Alexander Stoeckl talks about the future of Thomas Thurnbichler

Alexander Stoeckl does not hide that Polish ski jumpers did not perform well during the opening weekend of the World Cup. "The jumpers are aware that they make small mistakes that translate into additional meters," he stated in an interview with WP SportoweFakty. He also assured that he has full confidence in coach Thomas Thurnbichler and pointed out the reason for this confidence.

Polish jumpers did not start the World Cup as they would have hoped, with Paweł Wąsek reaching the highest placements at 14th and 23rd in Lillehammer's events. Other competitors like Aleksander Zniszczoł and Dawid Kubacki earned points, but the team struggled overall.

Stoeckl aims to find the positives amidst the disappointing results. "There was too much inconsistency. We saw good jumps from some athletes, but there was a lack of repeatability, which reflects in the results," he admitted to WP SportoweFakty.

He believes that the Polish team is capable of competing, even if they are not displaying their full abilities. "Everyone realizes where they stand. The athletes are patient and eager to work. In the team meeting after the competitions in Lillehammer, they said they are hungry for success," Stoeckl added.

Additionally, he noted the technical problems faced by the team. "The jumpers know they are making small mistakes that lead to additional meters lost. Lillehammer is a very challenging hill, quite different from Wisła and Zakopane, making it hard to adapt," he emphasized, pointing out that the team, unlike others, didn’t arrive early to Lillehammer for practice.

Ultimately, Stoeckl assured his full trust in coach Thomas Thurnbichler. "We remain calm. It’s the best thing we can do right now," he stressed. Polish jumpers will have a chance to redeem themselves at the upcoming competitions in Ruka, Finland, where two individual contests will take place next weekend.