also looking forward to a compact Nordic block in February starting in Drammen/Oslo (NOR), moving to Stockholm and Falun (SWE) and ending in Lahti (FIN) exactly one year before the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 there.

Finally, for the first time, the World Cup season will end in Canada with a stage event. With eight stages at five iconic sites (Gatineau, Montréal, Québec, Lake Louise and Canmore) in two provinces (Québec and Alberta) the “Ski Tour Canada” is going to be a great conclusion to a World Cup season with strong events all winter.