This week the mixed-team event and the Ladies Summer Grand Prix will premiere in Courchevel.
On Tuesday evening the long-awaited premiere of the mixed-team event is scheduled. In this new competition format, that is also included in the program of the World Championships next winter, two ladies and two men per nation take part. As no such competition has been held before, it cannot be foreseen which teams have the capability to perform strong. But most likely the result will be closer then in “normal” team competitions, as many of the smaller nations, that do not have four equally strong men, do have two strong ladies and two strong men. So we can expect a really exciting competition. A second mixed-team competition will be held on Friday in Hinterzarten.
Also Wednesday will see a novelty. Then, also on Courchevel’s HS96, the Ladies Summer Grand Prix will be launched. Over the last years only Continental Cups were held in the summer for Ladies. But with this introduction they have now international competitions on the highest level all year-round. The Ladies World Cup was introduced in the last winter.
Unfortunately last winter’s overall World Cup winner, Sarah Hendrickson of the United States, has to pass on the competitions this summer. After a surgery in the spring she is still unable to jump.