SONGSVANN (Nettavisen): When the World Cup committee of the International Ski Federation met at the beginning of May, the last details for the calendar in the 2022/23 season were nailed down.
It was decided that the opening races will take place in Wisla in Poland as early as 5 and 6 November. During the World Cup opening, the jumpers will land on plastic, as they do when they jump in the summer. The only thing that will be as normal is that ice tracks will be used.
This is the first time the jumpers will compete on a green plastic cover during the winter season in a World Cup competition.
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Forfang despairs
The startling change creates reactions. National team player Forfang is not a fan of FIS’s plans.
– I do not think so. When we start the winter season, I think we should start on snow, he says to Nettavisen, and elaborates:
– It’s kind of from old, the good feeling from when I was little too. When we got to the ground, the first snow, the start. It’s something special, and I’ll really miss it. The one that winter feeling. Now it’s kind of like that you feel like you’re almost up and running, but not quite. I think that’s a little boring.
FIS’s race director, Sandro Pertile, emphasizes that jumping will always be a winter sport, but believes it is positive that it is possible to practice the sport over a longer period.
– I fully respect the opinions of the practitioners, but sometimes we have different opinions. I think we have to think with an open mind. We are the only winter sport that has this flexibility, which I think will be a great advantage for us in the future, says Partile to Nettavisen.
The flexibility he talks about means that it is possible to conduct jumping competitions, even if the surface is not snow.
– The technical movements in our sport are not changed, it is just another surface. It’s just like tennis. They play tennis on different surfaces, but it is always the same technical movements, Pertile explains.
FIS also states that part of the reason why there will be plastic cover in Wisla next season is due to the safety of the athletes. The Polish ski jump has received some criticism for the conditions in recent years, and several competitions there have been marked by several ugly falls.
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Positive Lindvik and Granerud
Due to the demanding conditions in Wisla, this winter’s Olympic and World Cup winner Marius Lindvik believes that it is smart to have a plastic cover on the Polish slopes.
– They do not tend to be particularly strong in conditions and snow quality when they arrange races so early, so I think it is a very good solution, he says to Nettavisen.
Teammate Halvor Egner Granerud supports Lindvik.
– Landing on plastic instead of the bumpy snow, I think that sounds nice. I also think it does not hurt to see how it is received, he says to Nettavisen, and adds that he thinks the plastic tire can lead to tension around which skis the athletes will use.
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– Many will scratch their heads
Forfang agrees with his teammates that the conditions in Wisla have been challenging in recent years, but insists that he prefers snow in the run-off. He also thinks the green plastic cover will lead to wonder among TV viewers.
– I think many people will scratch their heads and do not quite understand what this is for. There are surprisingly many who do not know that we jump on skis in the summer as well, and do not know that we then land on plastic, says Forfang.
Lindvik believes, however, that the most important thing is the safety of the athletes.
– It will probably be a little unusual for the TV viewer, but I think it will be very good for us. There has been a lot of poorly prepared escape in Wisla over the years, especially when you start in November, says the 23-year-old.
Race director Pertile also highlights sustainability as a reason why plastic cover is a good alternative. According to him, it will be much cheaper to arrange a World Cup race in Wisla when there is no need to produce artificial snow.
– Think how much energy we save in Wisla this year. The cost is over 100,000 euros, and with today’s price of energy it is probably 150,000 euros. It is thus an opportunity to be more financially sustainable and it is more sustainable for the climate, he points out.
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