Poland pushes back against FIS: Wisła loses Women's World Cup round; events to move to Szczyrk

It is effectively decided: after many years on the calendar, Wisła will lose the organization of women’s Ski Jumping World Cup competitions. According to TVPSPORT.PL, the Polish Ski Association (PZN) and World Cup director Sandro Pertile have reached an agreement that reshapes the Polish stop for the women’s circuit. It is already clear which hill will replace Wisła.

The women’s events held in Wisła on 5–6 December 2025 were a disaster in terms of attendance. Fewer than one hundred tickets were sold, the stands were empty, and the atmosphere was a far cry from the men’s competitions. The main reason cited is that FIS pressured Poland to combine the men’s and women’s calendars already this season, even though the rule is officially due only from winter 2026/27. As a result, women’s competitions were staged on Thursday and Friday—a stopgap solution that did not work.

PZN refused to run both circuits on the same weekend in Wisła, arguing that the Adam Małysz hill lacks the infrastructure to host concurrent men’s and women’s events. “It was the only option we were given,” PZN president Adam Małysz explained, stressing that weekday women’s contests were an enforced makeshift arrangement.

Initially, Pertile was firm—Wisła was even struck from a preliminary calendar. In the end, however, the women’s events were tacked on immediately before the men— with poor results.

Following heavy criticism and images of empty stands, Pertile shifted position. As reported by TVPSPORT.PL, after key talks with PZN officials, he accepted a compromise: from the 2026/27 season, the women’s World Cup round in Poland will move to Szczyrk. Competitions on the Skalite HS104 will be held on a proper weekend slot, most likely during Poland’s winter school holidays, to boost attendance and give the event appropriate prestige.

PZN secretary general Jan Winkiel argues the current combined model is unfair: “Merging calendars is pointless and harmful to women—they’ll always be the first canceled in bad weather and relegated to a side dish.” He added that final decisions still require consultation, but the direction is clear. For Wisła, the shift means a loss of prestige as the women’s World Cup stop relocates to Szczyrk.