German Ski Jumpers Annoyed About New Rule: "Honestly: Totally Stupid!"

Ski Jumpers Annoyed by New Rule

"Honestly: I find it totally stupid what the FIS has come up with again," expressed Markus Eisenbichler, voicing his irritation about a recent regulation change ahead of the ski jumping season.

The new rule, which goes into effect for the season's start, states that judges will deduct three points for a poor landing instead of the previous two, sparking significant unrest among competitors.

Eisenbichler stated he is "annoyed," while teammate Geiger compared the situation to being in "dressage." Even the usually calm head coach, Stefan Horngacher, raised concerns about the significant changes causing commotion within the ski jumping community.

The FIS announced they are placing more emphasis on telemark landings, meaning penalties will be greater for non-ideal landings than before. Previously, there were calls to measure only jump distance, but the FIS chose to examine landing style more critically.

This new regulation will be tested for the first time in the mixed competition in Lillehammer, with Eisenbichler fearing that talented jumpers might not fully utilize their jump potential. "If you jump far and ruin the telemark, you might not make it to the podium, which isn't fair," he lamented.

Concerns Over Scoring Flexibility

Horngacher expressed a more diplomatic take on the situation, saying he found the old rule "okay" and noted that the new one is "very, very strict." Also joining the chorus of critics was DSV sports director Horst Hüttel, who emphasized the desire to see long jumps and the difficulty of executing a telemark flawlessly.

Geiger worried that the revised scoring would allow too much discretion and said, "We're not in figure skating or dressage. We want the longest and best jump to win." He acknowledged the importance of style but felt that the balance has shifted too much toward it with the new rules.

However, Andreas Wellinger, currently one of the best German ski jumpers, found potential positives in the new regulation: "The beautiful jumps will be rewarded more, while the poor landings will be penalized more. I think that's good." His reputation for clean style might give him an advantage under these new conditions.

In a light-hearted conclusion, coach Horngacher jested, "Maybe we can win the Tour de Ski with this new rule - thanks to landings."