Lake Placid Set to Host 2024 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup

by Simon Naylor | Published: September 26th, 2023 |  Ski News

Lake Placid, NY is preparing to welcome back the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in February 2024, marking the second straight year the prestigious event will be held at the Olympic Jumping Complex after a decades-long absence.

The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) announced last week that Lake Placid will host the competition from February 9-11, joining World Cup luge and bobsled/skeleton as marquee international events on the 2023-24 calendar.

Huge Crowds at 2023 Event Showcase Lake Placid's Draw

The 2024 Ski Jumping World Cup promises to build on the success of the 2023 edition, which saw massive crowds descend upon the small village in upstate New York. Nearly 15,000 rabid ski jumping fans attended the 2023 event, traveling from across the northeast U.S. and the strong Polish-American community. The attendance numbers shocked organizers and demonstrated that Lake Placid remains a world-class destination capable of hosting major international competitions.

"We were extremely happy with how things went at last year's World Cup in Lake Placid and see the potential for discussing a longer-term strategy," said FIS Ski Jumping Race Director Sandro Pertile. "With beautiful weather conditions, long jumps, a super nice crowd at the bottom of the hill, and a great team working behind the scenes, we reached a very, very high result and were all very happy."

Renovated Venue Meets High Standards

Lake Placid has a long, storied history with ski jumping, having hosted the sport at the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. FIS Ski Jumping World Cups were also held annually in Lake Placid between 1983-1990. But there had been no World Cup competition since 1990 until the successful 2023 return.

A significant factor in Lake Placid regaining its ski jumping prominence was a recent $7 million renovation of the Olympic Jumping Complex. The refurbishment upgraded the jumping surface and re-shaped the landing hill in order to meet FIS standards for World Cup events. According to Pertile, the renovation makes the venue extremely flexible for hosting competitions under a wide variety of weather conditions thanks to the installation of plastic surfaces.

U.S. Jumpers Welcome Home Event

Bringing a World Cup back to the U.S. provides a boost to the American ski jumping program, giving local jumpers the chance to compete on home soil in front of a supportive crowd. The last World Cup held in the U.S. prior to 2023 was back in 2004.

"The future of the U.S. Ski Jumping team is promising, and being able to hold major events in our own country provides the program with an added boost to raise further awareness and notoriety to the sport to inspire the next generation of ski jumpers," said USA Nordic Sports CEO Adam Provost.

Top American jumpers like Kevin Bickner and Casey Larson now have another opportunity to showcase their talents in Lake Placid and gain valuable experience against the best in the world. Several U.S. jumpers earned World Cup points during the 2023 event.

2024 Format Mirrors Exciting 2023 Event

The competition format for the 2024 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup will replicate the popular schedule from 2023. It will again take place on the Olympic Jumping Complex's HS 128-meter hill. The event kicks off on Friday with a qualifying round. Saturday features both an individual competition and the innovative mixed team "Super Team" event. Sunday concludes with a second qualifying round followed by the final individual match.

The Super Team contest debuted in Lake Placid in 2023, with Polish stars Piotr Zyla and Dawid Kubacki winning gold. The individual crowns went to Andreas Wellinger of Germany and Norway's Halvor Egner Granerud, who ended up capturing the overall World Cup title.

Lake Placid Building on World Cup Momentum

ORDA is looking to use the ski jumping World Cup as part of a broader strategy to re-establish Lake Placid as a go-to destination for major winter sports events. In addition to the World Cups in ski jumping, luge, and bobsled/skeleton, Lake Placid will host a multitude of other competitions this winter, including junior nationals, Eastern Cups, and youth tournaments.

“The return of the FIS Ski jumping World Cup is a testament to the work that has been done to modernize the Olympic Authority’s venues and return them to world-class competition standards,” said incoming ORDA President and CEO Ashley Walden. “This year, we are honored to host three prestigious World Cups and look forward to welcoming the world back to Lake Placid.”

After hitting 1 million visits across its venues this past winter, ORDA is bullish on Lake Placid's growth trajectory. The organization views its upgraded world-class facilities as economic drivers that will allow the region to keep expanding its winter sports profile and reputation.

Key Takeaways

• Lake Placid is set to host the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in February 2024 after a hugely successful 2023 event.
• Nearly 15,000 fans attended the 2023 competition, demonstrating Lake Placid's ability to draw big crowds.
• A $7 million renovation updated the Olympic Jumping Complex to meet FIS standards.
• The event provides a boost for U.S. ski jumpers like Kevin Bickner to compete at home.
• The format will replicate 2023 with qualifiers, individual, and mixed team competitions.
• ORDA is leveraging the World Cup as part of a broader strategy to grow Lake Placid's winter sports profile.
• Upgraded venues like the ski jumping complex are bringing major events back to Lake Placid.
• Tickets can be purchased at www.olympicjumpingcomplex.com with exclusive promotional pricing available.

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