Press kit 2025
Profiles of FIS skiers can be found HERE
CUP current standings can be found HERE
- About Estonia, Tallinn and the language
Tallinn is the largest city and also the capital of Estonia. (461 901 people live in Tallinn as of February 1, 2025). The population of Estonia is 1 369 285.
Estonian is one of the world's smallest national languages. One of the few where words have no gender and no article is used. The language sounds very melodic. However, on the basis of studies comparing grammar, the conclusion has been reached that Estonian is one of the most difficult languages to learn among the world's languages.
- About Tallinn Song Festival Grounds
In 1869 Johann Voldemar Jannsen established the Estonian Song Festival while the nation was still a province of the Russian Empire. This festival was considered responsible for fostering an Estonian national awakening. After that, the new tradition was born and the festivals are been held every five years since 1962. This is where the singing revolution began. The night song festivals held in 1987 and 1988 gave the name to the whole non-violent period of the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Estonia - called the Singing Revolution.
More about the tradition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_Song_Festival
The statue of Gustav Ernesaks on top of the track which skiers pass depicts a pensive songstress sitting on the slope of a singing field. He was an Estonian composer and choir director and some of his work has become a symbol of national preservation.
The bronze sculpture is 2.25 meters high and weighs 2.5 tons.
- About World Cup in Estonia
The history of Cross-country World Cup stages in Estonia began in 1999 in Otepää. The first three stages were held there every two years: 1999, 2001, and 2003. Afterwards, the competitions became an annual tradition that lasted until 2012. After a break, Estonia's winter capital hosted top skiers again in 2015, 2017, and 2019. A new chapter in Estonian cross-country skiing history was opened by the 2023 World Cup stage, which took place for the first time in Tallinn at the Song Festival Grounds.
- Common waxing or the waxing Revolution 2.0
The waxing revolution that began at the Tallinn World Cup stage continues. In 2023, a historic change took place in the World Cup series when all athletes' skis were collectively waxed in the same room with Swix wax. In 2025, spray-applied paraffin will be used, which is removed by brushing/scraping (irons are forbidden this time). Hand structures are allowed. Tallinn is hosting this for the second time, as this system hasn't been used in the series in the intervening period. Common waxing significantly reduces team costs, which previously constituted up to 60% of the budget. The common waxing process includes fluorine testing, joint cleaning, and waxing. The waxing revolution was initiated by World Cup committee member and FIS delegate Robert Peets.
The 2023 Tallinn waxing revolution background: When the initiative was first introduced in 2023, it was described as a "waxing revolution" in Tallinn. FIS Cross Country Race Director Michal Lamplot explained that for several years, the Cross-Country Committee had been discussing ways to slow down the increasing costs related to waxing and ski preparation. Common waxing emerged as a potential solution to limit these expenses. The main concern was that such a project at World Cup level was unprecedented and needed thorough preparation. A working group involving national team managers, waxing service heads, FIS staff, the Estonian Ski Association, and OC Tallinn developed the concept. The rules prohibited waxing trucks, restricted access to the competition course to athletes only, and limited each athlete to just two pairs of competition skis plus one for warming up. All skis were waxed in a common space with common wax, with tools provided to each team. Waxing was allowed before and after qualification but prohibited during heats. After the 2023 event, the Cross-Country Committee planned to analyze the project to determine its future implementation.
- Did you know?
Trygve Klaebo, grandfather of Johannes Klaebo lives in Rapla, Estonia with his Estonian wife Katrin. They have been happily married over 30 years, so therefore, the Klaebo family is a frequent guest in Estonia as well. Trygve and Katrin are among the audience.
- About the track and snow
The track at Tallinn Song Festival Grounds presents one of the most technically challenging sprint courses in the entire World Cup circuit. With a lap length of 750 meters (completed twice during the race), each lap includes 23 meters of elevation gain. The race starts directly uphill from the iconic Song Festival Arch toward the Gustav Ernesaks monument, where athletes then reach speeds of up to 50 km/h on the descent. The finish straight has been extended by 30 meters compared to the 2023 event, providing competitors with more tactical options and spectators with an even more thrilling finale, with the current total length now being 80 meters.
For snow production, the organizers used innovative Swiss-made Bächler Trinity Tridusa snow cannons, which can operate efficiently in marginal temperatures as low as -1.5°C with high humidity - perfect for Estonian coastal conditions. These energy-efficient machines consume only 4 kilowatts per hour (compared to traditional 20-kilowatt snow guns) and produced 12,045 cubic meters of snow during 338 operating hours in February. The snow is maintained using one of Europe's first fully electric SNOW CAT grooming machines, representing a new era in environmentally friendly winter sports with zero emissions and low noise levels.
- Money
In the FIS World Cup individual competitions, the best 20 athletes will be financially awarded. Thus, the winner of the Tallinn sprint competition will go home with 15,000 Swiss francs, the silver medalist will receive 10,000 Swiss francs, and the bronze winner will receive 5,000 francs. In total, the organizer of the stage must pay out 110,000 Swiss francs, the prize money for women and men is equal.
- High altitude expedition leaders in charge of the event
The World Cup stage's former organizing committee chair Kunnar Karu and current chair Vahur Leemets have both surpassed the magical 7000m altitude threshold. Karu was the first Estonian to climb the seven-thousander Baruntse peak and the seventh Estonian to conquer Mount Everest. Kadrina climbing coach Leemets tested himself in Asia's Pamir Mountains on Lenin Peak. These extreme experiences have undoubtedly provided them with the skills and composure needed to organize a World Cup stage, especially when facing the challenges of creating a snow-covered track at the Song Festival Grounds in March.
