June 09, 2015 (Varna, Bulgaria) – During the FIS Calendar Conference in Varna (BUL), the Cross-Country Committee heard several proposals and made decisions. They are as follows. Plus, the FIS has released the 2015/16 World Cup competition schedule.

Final overall Men's WCup podium © Nordic Focus

Calendars
The FIS Cross-Country World Cup calendar 2015/16 was accepted with minor adjustments and confirmed by the FIS Council. Highlights of the 2015/16 season will be the 10th edition of the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft sportswear and Ski Tour Canada 2016. You can read more about the World Cup Calendar here.

Individual starting order
In order to keep the athletes performance in focus and at the same time meet the needs of the TV production, a new individual starting order has been introduced. Athletes registered to compete will be assigned into 4 groups as follows:
• Group 1: seeded group (see article. 5.4.1)
• Group 2: the 30 best athletes after the seeded group according to the FIS distance points
• Group 3: the 15 best athletes after group 2 according to the FIS distance points
• Group 4: the rest of the registered athletes

If less than 60 athletes are registered to compete the number athletes assigned in Group 2 will be reduced accordingly.

The start list will be established as follows:
• Group 2: from the first start number to the beginning of the seeded group, the athletes will start according to their FIS distance points in reverse order (higher FIS points start first)
• Seeded group and group 3: the seeded athletes will start each second start number and the athletes assigned to group 3 will start between them (according to their FIS distance points in reverse order).
• The seeded athletes or their respective coaches at the TCM the night before will choose their start number within 15 available start numbers according to the following order:
− 5th to 1st in the seeded group. The best in the seeded group will chose as 5th to have a chance to see where his biggest contenders start.
− 6th to 15th in the seeded group
• Group 4: after the seeded group, the athletes will start according to their FIS distance points

Sprint Heat selection
Last season a new system of the heat selection was tested in Lahti and Drammen. Qualified athletes had a chance to chose which quarterfinal they want to compete in. The Cross-Country Committee decided to continue with the new system also next season. The Sprint heat selection will be reevaluated next spring and the final decision will be made.

Support staff
A limitation on the number of support staff for the teams was defined. Each team will receive different types of training bibs according to their athletes’ quota. The bibs will be used to control the access to different zones and especially the competition course in order to protect the competition course as much as possible. Course access on the competition day will be determined by the Jury according to the snow and weather conditions.

Reimbursement rules
During the summer the NSAs were asked to review the reimbursement rules for the red group. Proposals will be discussed at the FIS Autumn Meeting in Zurich and the final decision applicable since 2016/17 season will be made. The reimbursement rules for the upcoming season 2015/16 remain unchanged.

Classic technique
In order to preserve classical technique and ensure fairness of competitions the Sub-committee for Rules and Control agreed to increase definitions of proper classic technique. Where there are one or more set tracks, repeatedly changing or stepping in and out of tracks will not allowed.

To facilitate the Jury work especially in sprint qualification, sanctions for the violations of the classic technique rules can be given by a unanimous decision of two jury members without video evidence and a hearing from the athlete. The TD must be included in the two-person Jury decision.

Based on recommendations from the athletes the Sub-committee for Rules and Control also agreed that a competition suspension will always be accompanied by a written reprimand.

FIS CROSS-COUNTRY WORLD CUP CALENDAR 2015/16 CONFIRMED

Meeting on Sunday, 7th June, in Varna (BUL), the FIS Council confirmed the calendar for the FIS Cross-Country World Cup presented by Viessmann for the 2015/16 season. The coming winter will feature many highlights including the tenth edition of the FIS Tour de Ski and Ski Tour Canada.

Three-day Tour returns to Ruka (FIN)
Traditionally, the world’s best Cross-Country skiers begin their quest for the crystal globes in Finland on the last weekend of November with the opening Ruka Triple. The traditional three-day competition format will be featuring a sprint in classic technique, individual free technique competition and the pursuit in classical technique on Sunday. The World Cup then continues in Lillehammer (NOR) with skiathlon and relay competitions.

Leaving Finland and Norway behind, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup will then move to Central Europe where Davos (SUI) will host free technique sprint and middle 15/30 km F individual start competitions.
The Italian venue of Toblach will host the last World Cup before Christmas with sprints free and interval start races in classic technique.

10th edition of the FIS Tour de Ski
Eight competitions in ten days are scheduled for the 10th edition of the FIS Tour de Ski. The Tour will get under way on 1st January in Lenzerheide (SUI) with sprint free starting everything off. As a second stage, a classical technique middle distance competition will be held. A short pursuit will close the Swiss stages before moving to Germany. After a day off on Monday 4th January the Tour will continue in Oberstdorf with skiathlon and classic sprints. After Oberstdorf the Tour is going to traditional stages in Italy. Toblach (ITA) will host on 8th January distance competitions. The FIS Tour de Ski will conclude in Val di Fiemme (ITA) as has become tradition with a mass start competition on 9th and the Final Climb on 10th January.

Planica (SLO) and Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) in the calendar
The first weekend after the FIS Tour de Ski is traditionally reserved for sprint specialists and the FIS Cross-Country World Cup will visit for the first time Planica (SLO). Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) returns on the competition schedule the following week with interval start competitions and relay on 23rd – 24th January 2016.

Strong Scandinavian block in February 2016
February 2016 will be featuring a strong Scandinavian block. The period will start with the city sprint in Drammen on 3rd February and continue in Oslo with 50 km mass start classic for the men and 30 km mass start classic for the ladies. Stockholm is back in the World Cup calendar with the Royal Palace sprint scheduled on 11th February. Falun will take over from the Swedish capital to host interval start and mass start competitions on 13th and 14th February. The Scandinavian period will come to an end with Lahti Ski Games scheduled on 20th – 21st February.

Ski Tour Canada
The Ski Tour Canada 2016 – FIS Cross-Country World Cup will feature five iconic Canadian ski destinations as host venues. The first week of racing will feature 4 stages in Gatineau, Montreal and Quebec City while the second week will take place in Alberta (Canmore and Lake Louise).

Ottawa’s historic Parliament Hill will serve as a spectacular backdrop for the opening. Gatineau’s downtown sprint event will be staged in Jacques Cartier Park beside the beautiful Canadian Museum of History.

The second stage is slated for Montréal, with Mont Royal to provide a challenging playground for the world’s top Nordic athletes. The famous site in the heart of Quebec’s largest city was host to Canada’s first National Cross Country Ski Championships in 1921. Next, the tour will move to Québec City, which will leverage the successful Sprint Quebec 2012 World Cup in a spectacular city setting adjacent to the Plaines of Abraham and the fortifications of the famous World Heritage site.

The final stages will be set against the backdrop of the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains. One of the world’s most renowned and picturesque Cross-Country venues, the Canmore Nordic Centre will once again serve as the hub for an exciting mix of competition formats. Before finishing in Canmore the penultimate leg of the event will feature a classic distance race starting and finishing on iconic Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships 2016 in Rasnov (ROU)
Junior and U23 athletes will compete in their season highlight in Rasnov (ROU) from 21st – 28th February 2016.

Calendar Online
Please find the FIS Cross-Country World Cup Calendar here