The Norwegian Ski Federation has lobbied FIS in an attempt to introduce a new, more sustainable calendar for the 2024/25 season.

Billed under the slogan ‘Change The Course’ and developed in association with KPMG, the concept is to make the Ski World Cup more sustainable by changing the racing calendar completely.

Start of season in the US

The Norwegian proposal would divide the season into four distinct geographically based blocks of races.

As many athletes train in South America in the autumn, the first stage would take place in the United States, reducing transatlantic flights and their consequent emissions.

Next would come Europe with races in the Western Alps until Christmas, then the ‘Classics’ (including the Laubernhorn and Hahnenkahm) through to the end of January, before events in the southern Alps.

The World Championships would take place as planned in Saalbach, but move slightly later. In March, skiers would travel to Scandinavia before the World Cup Finals at a location to be decided.

The women’s circuit would be slightly different, with a tour of the Eastern Alps until Christmas, before the ‘Classics’ and Western Alps through to the end of January. The World Championships and Scandinavian races would be the same as for the men.

Later date for the World Championships

A key part of the proposal is that the World Championships would move slightly later to the end of February/beginning of March.

This would allow the other shifts in the calendar to take place, to reduce the risk of other races being cancelled and to reduce the need for artificial snow.

Reduced Emissions

According to the Norwegian federation, the proposed schedule has been designed so that weather conditions and natural snow conditions are as favourable as possible.

“This plan would reduce emissions by reducing the need for artificial snow. Organizers could avoid dates when conditions are poor and organize competitions when snow is more reliable,” says their proposal.

Sustainability at the core

The planning of the races would reduce the need for air travel and encourage the use of more sustainable transport.  Teams could go to a region and stay there for several weeks, using the car, bus or train rather than flying.

Their estimate is that emissions could be reduced by 14% for women and 29% for men in the Norwegian team.

The Norwegian men’s speed team has captured over a third of the World Cup speed discipline globes in the past 20 years, including Aleksander Aamodt Kilde’s three globes during the past two seasons.