Demotion: Poland counts on him, but he’s been dropped from the World Cup

The Polish Ski Association (PZN) has announced the roster for the Continental Cup opener in Ruka. The five-man lineup features Klemens Joniak, Adam Niżnik, Jarosław Krzak, Szymon Sarniak, and Aleksander Zniszczoł.

For Joniak and Niżnik, Ruka follows attempts in the Wisła World Cup opener, while Krzak and Sarniak arrive after strong FIS Cup outings in Kandersteg. Sarniak in particular impressed with two eighth-place finishes in Switzerland.

The most notable name is the experienced Aleksander Zniszczoł, who has endured a dire start to the season. Across seven World Cup opportunities, he failed to score a single point and was eliminated three times in qualifying. After the disappointing weekend in Wisła, it became clear he would be sidelined from the World Cup for now—a move he himself did not oppose. Zniszczoł has positive memories of Ruka and hinted that a reset at Continental Cup level previously helped him relaunch his form: “Two years ago going back to the Continental Cup gave me something different; then it started to click.”

However, this decision has a serious downside for Poland’s Olympic ambitions. Zniszczoł is considered crucial in the battle to secure four Olympic quota places. He has slipped to 28th in the Olympic ranking, outside the top‑25 that guarantees those spots, and skipping a World Cup weekend likely worsens his position. With Poland relying on his points haul to safeguard the quota, his absence from the top circuit creates added pressure on the rest of the team.