Week 1: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Planica
Feb 21, 2023·Nordic Combined
The first week of the Planica 2023 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships is in full swing and the first three Nordic Combined competitions on the HS 102 normal hill are approaching fast.
The women will begin with their Individual Gundersen event on Friday, while the Nordic Combined men will have their first competition on Saturday. The World Championship premiere of the Mixed Team is scheduled for Sunday and will conclude the normal hill events.
With 9 victories in 9 World Cup competitions Gyda Westvold Hansen is the top favorite for the gold medal in Planica.
The Norwegian titleholder, who already won the World Championship premiere of the women in Oberstdorf 2021, will also be hard to beat in Planica.
The biggest competition for her comes from the Leinan Lund sisters Mari and Marte, who made the Norwegian podium sweep perfect in Oberstdorf with silver and bronze, as well as best skier Ida Marie Hagen from their own ranks.
With Annika Sieff, Italy is sending the current Junior World Champion into the race, who also has a good chance of placing on the podium thanks to her good jumping form.
For Germany, all eyes are on 17-year-old Nathalie Armbruster, who has already impressed with 7 podium places in her first World Cup season.
With the Kasai sisters Yuna and Haruka, Japan also has good chances of a medal, while Slovenia is hoping for a home win from Ema Volavsek, who was recently thrown back in training due to back problems.
In the men’s Individual Gundersen event, it will be up to Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) to defend his Oberstdorf title, therefore he goes into the competition as favourite. His team mate and Oberstdorf bronze medalist Jens Luraas Oftebro has also made his aspirations for medals in Planica clear. World Cup leader Johannes Lamparter (AUT) is also one to look out for, because he has a good chance of a podium finish thanks to his running strength.
As customary in normal hill competitions, all strong skiers can take the spotlight. Germanys Vinzenz Geiger and Julian Schmid are out for their first Individual medals after having left very positive impressions at the last World Cup competitions. But also Finland’s Ilkka Herola, who took the silver medal in Oberstdorf 2021, can contend for the podium again if he hits that one crucial ski jump.
Competition schedule: WSC Planica 2023
