October 13, 2010 (Zürich, Switzerland) – During the FIS Ski Jumping Committee meeting in Zürich last week, some important issues were proposed and will be forwarded to the FIS Council for approval. Prior to this meeting, some important decisions were already taken by the FIS Council at its spring meeting.

With regard to the ski flying hills, the height difference between the edge of the takeoff platform and the lowest point of the transition curve to the outrun has been increased to 135m (formerly 130m). Flying hills featuring these dimensions will allow flights close to 240m. Furthermore, the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a decisive factor for ski length has also been changed from 20.0 to 20.5. Compared to the old regulations, this will allow athletes to gain more weight (appr. 1.5 kg) to use the maximum ski length of 145% of body height. With regard to Jury work, the wind and gate compensation rules which have been tested since the Summer Grand Prix 2009 will now be used permanently with one restriction: Gate change during a competition round must be based on a unanimous decision of the jury.

Concerning ladies’ Ski Jumping development, a ladies team event will be on the program of Junior World Ski Championships and the first competition will be held in Otepää at the end of January 2011. In addition, a World Cup series for ladies will be introduced from season 2011/12. As a result, the Jumping Committee prepared the first draft of World Cup Rules for ladies at its autumn meeting and will forward the preliminary calendar for final approval to the FIS Council, when it meets in November. World Cup events for ladies will require the availability of a TV signal at an international standard; full board and accommodation for participants and coaches; prize money of CHF 35,900 per competition (50% in comparison to the men’s events). The draft ladies’ calendar includes events not only in Europe but also in Moscow, Russia; Brattleboro, Vermont, USA; and in Zao, Japan.

Furthermore, the FIS Grand Prix calendar for 2011 series includes twelve competitions. It will start with the so-called “BeTa” Tour in Poland at the Bescide and Tatry region, then it will move to the traditional venues in Central Europe, followed by discovery of the new hills in Almaty and final stages in Hinzenbach, Austria, and Klingenthal, Germany.

In the years to come, the FIS international Ski Jumping events will return to traditional places, FIS Race Director Walter Hofer said, and explained: “There are so many traditional venues in Eastern Europe and also in North America. Our Ski Jumping family wants to re-discover these various places in former ski jumping countries. One of these steps will be a Grand Prix event on the brand new facility of Almaty (KAZ) next summer.”

Contributed by Horst Nilgen