German Ski Jumpers Overcome Qualifying Hurdle in Wind Lottery

World Cup in Lake Placid: German Ski Jumpers Overcome Qualifying Hurdle in Wind Lottery

As of 08.02.2025 00:20, the German ski jumpers have secured their places for the first individual round on Saturday (08.02.2025, 15:50 CET via Sportschau’s livestream) at the World Cup in Lake Placid.

Since Christmas, the German team has been grappling with a slump in form – a crisis that reached its peak with disappointing performances at the recent home World Cup in Willingen. With thousands of kilometers away from home, the team is now looking to rebuild its confidence.

At the Olympic hill in the state of New York, qualification initially seemed elusive. On Friday evening (CET), after Slovenian Domen Prevc’s winning jump, Andreas Wellinger emerged as the twelfth-best German qualifier. Qualifying performances were heavily influenced by erratic wind conditions: at times the wind aided, at other times it hindered the jumpers.

For example, Philipp Raimund, who had impressed with a 127‑meter jump during training, could only manage 119 meters in the official qualification round – a performance that sufficed for entry into the competition but left him in 22nd place. Raimund, in a relaxed post-qualification interview, commented, "I was pretty knocked out in the air. Tomorrow is supposed to be calmer, so I’m quite relaxed about it."

Andreas Wellinger, representing SC Ruhpolding, capitalized on a 119.5‑meter jump – a mark that, thanks to favorable conditions, helped him secure a top qualifying position. Not far behind, Karl Geiger from SC Oberstdorf, after modest training jumps of 114 and 117 meters, managed to improve to 118.5 meters in the qualification round under strong tailwind.

Emerging talent Felix Hoffmann (SWV Goldlauter Haidersbach) provided a mixed bag of performances. His training saw jumps ranging from a mere 110.5 meters to a promising 126 meters, and in qualification he recorded a strong 122‑meter jump. This result allowed him to comfortably qualify as the 15th German and secure the fifth team spot for the upcoming Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim.

Returning competitor Stephan Leyhe – who was given the start position previously held by Pius Paschke – delivered a steady performance with a 119‑meter jump in heavy tailwind, placing him 20th. Leyhe stated, "It was a very good day for me. With the wind, you never know what to expect. At times you simply have to trust your basics."

Norwegian Halvor Egner Granerud arrived in Lake Placid only shortly before the competition and without his own equipment. Using borrowed gear, he managed a jump of 116.5 meters, which was just enough to secure his participation. In contrast, Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi struggled significantly, managing only 102 meters and being eliminated from the competition.

Pius Paschke, a seasoned competitor with five World Cup victories earlier in November and December, has been in a crisis for several weeks. Opting to forgo the transatlantic journey this time, Paschke will remain in Germany to train quietly, as explained by head coach Stefan Horngacher. The plan is for him to return for the team’s "general rehearsal" ahead of the Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim, set to take place from 26 February to 9 March 2025.

Schedule in Lake Placid

• Saturday, 16:00 CET: Men's individual (TV & Livestream)
• Saturday, 20:30 CET: Women's individual (Livestream)
• Saturday, 23:00 CET: HS 128 Mixed Team (Livestream)
• Sunday, 16:00 CET: Men's individual, second round (TV & Livestream)

Source: Sanny Stephan