NC summer series kicks off Friday in Germany

The 10th FIS nordic combined Summer Grand Prix will kick off with a mass-start event in Klingenthal, Germany, on Aug. 24.
THE 10TH FIS NORDIC COMBINED Summer Grand Prix will kick off with a mass-start event in Klingenthal, Germany, on Aug. 24.
    After the successful premiere last year, the athletes will return to the Vogtlandarena, which hosts one of the biggest jumping facilities for summer use. This year, many have an additional reason to spend time training and competing there during the Summer Grand Prix, because the first FIS World Cup nordic combined is scheduled for February at the same spot.
    The summer series will continue at the well-known venue of Steinbach-Hallenberg/Oberhof, German, on Aug. 26. That venue has been part of the Summer Grand Prix since its beginning. Then it is time for Val di Fiemme in Italy, Aug. 29; Berchtesgaden in Germany, Sept. 1; and the final in Bischofshofen, Austria, Sept. 2. Counting the Berchtesgaden team sprint, the schedule features five races in three countries in 10 days.
    After skipping the Summer Grand Prix in the past several years, the Finnish team has decided to give it a go again. Team USA, led by 2007 World Championships silver medalist Bill Demong, also will compete in all events. World-class athletes from other countries include the Germans — Ronny Ackermann, Georg Hettich and Björn Kircheisen — who just returned from an on-snow camp in New Zealand. Mario Stecher and Christoph Bieler from Austria, Jason Lamy-Chappuis from France and Petter Tande and Havard Klemetsen from Norway will be at the start as well.
    In total, 86 athletes from 15 different nations will compete in this year’s Summer Grand Prix. Because most of the World Cup top 20 will participate, the series promises to be very exiting. To win the overall ranking, participation in each event is required.

— Christina Fritz/FIS