FIS is reporting that the 2006/2007 season was very challenging for most of the nine FIS Cross-Country Continental Cups around the world. In many cases, competitions had to be moved due to a lack of snow or the organizers delivered extraordinary efforts to stage the planned competitions despite the adverse weather circumstances. Compliments go to all the organizing teams for their valuable efforts and flexibility as well as to the respective Continental Cup coordinators for their significant contributions and creativity in finding solutions to the snow challenges.
Despite the challenging conditions, some 80 races altogether were held in the Cross-Country Continental Cups this season, and almost 500 ladies and nearly 600 men scored points. The respective winners of the various Continental Cups will have a personal starting place in the Viessmann FIS World Cup Cross Country during the first period of the 2007/2008 season. The Continental Cups represent the most important level of competitions below the World Cup and their importance has grown since the national quotas for the World Cup were reduced two seasons ago. Several Cups, most notably the so-called OPA Cup in the Alpine countries, the SuperTour in the US and the Haywood NorAm Canada Cup have shown to be great ground for developing new stars for the world stage.
“The Continental Cup for the OPA Nations provides the basis for the athletes to gain the necessary competition experience that is required for success later on at the World Cup level. The competition program including races in all distances and techniques is put together to test the athletes in all possible ways,†said Georg Zipfel, OPA Cup Coordinator since 2002.
“We are really proud of the twelve sites that came together again this winter to organize the SuperTour and put their individual stamp on its identity. What they provide in terms of promotion and sport development is high impact — this year’s SuperTour has been the largest yet, with the most sites, spectators, participants, media coverage and prize money. The organizers have developed an exemplary circuit and they are driving Cross-Country forward in the US,†noted Luke Bodensteiner, Coordinator of the US SuperTour.
For final standings of most Cups: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/cross-country/cupstandings.html
Source: FIS
