"Tschofenig Airlines" takes off - Portrait of Daniel Tschofenig

"Tschofenig Airlines" takes off - Portrait of Daniel Tschofenig

Daniel Tschofenig is the standout performer of the Vierschanzentournee. Halfway through, the Austrian leads in the overall standings and is on the brink of the biggest success of his young career.

At 22 years old, Daniel Tschofenig is quickly making a name for himself in the world of ski jumping. After his victory at the New Year's Jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, he now sits at the top of the overall standings for the Vierschanzentournee, having achieved his third World Cup victory. He previously finished third in Oberstdorf but made a strong statement with a victory in the qualification round.

Tschofenig was introduced to ski jumping by the Austrian ski jumper Andreas Goldberger during the Goldi Cup held in Villach. Now trained by former ski jumping legend Toni Innauer, he made his international debut in July 2018 at the FIS Cup. His biggest achievement came during the World Championships in Planica in 2022, where he took home three gold medals in team events and individual categories, cementing his status as a formidable competitor.

With 13 podium placements in his career thus far, including consistent performances over the past two seasons, "Tschofenig Airlines" is truly taking off.

In addition to his sports career, Tschofenig is in a relationship with Alexandria Loutitt, a young Canadian ski jumper who recently won gold at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Planica 2023, showcasing their combined prowess in the sport. They find more opportunities to see each other now that the men’s and women’s competitions often occur at the same venues.

As Tschofenig prepares for the next leg of the competition in Innsbruck, adorned in his yellow jersey, he faces a challenging ski jump often influenced by the wind, yet he remains positive with his recent stellar performances. "Whoever is named 'Tschofenig Airlines' should certainly know about winds,” he joked, confident and ready to embrace the upcoming challenges.