Polish Ski Jumpers: Expectations for the Upcoming Season Are Low

The new season of the Ski Jumping World Cup begins this weekend in Lillehammer. Kazimierz Długopolski, a former Olympian, predicts that the performance of the Polish team could mirror last year’s results. Last season, the best Polish jumper, Aleksander Zniszczoł, finished 19th in the overall standings. Kamil Stoch and Piotr Żyła are currently struggling with injuries, which may hinder their performance.

In the previous season, Zniszczoł was the only Pole to stand on the podium in a cup competition, securing a 19th place overall, while Żyła and Stoch were 25th and 26th respectively. Dawid Kubacki ended the season at 28th, Paweł Wąsek at 47th, and Maciej Kot at 55th.

Długopolski points out that all team members demonstrated similar levels of ability over the summer. However, due to injuries, it’s difficult to assess Stoch's and Żyła’s current form. Długopolski hopes for a pleasant surprise from these experienced competitors, who are eager to jump and ready to compete.

He noted, "I believe all team members showed a similar level this summer. Regarding Kamil and Piotr, it's hard to tell since they were practically absent due to injuries and surgeries, with Stoch following an individual training path. But the others didn’t particularly impress."

He remains optimistic that the other jumpers can deliver excitement for fans. "I think they are capable of jumping, so there will be no shortage of emotions and efforts to secure a top 10 finish. I wouldn’t rule out having a trio just like last season, as Zniszczoł stood on the third podium twice last March—in Lahti and Planica."

The weekend in Lillehammer will feature Dawid Kubacki, Kamil Stoch, Aleksander Zniszczoł, Maciej Kot, and Paweł Wąsek. Wąsek won the Summer Grand Prix, even though many top competitors only participated in selected competitions. Piotr Żyła, still recovering from knee surgery, will not compete this weekend.

The Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup season will also kick off in Lillehammer. The Polish team consists of Pola Bełtowska, Nicole Konderla, Natalia Słowik, and Anna Twardosz. The first event in Norway will be a mixed team competition on Friday, promising an exciting start to the ski jumping season for fans.