November 24, 2015 – Welcome to a new Cross-Ccountry competition season. There were 305 men and 188 women on the result lists In the first Eastern cup race in Vershina Tea in Russia and in the races in Northern Scandinavia we can already see a nice mix of old stars and young newcomers on the result lists. Live broadcast and live streaming from many of the races has given new possibilities to follow the competitions. There are many reasons to look forward to another exciting season when the real battle starts in Ruka, Finland with the three-day mini tour this weekend.

Vegard Ulvang © FIS

But we already see that we will face the same challenges and evolution that was discussed in the Cross-Country family last year. Less snow and minus degrees and classical races with more and more double poling.

Snow
At the same time as we start in Ruka and Lillehammer, the World leaders and scientists come together in Le Bourget, France for the COP 21, the UN conference on climate change. We can just hope that there will be taken new small steps in the global goal of cutting our common CO2 emissions that is so necessary for our future winters. But we do also, all of us, have a personal responsibility to do whatever we can to save our future winters, both lifestyle wise as well as by choosing and branding the necessary new and sustainable technology.

In the short term perspective, we have to trust in our snow guns and snow storages. But also they need minus degrees which already last season forced us to cancel a lot of races. Within 50 years it is a fact that we will need new technology that can produce snow in plus degrees in a sustainable way, if it should be possible to ski around many ski resorts and cities where most people live today. The snow production companies together with scientist say it is possible and work hard to find the best solutions.

Double poling
In the first race in Norway more than 75 % of the men started without kick wax. Although it was a quite flat course (due to the snow conditions) there is no doubt that most racers have prepared specially for double poling this summer and that we will see another turn in the ongoing evolution this winter. In the Cross-Country committee we have fine tuned our rules and made it easier for the TDs to sanction technique violations. But I am afraid that we will have to face difficult questions quite soon. If we want to see classical technique races with kick wax and diagonal stride in the future, longer and steeper uphills will soon not be enough. The dilemma for the members in the Cross-Country Committee will be either one technique solution or strong technique restrictions like no double poling zones.

Looking forward to an exciting season and exciting discussions. Good luck to you all; athletes, coaches, service personnel, ski industry, organisers and media.