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Interview with Chika Yoshida
Chika Yoshida has been appointed the FIS Coordinator for ladies‘ Ski Jumping. Since 2008 she has supported the ladies Continental Cup series and now takes on the responsibility for the ladies' World Cup series that starts in the coming season.
A native of Tokyo, Chika came to study in Europe in 1992. During the Olympic Winter Games 1998 in her home country, in Nagano (JPN), she made contact with Ski Jumping and began her work with the Japanese Ski Jumping team in 1999. In 2008, she was asked by Walter Hofer, FIS Ski Jumping Race Director, if she could imagine becoming a coordinator for ladies‘ Ski Jumping. By now, Chika Yoshida has become a critical component of the scene.
FIS Newsflash had a chance to speak with Chika before her first World Cup season with the ladies.
Q: Next season will see the introduction of the ladies‘ World Cup. What does that mean to you, what kind of changes do you foresee coming?
Yoshida: As a first main change we need to mention TV broadcasting which is new. So far we had broadcasting from some events but those were typically just regional TV channels. Now the entire world can follow us, which is obviously a critical difference and elevates the entire series to a new level.
Q: Does that mean additional pressure or work for you regarding organization?
Yoshida: I am not really in a position to evaluate that at this time, as I have no experience with that so far. But I am sure that we are able to bring the organization to the necessary level with the support of Walter Hofer and his team. The Organizers will do their best, they too have a great interest in successful delivery. Together we are going to make it - I am not at all concerned.
Q: What will be the biggest changes for the athletes?
Yoshida: The ladies will now have the possibility to earn real prize money. For them this is obviously a wonderful development. Without the athletes we would not have the World Cup series so it is important that they now can make some money with their sport.
Q: The Continental Cup series will continue the coming season as well. Are you going to manage both series?
Yoshida: Yes, there won't be two competing series. We will thus have a competition weekend in the Continental Cup or in World Cup at any given weekend, but not both. So I will have enough time to oversee both series, travelling back and forth (laughs).
Q: How many athletes will compete in the Continental Cup - will the youngest remain at that level? How will the organization work?
Yoshida: According to the rules, you have to be 15 to compete in the World Cup, in the Continental Cup all may start. This is how we intend to protect the youngest and provide them more time for their development. That is best for everyone that way.
Q: The World Cup with live broadcasting from this coming season will bring the ladies Ski Jumping to the big world stage - will that be a giant step forward?
Yoshida: No question. It is a great development for the ladies ‘Ski Jumping. We can naturally present our sport in much better light this way. This is big for everyone involved. Both for the athletes and the organizers, who will gain completely new possibilities to present their events as well.
Contributed by Horst Nilgen