Last week, the International Ski Federation (FIS) concluded its fall Cross-Country Committee meetings. The most pressing issues are COVID related and concern the calendaring and running of safe events. Many variables remain in play, like how each hosting country experiences a predicted uptick in COVID cases this winter. Within this context, the Cross-Country Committee made several recommendations that have yet to be approved by the FIS Council. The FIS Council is scheduled to meet on Oct, 9.
The 2021 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships to be held in Zakopane, Poland will be rescheduled. The Polish Ski Association asked for a 2022 date in Zakopane. The FIS said it is “committed to find alternative solutions” for a Junior Worlds competition this season.
The other newsworthy item of note was the linked schedule in the FIS posting. The linked schedule remains a typical looking World Cup schedule. For example, between Periods I-II, athletes will race in Finland, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany before a short respite before the Tour de Ski, which begins in Switzerland.
Looking further out, the schedule includes a “reserve” weekend at the beginning of February. Those dates will serve as an open weekend for the possibility of rescheduling races.
