Nordic Opening in Ruka/Kuusamo

Tue, Nov  25, 2008 - By FIS

After last weekend in Swedish Lapland, the Cross-Country family will be moving west to the north of Finland. The FIS Nordic Opening, a joint World Cup weekend for all FIS Nordic disciplines will take place for the seventh time in Kuusamo (FIN) on 28th-30th of November. True season opener for Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined, this long weekend will be the first and only time before the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec (CZE) that all three Nordic disciplines compete at the same venue and in fact, at the very same stadium.

Around 320 athletes from approx. 26 nations will compete in the total of eight World Cup events at Ruka, a popular winter sport resort named after the local mountain (492m) located 25 km north of Kuusamo. The Cross-Country athletes will compete like last year in a sprint race in the classical style on Saturday. The sprint course is one of the most challenging courses in the World Cup and ideal for a sprint in the classical style. On Sunday, 10 km (ladies) and 15 km (men) individual start competitions in the classical style are on the schedule.

Traditionally the Organizing Committee from Ruka/Kuusamo stages several live music performances and DJ's to ensure great atmosphere throughout the entire weekend.

More information: www.nordicopening.com

Starting Times:

Saturday, 29th November
Women/Men:
Sprint Qualification 10:30h (9:30h CET)
Final 13:00h (12:00 CET)

Sunday, 30th November
Women: 10km C 11:00h (10:00h CET)
Men: 15 km C 13:45h (12:45h CET)

Top three in November/December 2007

Sprint, classical technique
Women
1. Petra Majdic (SLO)
2. Astrid Jacobsen (NOR)
3. Alena Prochazkova (SVK)
Men
1. Johan Kjoelstad (NOR)
2. Emil Joensson (SWE)
3. Mats Larsson (SWE)

Distance race, classical technique
Women
1. Marit Bjoergen (NOR)
2. Astrid Jacobsen (NOR)
3. Justyna Kowalcyzk (POL)
Men
1. Lukas Bauer (CZE)
2. Eldar Roenning (NOR)
3. Axel Teichmann (GER)