August 6, 2008 – While the men’s FIS Continental Cup Ski Jumping has been underway since the beginning of July, the ladies series will start the upcoming weekend in Bischofsgrün (GER). For the second time after August 2008, the village in the Fichtelgebirge will host a great kick off for 70 ladies from 14 nations. The 2008/2009 FIS Continental Cup Ski Jumping series will include 10 summer competitions in four different countries in Central Europe and Scandinavia.

From Bischofgrün, the athletes will move to the traditional venues of Pöhla (GER) and Bischofshofen (AUT). New in the schedule are two competition weekends together with the men’s series in Lillehammer (NOR) and Oberstdorf (GER). In October at the end of the summer period, the ladies will have the opportunity to test the hill in Liberec (CZE), where in February 2009 the first female World Champion in Ski Jumping will be crowned.

“We are continuously improving the FIS Continental Cup for ladies. This season we will have several competitions together with the men. I’m sure that both genders will profit from this cooperation,” said Edgar Ganster, FIS Coordinator of the ladies Continental Cup, “The highlight in the upcoming season and a big step forward in the development of the ladies Ski Jumping will be 2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec where, for the first time, the ladies Ski Jumping competition is a title event.”