Last weekend, the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) held its Cross-Country Committee spring meetings in Croatia. During the sessions, various proposals were voted on, and ongoing matters were discussed by the Cross-Country community, including the Sub-Committees for World Cup and Continental Cup, Rules and Control, Women Nordic, Youth and Children, Cross-Country Development, Roller Skiing, and Popular Skiing.

According to a FIS press release, one of the key decisions at the meeting concerned the World Cup calendar for the 2023/2024 season. The calendar will feature four tour stops before Christmas, including Ruka in Finland, Gällivare and Östersund in Sweden, and Trondheim in Norway.

The Tour de Ski will begin in Toblach, Italy, move to Davos in Switzerland, and finish in Val di Fiemme in Italy during Period II. 

In Period III, there will be two new organizing regions: Oberhof, Germany, and Goms, Switzerland. In Period IV, there will be a World Cup stop in North America with Canmore and Minneapolis on the calendar, while the final period of the World Cup season includes traditional venues in Lahti, Finland, Oslo and Drammen in Norway, and Falun, Sweden.

Proposed Calendar for the 2023/2024 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup

Period I – Before Christmas

• November 24-26: Ruka, Finland
• December 1-3: Gällivare, Sweden
• December 9-10: Östersund, Sweden
• December 15-17: Trondheim, Norway

Period II – Tour de Ski

• December 30: Toblach, Italy
• December 31: Toblach, Italy
• January 1: Toblach, Italy
• January 3: Davos, Switzerland
• January 4: Davos, Switzerland
• January 6: Val di Fiemme, Italy
• January 7: Val di Fiemme, Italy

Period III – Two New Organizers

• January 19-21: Oberhof, Germany
• January 26-28: Goms, Switzerland

Period IV – North America

• February 9-13: Canmore, Canada
• February 17-18: Minneapolis, USA

Period V – Scandinavia

• March 1-3: Lahti, Finland
• March 9-10: Oslo, Norway
• March 12: Drammen, Norway
• March 15-17: Falun, Sweden

Another major decision at the meeting concerned the future race distances for Cross-Country Skiing. Following a test season in which women and men raced equal distances, it was decided to continue using the current formats in the World Cup. 

Read More Here: Distances At The Cross-Country Skiing World Cup

As a result, the FIS Council will send a proposal for their implementation in future World Ski Championships, and an application process for the change of Olympic Winter Games distances will be initiated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

The approved distances are 10km, 20km, and 50km, and Skiathlon with a 10km + 10km race. The Relay will be 4×7.5km with the same distance for women and men, while the Sprint and Team Sprint events will also be included in the program.

Other matters discussed at the meeting included updates on implementing the fluor ban, FIS technical officials and homologation matters, and Para-Nordic matters. The FIS Point System, approved in 2022, will be effective as of July 1, 2023.

Good to remember that all decisions made during the meetings need to be approved by the FIS Council at the Spring meeting on May 24, 2023.