Ski flying for men, large hill competitions for women: In the fight for its status and, above all, for the Olympic future beyond 2026, the Nordic combined is relying on more spectacle.
Nathalie Armbruster & Co. are allowed on the large hill.
IMAGO/Zoonar
As the World Ski Federation FIS announced, the limits of Nordic combined will be redefined for both men and women over the next two years.
In concrete terms, this means: The men will go hunting on a flying hill for the first time at a World Cup on the Kulm in Bad Mitterndorf/Austria in February 2026, while the women will celebrate their premiere on a large hill next March as part of the World Cup in Oslo.
“These advances reflect the growing ambition and innovation within the sport and represent a major step forward for both genders,” said the FIS, which also spoke of a “new era”.
“The development of the women has been astonishing in recent years,” commented race director Lasse Ottesen: “This year’s test events in Oberstdorf and Chaux-Neuve have shown how well the athletes have adapted to the large hill format. We are really looking forward to the Holmenkollen events this winter.”
Nordic combined must become more attractive
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has drawn up a long list of deficiencies for the traditional Nordic combined discipline: low performance density, lack of diversity in the competitions and weak TV ratings. The women will not be taking part in the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo; the men are also on the line for 2030.
“As Nordic Combined continues to evolve, these groundbreaking events will showcase not only the growing talent and competitiveness of the athletes, but also the sport’s ability to adapt and break new ground. The countdown to an exciting new chapter in history the Nordic Combined has begun,” explained the FIS.
