Ski Jumping: Pius Paschke only 18th - German team falls behind in Tournee trial

Ski Jumping: Pius Paschke only 18th - German team falls behind in Tournee trial
The once successful German ski jumpers faltered just before the upcoming Tournee. The victory in Engelberg went to Austria, with the entire podium showcasing Austrian talent. Despite the disappointing result, German top jumper Pius Paschke remained optimistic.

In the World Cup in Engelberg, Karl Geiger was the best-performing German, finishing ninth with jumps of 133.5 meters and 132.5 meters. Daniel Tschofenig won the competition with jumps of 135.0 meters and 137.5 meters, while world cup leader Pius Paschke finished 18th. Behind Tschofenig, Jan Hörl and Stefan Kraft also made it to the top three.

Snowfall and Wind
Complicated conditions with snowfall and changing winds cast doubts on whether the Tournee test could proceed. After the women's competition was interrupted due to the weather, the men's competition started slightly delayed. Despite the challenging conditions, the organizers successfully completed two jumps.

Analysis by Coach Horngacher
Post competition, Bundestrainer Stefan Horngacher expressed disappointment, stating, "The performance today was not good overall. We lacked dynamics and didn’t find the optimal center of gravity. The flying performance was also not optimal." Despite this, he noted that Karl Geiger was able to elevate his form positively.

Geiger, who was pleased to continue his progress, stated, "This was my best weekend, both jumps were top-notch with room for improvement." For Pius Paschke, it marked his worst result of the season. He reflected, "I was riding the razor's edge. I have good speed but lacked the pressure in my jumps. I need to improve for the Tournee, especially with snowfall conditions, and adapt my technique."

Four Germans Miss Finals
Unfortunately for the team, four German jumpers failed to reach the top 30 and thus missed the finals. Stephan Leyhe ranked 33rd, just 3.4 points shy of the final qualification. Adrian Tittel, Philipp Raimund, and Markus Eisenbichler were also unsuccessful in advancing to the finals.

Who Will Compete in the Tournee?
Coach Horngacher remained tight-lipped about the team composition for the Tournee, stating decisions would be made post-competition. He noted that Paschke, Geiger, and Wellinger were likely to secure their spots, while the final position would be contested among Raimund, Leyhe, and Eisenbichler.