Nordic Ski World Cup OSL2O1O

This weekend Oslo hosted the FIS Nordic World Cup at the Holmenkollen. The world's top skiers are in Oslo to compete in the new, rebuilt Holmenkollen jump for the very first time. Jana, Elisabeth, a friend of Jana and me, we bought tickets for the 14 March competitions which included ski jumping, the Nordic combined and cross-country skiing. Later in the afternoon also Tim, the guy from my hometown Meckenheim who lives in Oslo as well now, joined us.

Jana, Elisabeth and me we met early in the morning to ensure good places (category E - see picture below). As below pictures will show, we actually managed to find a great place right next to the arrival area of the ski jumpers and close to the media.



Along with today's programme you can have a look at some pictures and maybe recognise the one or other athlet.

Early in the morning:


Jana & Elisabeth


Our spot right next to the media where all athlets pass after their jump


and with perfect view of the arrival area.

Here to start with:
10.00-10.45: Nordic combined individual, ski jumping:



German TV channel "ZDF" was also present... and according to Jana's mother we've even been on German television in the 12pm news and again in the afternoon :-)




Next on the programme:
10.45-11.45: Cross-country sprint, free technique, qualifying - men/women

So we changed from the ski jump stand to the cross-country area.







12.00-12.40: Nordic combined individual, cross-country 10 km



















13.30-13.45: Opening ceremony, the new Holmenkollen Ski Jump



The Royal Brigade playing the National anthem on top of the ski jump


In the end of the opening ceremony alpine skiiers representing the different countries skied down the steep ski jump with the respective national flags.


... the Norwegian representative even in national dress.


The Royal's loge


13.45-15.30: Ski jumping - individual



Germans should know that guy with the purple Milka helmet: Martin Schmitt... who actually did quite a bad job that day... like basically all Germans today :-(
Quite embarrassing actually so we decided to quickly put away our flags.


Two more Germans, but don't ask me their names. I forgot already...








Adam Malysz - not less known than Martin Schmitt - became second today.


By far the most successful ski jumper in those days, though, has been that Swiss guy Simon Ammann...


...who also won today's tournaments:




Award ceremony:
1. Simon Amman (Switzerland)
2. Adam Malysz (Poland)
3. Thomas Morgenstern (Austria)







15.30-17.45: Cross-country sprint, free technique, final - men/women ... so we changed again the location and moved over to the "langrenn" field.









Back downtown Oslo we decided to have a drink and a little snack together and sat down in a nice bistro in Majorstua.

Great day!