Start into a special season

The wait is over! Finally the kick-off to the Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined World Cup in Ruka is at the door! And Ruka welcomes athletes from around the world as usual in a Finnisch wintery atmosphere. Cold temperatures in the single-digit minus range and a closed white blanket of snow provide the ideal frame conditions for the “nordic opener” on the polar circle, only a few kilometres away from the Russian border. 

After Peter Riedel GmbH has carried out the track maintenance for the World Cup over the last three years, this year everything is different. And when we say “everything is different,” we also mean everything differently. Due to the Covid pandemic, the organization is considerably more complicated than usual. Every participant at the event must undergo multiple corona tests before they can check into the so-called “bubble.” By bubble we mean the demarcated area in which athletes and attendants may move freely. And this space does not extend beyond the hotel to the jump, the cross-country track, and back. Points of contact with media, on-site workers and other staff are clearly regulated and only possible with distance and under strict adherence to the hygiene rules. Spectators are not allowed at all. 

Due to the complicated circumstances, we were unfortunately unable to enter Finland to perform maintenance and track care. Therefore we are not on site this year. But what we have already seen from the thumbs-up from home: the track and the facility are in good condition despite everything, and everything is prepared for a great weekend!

Only remains to wish the organizers and the athletes all the best for the first competitions of the season. Stay healthy! Peter Riedel and his team