Kraft's Impressive Victory in Courchevel's Summer Grand Prix

Stefan Kraft showcased an outstanding performance, picking up right where he left off last winter. The 31-year-old from Salzburg clinched victory in the opening event of the Summer Grand Prix held in Courchevel on Tuesday evening, dominating the competition amid rainy conditions with an impressive 25.6-point lead over France's Valentin Foubert and Italy's Alex Insam.

"It was a cool start," Kraft remarked, reflecting on his jumps of 126.5 and 128 meters. This triumph marks his third summer competition victory to date. "I really enjoy Courchevel. I always feel very comfortable here. Summer competitions are often challenging for me, but I’ve kicked off this year well. I feel great on the hill, and I'm pleased to have demonstrated that in competition. This was an exciting beginning," said the reigning overall World Cup ski jumping champion.

Other Austrian competitors also made their mark, with Manuel Fettner and Jan Hörl finishing in fourth and sixth places, respectively. Daniel Huber and Michael Hayböck ended the event in 15th and 16th spots. Another competition is set to take place on Wednesday.

Not all of the elite international stars were on hand in France, but the field was nonetheless competitive. The Austrian Ski Federation team, led by head coach Andi Widhölzl, was operating at nearly full capacity, with the only absence being Daniel Tschofenig from Carinthia, who is sidelined due to a groin injury.

In the women's competition, Jacqueline Seifriedsberger also made her presence felt, securing a spot on the podium by finishing third, while Slovenia's Ema Klinec took the victory.