The Nordic Combined schedule commenced today with the Individual Normal Hill event at Whistler Olympic Park.

The event comprises one ski jump followed by a 10km cross country freestyle race.

Following the ski jump Finland’s Janne Ryynaenen leads the field with a point total of 135.5 heading into the Cross Country Freestyle race this afternoon.

45 athletes started the event with one ski jump from the normal hill, after each athlete had been given a trial run on the normal hill.

With athletes commencing in reverse order to current world cup rankings the jump distances began to gradually increase as the more favoured athletes went down the ramp.

Ryynaenen jumped from position 25 and cleared 105 metres to leave him 8.5 points clear of his nearest competitor, Todd Lodwick of the United States.

Ryynaenen currently sits in 21st position in world cup standings, with his best career result coming with a 15th place finish last year in the world championships.

Lurking just behind the leaders however is Frenchman Jason Lamy Chappuis (5th) who is the runaway leader in the current world cup standings this year.

The cross country leg of the event will commence from 13.45 this afternoon with athletes starting in order of finishing place from the ski jump. Ryynaenen will start with a 34 second lead before Lodwick pushes off from the start.

David Polglase    
AOC - Vancouver