The final of the FIS Grand Prix 2016 took place less than a week ago, now the World Cup opening is already around the corner. In less than 50 days, the World Cup season will start for the world's best ski jumpers. The calendar for the upcoming winter (World Cup calendar 2016/17) is full of highlights, first and foremost: the 65th 4-Hills-Tournament from December 29th, 2016 to January 6th, 2017 and the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti (FIN) from February 22nd to March 5th, 2017.

Season opening returns to Ruka/Kuusamo

For the first time in four years (2012 Lillehammer (NOR), 2013 - 2015 Klingenthal (GER)) the ski jumpers will start their season in Ruka/Kuusamo at the Arctic Circle again.

Explanation: Ruka is a winter sports resort at the 493 m high Fjell/Rukatunturi mountain, Ruka for short. Kuusamo, about 20 km away, is the closest city. About 15 000 people live in Kuusamo.

The Ruka ski resort consists of 28 ski slopes and the HS 142 Rukatunturi ski jumping hill, where either the World Cup opening or one of the early World Cup weekends is held regularly. Due to its location in the far north, close to the Arctic Circle, and the low temperatures there, there's a relatively high snow-reliability in Ruka already late November.

Rukatunturi hill extensively modernized

After the inrun track and the insufficient wind net caused major problems last winter (both competitions in Ruka had to be canceled), considerable efforts have been made by the organizers this summer in order to be prepared for difficult weather conditions. 

The team working at the hill was reinforced and, in addition to a new inrun track, a new windnet was installed as well. About one million Euro was invested to modernize the facility.   

The inrun track and the wind net are already installed and will be tested for the first time on October 7th.

In order to get the Rukatunturi-hill ready for jumping in time for the World Cup opening, the hill preparation will begin already on November 7th. Training shall be possible for all teams starting November 15th. That's the ambitious schedule of the Finnish organizers.

Source: fis-ski.com