When nordic combined changed the competition format to consist of one jump and a 10K cross-country course, it was a revolution for the sport. For the upcoming season, the NoCo circuit may see another round of changes.
Based on the cross-country team sprint, nordic combined is considering their own sprint version, which could be included in the World Cup schedule next season. The race concept was tested on the continental cup in Kuopio (FIN) last winter, and received positive feedback. Starting next season on the World Cup and later in major championships, the nordic combined team sprint could replace one of the existing team events in nordic combined, but no firm launch date is announced yet. Currently, cross-country team sprints consist of two skiers racing six laps on courses that are approximately 1.5K. A similar model would be used in nordic combined, where the skiers would also do one jump each.
The FIS sub-committee to the Nordic Combined Committee met in Zürich (SUI). The team sprint was only one of the items on the agenda. There was a whole list of other ideas on the table as well. During the final competition in Holmenkollen, the committee members were discussing the possibility of doing a “classic” nordic combined competition with two jumps and a 15k cross-country course. Only the top 30 athletes on the World Cup would be qualified to enter this final competition.
No judges, no correction for wind and no street factor – only the length of the jump would matter. This could be the reality if a new competition format is approved. The format would be a ”penalty race,” where the racers would ski penalty laps on the cross-country course depending on how far they jumped on the hill. The idea is that the cross-country portion is a mass start, and that the skiers will complete their penalty laps as they go. The details are still in the works, but the concept is expected to become a formal proposal by June. The intention is to include some competitions this coming season.
“There is a lot of exciting things happening, and we are going to be a more attractive sport. The feedback we are getting is that all the events in nordic combined are getting too much alike. But these new ideas could be a breath of fresh air in the sport. They will introduce more drama and action on the course, and we want to stay current,” said Lasse Ottesen (NOR), the new FIS coordinator for nordic combined.
Arne-Olaf Sween, a Norwegian member of the FIS nordic combined sub-committee, was in Zürich. He is excited about the ideas that are stirring in the nordic combined community.