Last week, the first FIS Youth Cup of the 2016-17 season took place in Finland, with girls taking part for the first time.

The format for the Nordic Combined Youth Cup was approved at the FIS Congress in Cancun, where it was confirmed that for the first time overall winners for boys and girls would be crowned in the Youth II category.

However, there is no senior Nordic Combined World Cup for women, nor is it an Olympic discipline.

Hüttel, also the sports director for ski jumping and Nordic Combined at the German Ski Federation (DSV), has now said that the governing body is continuing to progress with women's participation in the sport.

"We are working on it within FIS and also within the German Ski Federation and we have set goals," said Hüttel.

"FIS Race Director Lasse Ottesen, myself as chairman of the Nordic Combined Committee and some other people are responsible for the development and perspectives of the sport.

"We are in constant contact with all ski federations. 

"Everybody has recognised the potential of ladies’ Nordic Combined."

The FIS currently have 107 female Nordic Combined competitors from 13 nations registered, with the large majority taking part in the FIS Youth Cup. 

Hüttel also outlined his future ambitions for ladies' Nordic Combined, which is heavily based around its inclusion at a number of high profile events in the future.

"Looking at Nordic Combined, we hope that Ladies’ Nordic Combined will be on the programme of the 2019 Junior World Championships, the 2021 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships and the Olympic Winter Games in 2026," he said.

"Before this can happen, we have to lay the foundation which is starting with the competition series taking place at the moment.

"In the near future, all ski federations will have to create team and training group systems for the girls which has already begun in some nations."