August 11, 2008 (Einsiedeln , Switzerland) – The 2008 FIS Grand Prix Nordic Combined concluded with the third and final test event on the Swiss national day 1st August in Einsiedeln. Due to a thunderstorm with dangerous lightning however, the jumping competition was cancelled and the qualification round from the day before served as the basis for the starting order of the inline skate race.

Janne Ryynaenen from Finland produced the best performance in the jumping part and started first on the challenging eight times 1.8 km course with the start and finish in front of the famous monastery of Einsiedeln. Despite the heavy rain, hundreds of spectators cheered the athletes around the course and were compensated by a very exciting race. In the last round, the local hero Ronny Heer (SUI) attacked out of the leading group and claimed victory 2,5 seconds ahead of Mario Stecher and 3,5 seconds ahead of David Kreiner (both AUT).

It was the first time that a Swiss athlete claimed a victory in a FIS Grand Prix Nordic Combined competition and it serves as the biggest success for 27-year-old Heer, who finished in the top ten in a World Cup race five times in his long career.

The 2008 Nordic Combined Grand Prix overall ranking was won with 202 points by Mario Stecher, the winner of Oberstdorf. Anssi Koivuranta (FIN) placed second with 160 points, just 9 points ahead of Ronny Heer, who placed third. In total 44 athletes from 10 nations were awarded with Grand Prix points by placing in the top 30 places.

“The goal for the 2008 FIS Grand Prix Nordic Combined was to test the new Nordic Combined format with a qualification, one jumping round and a standardized Cross-Country in line skate race which took approximately 30 minutes. We successfully carried out different modifications, used the whole spread of the new rules and got enough raw data for the Nordic Combined committee meeting in Prague (CZE) on 23rd August. The basis of one jump and a 10km race is now established while the experts will work to define the sport-technical details, explained Walter Hofer, Head of Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping after the competition in Einsiedeln, “I would like to say “Thank you” to the organizers in Hinterzarten (GER), Oberstdorf (GER) and Einsiedeln for their big efforts and flexibility. Thanks as well to all the teams for their open attitude and contributions.”