First win for Pius Paschke
Dec 16, 2023·Ski Jumping
Pius Paschke caused the big surprise at the Ski Jumping World Cup in Engelberg (SUI). The German sensationally won the first of two competitions ahead of Norway's Marius Lindvik and Stefan Kraft from Austria. After the first run, Paschke was still in sixth place.
Pius Paschke has been jumping in the World Cup for over 10 years, but it is only this season that the Bavarian has been in world-class form.
Second place at the season opener in Ruka (FIN), in the top 10 at all competitions this winter, third place in the overall World Cup ranking, and today the first World Cup victory in the 33-year-old's career.
"It's amazing that I made it all the way to the top today. This winter has gone well right from the start and I really like this hill here. I already knew that something was possible here this weekend, but this victory is simply amazing," said the overwhelmed winner. "Now it's time for dinner and then a beer for everyone in the team," said Paschke.
"That was an exciting and turbulent competition. Pius rightly won, he was the best ski jumper today, Pius' second jump was unimaginably good," said a delighted national coach Horngacher.
Behind the winner, Olympic champion Marius Lindvik (2nd place) led a very strong team from Norway: Halvor Egner Granerud Johann Andre Forfang and Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal in 4th, 6th and 7th place put an abrupt end to the Vikings' visible period of weakness at the start of the season. Norway is top again.
Anze Lanisek impressed with 5th place, as did his team colleague Timi Zajc in 9th place and local hero Gregor Deschwanden in 8th place.
Andreas Wellinger was in the lead after the first round, but delivered a poor final jump and slipped back to 12th place. Karl Geiger, double winner last weekend in Klingenthal, finished 20th, while Philipp Raimund was disqualified after a strong first jump due to a suit that did not comply with the rules.
The crisis continues for the Polish team, who had to be satisfied with 21st (Kamil Stoch) and 22nd (Piotr Zyla) today.
Stefan Kraft from Austria (569 points) continues to lead the overall World Cup ahead of Andreas Wellinger (402 points).
The second competition in Engelberg starts on Sunday at 16:00.
