Excitement builds for Ski Jumping showdowns at Ruka Nordic

Nov 28, 2025·Ski Jumping

Anze Lanisek won World Cups in Ruka in 2021 and 2022 ©Modica/NordicFocus

Following a fascinating start to the 2025/26 FIS World Cup season the world’s best male ski jumpers will look to deliver another set of spectacular showdowns as the sport returns to the now traditional ‘Ruka Nordic’ programme.

The ‘Ruka weekend’ will see them unite with Cross Country Skiing and Nordic Combined, with eight World Cup contests due to take place across three days.

Around 400 competitors, from 30 nations, set to participate across the three disciplines in what represents a true celebration off all-thing Nordic.

The two Ski Jumping World Cups will take place from 29-30 November.

“Ruka Nordic is now in a new phase,” says event CEO Narri Keskiaho.

“Our goal is to take the event forward so that it offers even more experiences for the audience and opportunities for sponsors and partners.

Keskiaho continues; "There is also a lot of media presence which says something about the appeal of Ruka Nordic. People love coming here."

For the first time in his career five-time World Championships medalist Anze Lanisek (SLO), who won the second Falun World Cup in Sweden earlier this week, will wear the yellow jersey for the start of the first Large Hill World Cup on Saturday.

Nearest rival Stefan Kraft (AUT), who claimed a record-breaking FIS Ski Jumping World Cup overall points haul via victory in the first Falun World Cup, has not travelled to Finland though and has instead returned to his homeland, with his partner soon due to give birth.

2024/25 Crystal Globe winner Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) is third in the overall standings after the opening four World Cup contests, but despite his stunning career successes – particularly over the last 12 months – he has yet to place on the podium in Ruka (FIN).

He has though placed fourth, fifth and sixth over the last two campaigns and will be confident of challenging for the top-three after a decent start to 2025/26, which included victory in the season-opening Lillehammer (NOR) World Cup.

Reigning Olympic champion Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) won the second Lillehammer World Cup and is next in the overall standings in fourth. He won the Ruka World Cup double in 2018 and also claimed a sole title in 2021, but placed 16^th and 24^th last season in Finland.

Rounding off the top-five in the seasonal standings so far, World champion Domen Prevc (SLO) who finished third in the second Falun (SWE) World Cup, a result which was incredibly impressive given he had suffered a nasty fall in the second training and still had a blooded face when competing in the main rounds hours later.

Ruka debuted as a FIS Ski Jumping World Cup host in 1996 and is known to be a ‘tough’ hill for competitors with fluctuating winds common in competition.

This year, the test jumpers will hail from the Finnish junior national team, with Andreas Helanne and Riku Vartianinen among the names to keep an eye out for the years ahead.

Six host nation athletes will line-up for the first qualifying round, with Antti Aalto (FIN), who placed 11^th last season, the most recognisable name in their team.