Austrians dominate qualification in Oberstdorf

Austria’s ski jumpers dominated the first qualification at the Four Hills Tournament and also dominated the German team led by World Cup leader Pius Paschke.

Co-favorite Daniel Tschofenig (141.5 meters) led the co-host’s remarkable five-fold success in Oberstdorf. Behind him were four other ÖSV eagles: Stefan Kraft, Michael Hayböck, Jan Hörl and Maximilian Ortner. Austria has been waiting ten years for a triumph on the tour since Kraft won the title in the 2014/15 season.

Paschke (139 meters), who looked weak in training, didn’t get past sixth place due to a shaky landing and seems to have lost some of his top form in the last two weeks.

During the run-out, the 34-year-old veteran seemed relieved about his qualifying jump. “Pius really showed a good jump,” said national coach Stefan Horngacher on ZDF. “He was a little under the weather. The landing was no longer ideal, but that doesn’t really matter. We can start the competition well tomorrow.”

Karl Geiger (9th/134 meters) and Andreas Wellinger (13th/125.5 meters) were also unable to keep up with the impressive performances of their rivals in front of 16,500 spectators – a qualifying record in ski jumping according to the organizers.

In addition to the three hopefuls Paschke, Wellinger and Geiger, Stephan Leyhe (33./124 meters), Philipp Raimund (39./123 meters) and Adrian Tittel (45./119 meters) also qualified for the competition of the best 50. There then jumped into knockout duels, with the Germans facing the following opponents:

• Pius Paschke (6) – Adrian Title (45)
• Karl Geiger (9) – Pawel Wasek (42/Poland)
• Andreas Wellinger (13) – Alexander Zniszczol (38/Poland)
• Stephan Leihe (33) – Benjamin Östvold (18/Norway)
• Philipp Raymond (39) – Wladimir Zografski (12/Bulgarien)

After the competition in Oberstdorf there is a rest day before the qualification for the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is on the program on December 31st. Last year, Olympic champion Wellinger won the start of the tour in Oberstdorf and finished second at the end of the tour. The German fans are hoping for their first overall victory since Sven Hannawald’s triumph in 2002.

The 73rd edition of the winter sports spectacle will once again only be held for men, but sports director Horst Hüttel from the German Ski Association was optimistic that the Four Hills Tournament will soon also be available for female ski jumpers. “It should be very timely. Maybe there is a small chance of implementing the whole thing in 25/26,” said Hüttel. This should happen by the season after the next Winter Olympics in 2026 at the latest.

“Every year in which the women are not there analogously is, in my opinion, a lost year for ski jumping in general – for the women in particular,” said Hüttel. “I really want that.”

For years, the female ski jumpers have been hoping to take part in their tour together with the men. This season, like last year, they are completing the so-called Two Nights Tour with competitions in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf. Among other things, logistical problems and the lack of floodlights in Innsbruck are currently preventing a complete tour. There will be further talks in January