Fantanordic: insights and statistics

GEOGRAPHY: Lombardy über alles

In the first four editions of the fantasy game, Lombardy is the Italian region that has far and wide dominated for partecipant's number, constantly with three times managers with respect to the second force: always and only Piedmont. This peculiarity is occurring only in part, that is: Lombards are comfortably in the lead, while there aren't Piedmonteses yet.

Currently the role of the latter has been taken by Ligurians, strong with two championship (the other two were conquered by the Lombard superpower). Good news comes from the center-south, with the first participant of all time from Molise. From this point of view, it lacks only a representative from Basilicata.

 

DEMOGRAPHICS: Experience leads

The average age of the participants currently registered is about 36 years, with the presence of a junior and two master. To underline the missing of feminine partecipants so far, usually in much lower numbers than their male counterparts.

CHOICES: The temptation of the Italian's low price

Now 144 different athletes were included in at least one team (54 in ski jumping men, 45 in both ski jumping women and Nordic combined). Let us see what are the most popular Fantamanagers choices until now.

TOP 5 - MALE SKIJUMPERS

1. STOCH Kamil (POL) present in 50% of teams
1. KOT Maciej (POL) present in 50% of teams
1. SCHLIERENZAUER Gregor (AUT) present in 50% of teams
4. PREVC Peter (SLO) present in 40% of teams
4. FORFANG Johann Andre (NOR) present in 40% of teams
4. FREITAG Richard (GER) present in 40% of teams
4. TEPES Jurij (SLO) present in 40% of teams

The data collected until now say little to understand the orientation of managers, by the way, given the disastrous last season (hence the low cost) and the change of head coach, Kamil Stoch is in command of this particular ranking, together with reviving Gregor Schlierenzauer and the winner of the last SGP Maciej Kot.

Another interesting fact is the confidence given to Italian skijumpers after an excellent summer season, in fact, both Sebastian Colloredo that David Bresadola are present in a team of three.

TOP 5 - FEMALE SKIJUMPERS

1. MALSINER Manuela (ITA) present in 80% of teams
2. TAKANASHI Sara (JPN) present in 70% of teams
3. MALSINER Lara (ITA) present in 60% of teams
4. MATTEL Coline (FRA) present in 50% of teams
5. RUPPRECHT Anna (GER) present in 40% of teams
5. RUNGGALDIER Elena (ITA) present in 40% of teamss

As you can see, among women there have been focused choices than among male colleagues, due to the fact that the women's circuit has less competitive athletes compared to men's circuit. The very high price of the winner of the last year World Cup has not scared the most, decided to see her confirmation on last season domain, but in the lead we find the Italian champion Manuela Malsiner.

TOP 5 - NORDIC COMBINERS

1. PITTIN Alessandro (ITA) present in 90% of teams
2. RIIBER Jarl Magnus (NOR) present in 70% of teams
3. HEROLA Ilkka (FIN) present in 50% of teams
4. COSTA Samuel (ITA) present in 40% of teams
4. HUG Tim (SUI) present in 40% of teams
4. KIRCHEISEN Björn (GER) present in 40% of teams
4. STEINDL Fabian (AUT) present in 40% of teams
4. WATABE Akito (JPN) present in 40% of teams
4. WATABE Yoshito (JPN) present in 40% of teams

So, Alessandro Pittin is the most selected athlete until now between the three disciplines. Not bad following for the young Norwegian Jarl Magnus Riiber, called for a protagonist season, who knows... maybe even in the ski jumping!

As regards nations, 14 are represented and Italy dominates, with 16.0% of Fantamanager's preferences. To follow the superpowers: Austria (13.7%), Germany (13.3%), Norway (12.0%), Slovenia (9.7%), Japan (9.3% ) and Poland (5.3%).

 

INSIGHT: Brothers in Nordic skiing

The first novelty for these pre-season posts is the section 'Insight', full of curiosities that may interest different managers. The first part is about relatives in Nordic skiing, precisely the closest (brothers-sisters) relating to Fantanordic athletes.

Looking at the Italian national teams we have several brothers from Val Gardena: Elena and Mattia Runggaldier, Evelyn and Alex Insam, Manuela and Lara Malsiner (and also the younger Jessica).

This phenomenon is not limited to nations with few athletes, in fact, among the six superpowers (Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Poland, Norway and Japan) emerge a lot of brothers: Lukas and Simon Greiderer, Peter, Cene and Domen Prevc (they have also two younger sisters!), Akito and Yoshito Watabe, Richard and Selina Freitag, Harald Johnas and Jarl Magnus Riiber, Michael, Alexander and Stefan Hayböck, Junshiro, Ryoyu and Yuka Kobayashi, Ursa and Tine Bogataj, Spela and Urban Rogelj, the twins Louise and Sophia Görlich.

Returning to second level nations, we find Ilkka and Matti Herola, Bryan and Taylor Fletcher.

In conclusion, you can build a Fantanordic team composed of only brothers, moreover all active!

 

ADVICES: The rest of the World

The second novelties concerns the advices for Fantamanagers. This section is divided into three parts: the rest of world, Scandinavia and ex-Soviet republics, Central Europe. So let's start from the first.

The disciplines related to the jumping hill don't have too much following out of Europe, except for Japan, USA and Canada. Do not forget South Korea and China, however, now both in difficulty. The latter is planning new infrastructures, for Beijing 2022 Olympics and a complex with skiflight hill, near North Korea border.

Starting from North America, the novelty is that both nations have increased available bibs in men's skijump, making it almost certain the presence of at least one athlete in each competition, with paid expenses by FIS. The suspects would appear MacKenzie Boyd-Clowes and Kevin Bickner, respectively, for Canada and the United States. However attention also to William Rhoads, who finished the plastic season as best USA athlete.

For women's skijump, athletes who come back from injuries are very interesting, then surely pay attention at Taylor Henrich, the ex-biathlete Tara Geraghty-Moats and the young Nina Lussi. Among the combiners, Fletcher brothers remain fixed points, while the younger generation appear still a step behind, compared to its former glory.

Across the Pacific Ocean we don't find big news, where the national teams have remained essentially unchanged. In the male skijumping, look at the athletes of second level, authors of an anonymous summer, which presumably will begin the season in the national circuits and Continental Cup. The novelty could become the "little" Kobayashi, or the final consecration of the unfinished Kento Sakuyama.

As for the "Bigs", there should be no big surprises, with Daiki Ito, Taku Takeuchi and the eternal Noriaki Kasai who will fight for the top twenty positions of the World Cup standing. Akito Watabe start again among the favorites to win the crystal ball. Among the skijumpers Sara Takanashi did not need any introduction, while we expect a growth step by the three colleagues, well-established worldwide.

 

That said, the invitation is to join Fantanordic. The deadline to submit your registration is set for November 23, at 21.00 (CET). To do this, simply download the application form, fill it in its entirety by following the rules and send it fantanordic@neveitalia.it

 

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