Ski jumping – Four Hills Tournament with eggnog and disillusionment

Germany’s ski jumpers actually wanted to train on the Bischofshofen ski jump in September. There, where the grand finale of the Four Hills Tournament (live from 4.30 p.m. on ZDF and Eurosport) will take place on Monday. “But then the Böhse Onkelz intervened with a concert,” said last year’s runner-up Andreas Wellinger during the tour.

It is now clear that the clash of dates will not cause any problems during the preparation: the German pilots with Pius Paschke, who is the top favorite, are just supporting actors with no chance at the last competition of the ski jumping Grand Slam. The “Three Musketeers” from Austria play the main roles in the most dramatic final tour battle of all time. After his triumph on Saturday in Innsbruck, ski flying world record holder Stefan Kraft leads by 0.6 points (the equivalent of 33 centimeters) over his compatriot Jan Hörl, who in turn is 1.3 points (the equivalent of 72 centimeters) ahead of Daniel Tschofenig.

Eight out of nine podium places go to Austria

TV expert Sven Hannawald had already announced “the most exciting tour in history” before the start of the world’s most important ski jumping event. The last German tour winner had in his mind the duel between the host countries between the Austrians and the Germans for the in-form Pius Paschke. A mistake, that much is now clear.

The Munich native, who won five of ten World Cups before the tour, is already an unassailable 22 meters behind Stefan Kraft before the final. There was not a single German podium finish in the three tournament competitions. But on Saturday at Bergisel with only three Germans in the final and eighth place for Paschke it was a real debacle.

The Austrians, on the other hand, celebrated an outstanding triple victory in front of 22,500 fans in the cauldron, securing eight out of nine possible places at the tour award ceremonies over the last few days. The Austria trio is well on its way to celebrating Austria’s historic second triple overall tour victory in history after a 50-year break. And what did they do in preparation for the final in Bischofshofen?

Lasagna and eggnog as a reward

“First I ordered my favorite meal, lasagne, after all, today a childhood dream came true,” explained veteran Kraft after his first tour victory on Bergisel with tears in his eyes: “It’s the most beautiful place there, today there were 20 people and my wife There for me.” She had also brought him new fuel: “egg nog.” The 31-year-old exceptional athlete, who has been one of the world’s top ski pilots for a decade and has won all the important titles, spent a lap in the team bus on the way to the final location.

At the top of the jump, before his decisive jump, Kraft and his younger Austria competitors Tschofenig (22) and Hörl (26) belted out the hit “Sweet Caroline,” which the fans down in the arena sang loudly. With this ease, the Austrians float through the tour, drawing energy from the audience’s enthusiasm and cheerfully and patiently giving interviews and autographs. Accusations of cheating by the competition when it comes to miracle suits and materials are coolly countered – in Innsbruck, the Austrian high-flyers’ bindings were suddenly covered with hats after landing.

German ski jumpers tense up

»The insult is true for us – just like everything else: team spirit, material, jumping performance. “Still, I don’t really know what’s going on at the moment,” Austria’s successful coach Andreas Widhölzl said after his protégés’ next triple victory. He didn’t want to predict which of his “three musketeers” would ultimately celebrate the first Austria tour victory since Stefan Kraft’s triumph a decade ago: “I would prefer if all three were at the top ex aequo.” Daily form and the best nerves would decide. His unique experience speaks for Kraft, for Hörl the jumping on his home hill in Bischofshofen, for Tschofenig his youthful carefree attitude.

Meanwhile, the German aviators are investigating the causes of why they once again failed on the tour. “It looked cramped, not loose and free,” analyzed national coach Stefan Horngacher after the jump in Innsbruck: “There was pressure on it – and sometimes it backfires.” What is certain is that the “isolation” issued by the national coach was Course” failed miserably with as few media appointments and contact with the fans as possible.

»When it comes to touring, they get tighter and tighter. You just have to soak up this atmosphere, allow yourself to get goosebumps and adrenaline – like the Austrians do. “It’s a mental issue and then it’s time to say goodbye,” criticized expert Hannawald in Innsbruck. Or as Austria goldsmith Widhölzl puts it: “If I don’t want the media and fans, then I’ll have a problem on the tour.”