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NORDIC COMBINED
What is it?
A combination of ski jumping and cross-country skiing. There are a range of disciplines from single-day sprint events (one jump followed by a 7.5km cross-country) to more traditional two-day events (two jumps and the following day a 15km cross-country).
A combination of ski jumping and cross-country skiing. There are a range of disciplines from single-day sprint events (one jump followed by a 7.5km cross-country) to more traditional two-day events (two jumps and the following day a 15km cross-country).
Rules
During the first event, the ski jump, competitors are judged on length and style. Then a point-to-time conversion table means competitors are staggered in relation to their jumping score. The first athlete to cross the line after the cross-country is the winner.
History
The Nordic combined first took place officially in 1892 at the Holmenkollen ski festival and the event has been extremely popular ever since, especially in countries like Norway and Finland. The FIS holds regular World Cup events and a World Championship every two years.
Random fact
King Olav of Sweden took part in the Nordic combined at the famous Holmenkollen ski festival in 1922.
The lowdown
- Nordic combined is still the most popular winter sport in many Scandinavian countries.
- For the first three winter Olympics Norway won every single Nordic combined medal.
- Until 1952 cross-country skiing was always held before the ski jump; now it is the other way round.
- A team competition (three members) was added to the Olympics for the first time in 1988.
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