Adam Małysz pushes schedule changes: separate women’s event in Szczyrk and later Zakopane World Cup date

Polish Ski Association (PZN) president Adam Małysz says Poland’s World Cup hosts Wisła and Zakopane are secure through 2028 under agreements with FIS, but he is pushing for key scheduling changes.

Małysz argues that combining women’s and men’s competitions at the same venue and time, as done in Wisła this season (women on Thursday–Friday, men on the weekend), resulted in a stark attendance gap. According to him, only a handful of spectators watched the women’s competitions, while the men’s events sold out on Saturday and Sunday. After FIS officials, including Sandro Pertile, witnessed the contrast on site, Małysz believes the federation is starting to consider concessions.

His proposal is to stage the women’s World Cup in Szczyrk on a weekend—preferably during school holidays—or at least the week before or after the Wisła round, leveraging existing preparations but giving the women a stronger platform.

On dates, Małysz wants Wisła to remain around the early-December Mikołajki period, though he notes the final decision isn’t 100% certain. For Zakopane, currently slated just four days after the Four Hills Tournament ends in Bischofshofen, he suggests moving future editions to around January 20 to improve logistics and interest.

Małysz says these changes would better support the growth of women’s ski jumping in Poland and optimize the national World Cup calendar.