DKB FIS World Cup Nordic Combined 13. - 15. January 2012 Chaux-Neuve Press Kit Directory 1. The Nordic Combined World Cup in France………………………………………………………………....….p.2 2. Chaux-Neuve : between tradition and modernity…………………………………………………………….p.3 3. The sporty contestants………………………………………………………………………………………….…………p.4 4. The inscribed athletes for the DKB FIS World Cup Nordic Combined………..………………………p.6 5. The animations during the World Cup ……………………………………………………………….…………...p.7 6. Practical information on the DKB FIS World Cup………………………………………………….….……….p.8 7. Contact…………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………….………p.9 1 The Nordic Combined World Cup in France On January 14 and 15, the little franc-comtois village of Chaux-Neuve will once again welcome the elite of the Nordic Combined discipline for the DKB FIS Marathon World Cup. The world's best Nordic Combined athletes will come and before all the local hero Jason Lamy Chappuis – Olympic and World Champion. Known for its warm welcome, the stop in Chaux- Neuve is not only the biggest winter sports festival of the area but also amongst the most favourite World Cups of all the athletes. Situated in the middle of the Jura mountains and in the departement of Doubs, the small village of Chaux-Neuve hosts Nordic Combined World Cups (B (now COC) and A) since 1996. Only thanks to a enthusiastic and ambitious renovation plan. Chaux-Neuve now has one of the most modern stadiums in the whole World Cup circuit: The HS118 jumping hill was finished last year and the 2.5km track, names „le Lernier“ has been prolonged this winter. As the sixth of 13 World Cup stops in total in the season 2011/12, Chaux-Neuve represents the only French stage of the Nordic Combined World Cup. Therefore the competitions there provide the unique possibility not only to see all international stars of the discipline live, but also to cheer for the local heroes at the same time. It doesn't get more authentic – the people in Chaux-Neuve and the are live the whole year to the rhythm of the Nordic sports! All eyes will be laid onto the big star of the scene during this World Cup: Jason Lamy Chappuis. He will try repeat his last year's victory in front of his home crowd and the 420 volunteers who all have seen him growing up. Last year, the 25 year old could hold off Felix Gottwald (AUT) and Mikko Kokslien (NOR) in order to gain his first victory on home soil. One month later he also became World Champion in Oslo (NOR)! The World Cup is organised by ASNI, the Association du Site Nordique International de Chaux-Neuve, which is composed of the three local ski clubs Risoux-Club (Chaux- Neuve), AS Mouthe and Ski Club Mont-Noir which members take care that the World Cup can take place without any problems. 2 Chaux-Neuve : Between tradition and modernity As the only French stage of the Nordic Combined World Cup, Chaux-Neuve is one of the most favourite stops in the calender amongst all athletes. From Magnus Moan and Mikko Kokslien, passing the Americans, the Austrians, the Germans and Finns – not one of the stars of the scene wants to miss it to start in Chaux-Neuve! And even less one of the members of the French National Team – is Chaux- Neuve the unique possibility for everyone to show off on home territory! Jason Lamy Chappuis, Maxime Laheurte, François Braud , Sébastien Lacroix – not only the names of the French contestants are known to the spectators in Chaux-Neuve. At latest when they also cheer every foreign athlete by their first name, the public in Chaux-Neuve shows its deep knowledge of and passion for the Nordic Combined discipline. This quality, combined with the huge enthusiasm of the organisers and the volunteers gives the World Cup in Chaux-Neuve its unique atmosphere and charm. Nordic Sport is a religion in Chaux-Neuve and the region – it is a culture everyone bathes in since the day they are born. The are is the home of many champions not just since the fantastic exploits of Frabice Guy and Sulvain Guillaume during the Olympic Winter Games in Albertville 1992 or the recent success of Jason Lamy Chappuis! But to stay within the circle of the best and widely known places for Nordic Combined, Chaux-Neuve had to activate a large number of institutional actors to renovate and modernise the stadium and the hill. Now, Chaux-Neuve has a modern HS 118 jumping hill including a refrigerated inrun track – like the famous hills in Garmisch- Partenkirchen (GER) or Trondheim (NOR). In short time, the hill shall also get plastified so that jumping will also be possible during summer time! In total, the costs of these necessary changes come up to 4.4 Mio Euros. They are divided between the SMIX (the mixed syndicate of Mouthe, the owner of the jumping hill and the constructor), the region Franche-Comté, the council of the departement Doubs, the council of the departement Jura and the state. 3 The sporty contestants Jason Lamy-Chappuis Olympic Champion, double winner of the overall World Cup – Jason, who lives in Bois d'Amont, a neighbouring village of Chaux-Neuve, is surely THE favourite in Chaux-Neuve. Born in Missoula, Montana (USA), he took the relay over from his mentor Fabrice Guy in the hearts of the people of the Franche-Comté region. With only 25 years of age, he has already won everything and has adapted his fans to victories. When he came into the finish in Chaux-Neuve, waving the French flag on this Sunday in January 2011, a storm of exaltation waved through the spectators. More than any Olympic Gold or all cristal cups, this first victory in front of these 8.000 spectators at home, marked a historic moment. Since then, everyone hopes for a repetition this year – and since dreams are allowed – even a double victory for France. Jason Lamy Chappuis has already shown this season that he is as strong as ever, even though he struggled a bit in the beginning of the season. Leading with 554 points in the overall World Cup, including three individual victories (after the WC in Seefeld in December), he pushes the hopes. And also the dream of a French double victory is not that far fetched since Lamy Chappuis won together with his team mate Sébastien Lacroix, who come from the same village as himself, the first Team-Sprint of the season in Seefeld. Despite some rip pain since a fall during training, Sébastien Lacroix is already back in training and as motivated as ever to attack the new year 2012! Lead by its charismatic leader Jason Lamy Chappuis, the French National Team will try everything to ensure a French podium on home soil! 4 The other favourites Tino Edelmann from Germany (26), second in the overall World Cup at the moment, is one of the chasers of young French. The man from Zella-Mehlis started very strongly into the season with a victory in Kuusamo. He now has 4 podium places to his account and it was only in Seefeld (AUT) that Jason Lamy Chappuis could widen up the gap between him and the German in the overall World Cup. Another man who is eager to challenge the Frenchman is Akito Watabe from Japan. The young Japanese, 23 years of age, sits in third place in the overall World Cup ranking, with 3 podium places already this season. One who is known to podium places and who loves to win in Chaux-Neuve is Magnus Moan, however, it is not him but his brother in name and team mate Magnus Krog (24) who rivals with the best these days! The young Norwegian, who took a surprise victory in the first World Cup of the season, has now established himself on the fourth place overall and is seen ever more often on the podium! Even though the list of strong adversaries of Jason Lamy Chappuis is already quite long, one should not forget this man: Alessandro Pittin. Only 21 years of age, his form curve points up high, especially afterhis two podium places in Seefeld (AUT) right before Christmas! 5 The inscribed athletes for the DKB FIS World Cup Nordic Combined AUSTRIA Christoph Bieler NORWAY Wilhelm Denifl Joergen Graabak Tomasz Druml Haavard Klemetsen Bernhard Gruber Mikko Kokslien Carlos Kammerlander Magnus Krog David Kreiner Magnus Moan Mario Stecher Jan Schmid Gudmund Storlien CZECH REPUBLIC Pavel Churavy SLOVENIA Miroslav Dvorak Tomasz Slavik RUSSIA Ales Vodsedalek SWITZERLAND ESTONIA Tim Hug Karl-August Tiirmaa Seppi Hurschler Kail Piho USA FINLAND Bill Demong Janne Ryynänen Taylor Fletscher Jim Härtull Bryan Fletscher Nick Hendrickson FRANCE Johnny Spillane Jason Lamy Chappuis Maxime Laheurte François Braud JAPAN Sébastien Lacroix Taihei Kato Geoffrey Lafarge Yosuke Minato Daito Takahashi GERMANY Akito Watabe Yoshito Watabe ITALY Shun Yamamoto Armin Bauer Giuseppe Michielli CANADA Alessandro Pittin Wes Savill Lukas Runggaldier 6 The animations during the World Cup The popular winter sports festival around the DKB FIS World Cup in Chaux-Neuve offers traditionally also several animations: Saturday, January 14 From 10.30am , the « Les Endiablés » from Courtepin (SUI) are heating up spectators and athletes alike with their fanfares. From 7pm on, a huge fondue (savoy style) is staged in the public tent with live music from « The Gomm's » Sunday, January 15 From 12am – 6pm, the Slovenian orchestra « Rudi's Oberkrainer » plays its tunes in the public tent. During the competition, « La Perce-Oreille » will be heard at the hill and around the track! The « Le meilleur du Mont d’Or » in Chaux-Neuve Should Chaux-Neuve already be the capital of Nordic Winter Sports this weekend, it will also be the one of the culinary side of the Franche-Comté.