The Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) has long faced calls to make women’s ski flying part of the World Cup. It could be as early as next season.
The FIS Subcommittee for Officials, Rules and Control in Ski Jumping met for two days. The results of the commission are particularly encouraging for those who are demanding World Cup status for women’s ski flying competitions.
“There was a proposal that women’s ski flying should be given the status of a World Cup competition,” Sandro Pertile, race director for ski jumping in the World Ski Federation, is quoted as saying on the Polish winter sports portal “skijumping.pl”.
The proposal therefore provides that the best 15 jumpers in the overall World Cup rankings may take part in ski flying competitions. Five additional starting places are to be awarded via “wild cards”.
World Cup status for women’s ski flying: FIS Congress decides in May
A final decision on the World Cup status should be made at the FIS Congress in Dubrovnik in May. According to Pertile, concrete rules are to be published in October.
The historic first women’s ski flying competition with World Cup status took place in March as part of the Raw Air Finals in Vikersund. Meanwhile, the Norwegian newspaper “Verdens Gang” reports that other locations want to host World Cup competitions for women in the future – including Oberstdorf and Planica.
Supporters see the World Cup status for women’s ski flying competitions as a step towards equal opportunities. Critics point to the danger in view of the higher speeds and forces that act on the athletes.
Three-time overall World Cup winner Maren Lundby is among the advocates. “It’s important that we apply for World Championship status, we deserve it. It’s nice to see other nations coming. Oberstdorf seems to be a nice hill and would bring color to Vikersund. We want more hills like that can climb,” said the Norwegian on the homepage of the national ski jumping association.
