ALPINE SKI. On Wednesday, 20th May, 2020 the members of the Alpine Skiing Committee got together through an online conference call to discuss the main changes for the upcoming season.

One of the crucial topics discussed was the future of the FIS Alpine World Cup in such a challenging period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main focus of FIS and of all the World Cup stakeholders will be to organise the 2020/21 World Cup season as originally planned. Through the necessary precautions and a solution oriented approach, there is optimism and a strong willingness to stage a standard World Cup season.

Nevertheless, the priority of FIS is to ensure that the World Cup 2020/21 season takes place in a safe and fair environment, addressing challenges and finding solutions with extreme flexibility.

The Council will therefore establish a task force composed of members of the NSAs, organisers, rights holders, FIS Officials and other stakeholders with the goal of working on a potential contingency plan in case traveling restrictions and sport event organisation measures make it impossible to stage a classic World Cup season. The group will also define minimum requirements to host a World Cup event to ensure fairness towards all competitors and nations.

In terms of rule changes, the Parallel format has been adapted also taking into consideration the athletes’ recommendations. The Parallel race will have a run and re-run format to ensure a fair competition. To keep the format short and interesting, the parallel race will start from the round of 16 (not 32 as until now) with the 16 fastest athletes from the qualification race.

When both gender are present, the losing competitors in the quarter finals will be ranked from 5 to 8 according to their total time (run and re-run), without having to race for their position.

Finally, in terms of Parallel quota, for the season 2020/21, the nation’s higher quota, whether from WCSL or PWSL, will be valid.

All the proposals mentioned above are subject to the approval of the Council.

Some further proposals were tabled until autumn to be able to make better decisions, based on how the situation evolves.

FIS Alpine
21 May 2020

FIS Cross-Country spring meetings report

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI. The scheduled FIS spring meetings have taken place this week via online meetings of the Committee members. The proposals of the National Ski Federations for the Sub-Committees of World Cup and Continental Cup, Roller Skiing as well as Rules & Control were discussed within the FIS Cross-Country Committee. Additionally, an update about the status of Covid-19 measurements as well as the status of the fluor ban were presented.

All proposals are still subject to the approval of the FIS Council.

Covid-19

Sarah Lewis, FIS Secretary General and Pierre Mignerey, FIS Cross-Country race director presented potential scenarios how the upcoming World Cup season could be affected in regard with the uncertain situation with Covid-19. The importance of holding World Cup events in general was underlined.

Especially possible travel restrictions, event organization regulations as well as financial impacts of the current situation can have major impacts on the calendars. Therefore, additionally to the current calendar draft “A” a calendar draft “B” was established. Amongst safety measures and lighter adaptions, the B-calendar sees competitions taking place in the same country/blocks if travelling has to be minimalized and to give opportunity for potential quarantine periods. The National Ski Federations and local organizers were asked to conduct a feasibility study for potential cases (e.g. an event without spectators) and to confirm their commitment for the organization of their World Cup event next winter. The study will have to be submitted by mid-June.

A competition management group was set up to coordinate with the key stakeholders throughout the summer. In any case, a certain level of flexibility will be necessary in order to be able to adapt if the situation changes again.

In case of adaptions, respective regulations were defined to clarify the participation criteria to hold World Cup events.

Proposal: A World Cup event can only take place if at least 7 nations from the top 10 nations (according to the Nations’ Cup 2019/2020) are able to access the event.

In case of a strong limitation on the number of people attending the event, the event preparation group has the possibility to adjust the athletes and staff quota. The frame was set to a maximum of 4 athletes per nation plus the Overall World Cup Leader plus the COC leader.

Fluor ban status

Upon the FIS Council decision in November 2019 to ban of usage of fluorinated wax from the season 2020/21 a working group was created. FIS Cross-Country race director Pierre Mignerey as part of the working group informed about the latest updates.

Since January, the Frauenhofer Institute / Kompass was appointed to develop a testing devide under specific requirements given by the working group. Rules are established with the Legal Committee.

The FIS Council members will receive a report about the technical development and an update in terms of regulations and rules for the testing procedure. Further decisions are still subject to the approval of the FIS Council.

FIS Cross-Country Sub-committee World Cup and Continental Cup

World Cup calendar 2020/21

Lillehammer World Cup - The Norwegian Ski Association proposed to have one additional World Cup competition around the already confirmed competitions in Lillehammer. The proposal was approved by the Cross-Country Committee and a sprint on Friday, 4th December was added to the World Cup calendar 2020/21.

The decision for the start date and competitions of the Tour de Ski in Switzerland was postponed as requested by Swiss Ski. The update will follow throughout summer.

The French Ski Association has withdrawn the scheduled World Cup weekend in Prémanon (FRA) due to the Covid-19 situation in France and financial challenges. Prémanon was taken into the calendar for 2021/22.

In order to improve the travel logistics and the costs of travel of the World Cup, the Swedish Ski Federation was asked to evaluate the option of moving Ulricehamn World Cup to the weekend after Falun (Prémanon World Cup). The final decision will be done until 15th June. The gained free weekend after the  FIS Tour de Ski would not be replaced.

World Cup national quota

In order to support the introduction for younger athletes to the World Cup as well as to find a more balanced distribution on nations, the following proposal was submitted regarding the national quota.

Proposal: The maximum number of athletes from the host nation consists of 10 athletes per gender plus 2 extra spots per gender for U23 athletes.

Prize money

The increase of the prize money was approved by the FIS Council in 2019. Following the atletes proposal, the 2'000 CHF re-distribution will be distributed between the top 2 athltets.

Proposal: +1’500 CHF for the first place and + 500 CHF for the second place
World Cup U23 Overall standing

With the specific implementation of the U23 athletes into the national quota, the U23 Overall Standing will be re-established.

World Cup points for team events

Individual World Cup points will be distributed to team competitions according to a point table that will be decided in the autumn meetings.

Proposal: The athletes competing in team competitions will score the following individual World Cup points according to the final ranking of their team.

Relays will count for the Distance World Cup standing and Overall World Cup standing. Team Sprints will count for the Sprint World Cup standing and Overall World Cup standing.

JWSC – COC – EYOF – Universiades

21 to 31 January 2021 Universiade SUI
30 January to 07 February 2021 Zakopane POL
06 to 13 February EYOF Vuokatti, FIN
FIS Cross-Country Sub-committee Roller Skiing

The feasibility of holding this years Roller Skiing World Cup events very much depend on how the Covid-19 restrictions develop in the next weeks. A set up event preparation group will set the frame and requirements for holding World Cup events this summer. The Sub-Committee Roller Skiing agreed to postpone the decision on the calendar until 15th June 2020. 

FIS Cross-Country Sub-committee Rules & Control

The Sub-Committee reported to be working on rule implementation regarding the fluor ban.

Last season waxing skis during the team sprint comptitions was not allowed at the World Cup. Based on the proposal from Sub-Committee for Rules & Control, the Crosss-Country Committee approved the prohibition of waxing skis during team sprint heats at all FIS competitions. It remains possible to wax skis between the end of semifinal and final.

Skis in the pit boxes in mass start competitions

When ski exchange is allowed in mass start competitions, it will be mandatory at all FIS competitions to place skis in the pit boxes before the start of the competition.

FIS Cross-Country
20 May 2020