Four Hills finale: Kraft, Hoerl and Tschofenig battle in Bischofshofen

Jan 05, 2025·Ski Jumping

Hoerl, Kraft and Tschofenig (left to right) ©Reichert/NordicFocus

A decade may have passed since Stefan Kraft became the last Austrian winner of the FIS Ski Jumping Four Hills Tournament, but that surprise run looks set to end on a home hill come 6 June 2025 and he could again be the man to land the prestigious prize.

After three action-packed events across Oberstdorf (GER), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) and Innsbruck (AUT), just 1.3 points separates the top three ranked athletes in the race for the ‘Golden Eagle’ trophy.

After his second win in three contests Kraft has 887.1 points, with Jan Hoerl (886.5) close behind and second-leg victor Daniel Tschofenig (885.8) third.

The ‘battle in Bischofshofen’ – from the Paul Ausserleitner HS142 Hill – is set to be one of the most spectacular and highly contested finales in the history of the 73-year-old competition.

“The dominance of the Austrian team is really incredible,” says 2002 Olympic ski jumping champion turned commentor and analyst Martin Schmitt (GER).

“The overall ranking is so close, with just 1.3 separating them, so it’s going to be really, really exciting for the Austrian fans in Bischofshofen."

Ahead of the Four Hills finale, FIS assesses the prospects of each of the top-three ranked ski jumpers and hears from the athletes themselves.

STEFAN KRAFT (AUT)

Three-time World champion, Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Team Large Hill gold medalist and three-time Crystal Globe winner:

When Kraft claimed the Four Hills Tournament title back in the 2014/15 campaign, he was the sixth-straight winner from his nation.

No-one, at that stage, would have predicted it would take another decade before a ski jumper from one of the strongest nations in the history of the sport would top the standings again.

In fact, only twice has an Austrian placed in the top-three in the overall rankings, Michael Hayboeck, who was third in 2015/16, with Kraft also placing there last season, behind winner Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) and runner-up Andreas Wellinger (GER).

Kraft entered this season off the back of his best-ever World Cup campaign which saw the Beijing 2022 Olympic team champion secure the Crystal Globe for the third time in his career.

2024/25 had proved much tougher, with Kraft attaining just four podium finishes from the first 10 World Cup stops, before a timely return to form with victory in the opening Four Hills contest in Oberstdorf (GER).

An eighth-place finish in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) threatened to derail his bid, but fired on by over 22,000 supporters Kraft achieved a “childhood dream” by winning in Innsbruck.

“I think this is one of my best competitions in terms of emotions,” said Kraft, after edging back to the top of the Four Hills standings ahead of Hoerl and Tschofenig.

“It’s crazy, with just 1.3 points separating (the top-three), I’ve never seen this before but it’s great for our sport and I think it will be thrilling days in Bischofshofen.

“Maybe it’s possible that the (one who takes) most risk (will win), but and we try to keep this spirit and belief in one another so that the best one will win.”

Schmitt was full of praise for the aggression shown by Kraft, who won last season’s Four Hills finale in Bischofshofen, and believes he has what it takes to claim another victory.

“Kraft is so strong and was risking everything (in Innsbruck),” said the 10-time World medalist Schmitt.

“It’s incredible, they need to have so much confidence in their setup and technique that he can be that aggressive from the take-off.

“It’s unbelievable, but he’s doing just enough right to get just enough air under the ski to get the lift. He has the speed and also a really nice telemark landing and that gave him the advantage over his team-mates, Jan Hoerl and Tschofenig (in Innsbruck).”

JAN HOERL (AUT)

Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Team Large Hill champion, two-time World medalist and European Games Mixed Team gold medalist:

Hoerl claimed his first individual World Cup victory in late 2021 and achieved his best World Cup season to date during the 2023/24 campaign when he attained eight podium places, including victory in the third leg of the Four Hills Tournament.

He is well-placed to better that in 2024/25 having already attained seven top-three finishes, including victory in Engelberg just before Christmas and two second-place finishes in the last two events.

Those results, combined with fifth in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER), have the 26-year-old just behind Hoerl in the Four Hills ranking ahead of the finale event.

“I’m really proud of the whole team and the maturity we have shown is really special,” said Hoerl.

“We (Hoerl, Kraft and Tschofenig) have good relationships and we had little jokes on the hill. I think Bischofshofen will be really exciting and personally I’m feeling strong.”

DANIEL TSCHOFENIG (AUT)

2023 World Team Large Hill bronze medalist, European Games champion and four-time World Junior gold medalist:

The 22-year-old may not have the senior World and Olympic Games experience of his elder countrymen, but Tschofenig is rapidly establishing himself as a strong contender to be Austria’s next superstar ski jumper.

He made his senior international debut in 2018, but made significant developmental strides in 2022 by claiming individual as well as two team titles at the World Junior Championships in Zakopane (NOR).

Since then, his profile has continued to grow; claiming both individual as well as team golds during the sport’s European Games debut in 2023 and becoming a Red Bull-backed athlete.

Unsurprisingly, given his age, Tschofenig has occasionally struggled to replicate table-topping jumps in both rounds at a World Cup, but he is currently the most consistent performer in the field.

The Austrian won the second World Cup in Engelberg (SUI) in the final event before the Four Hills commenced and since then he has placed third, first (Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) and third again.

Could anyone else catch the ‘awesome’ Austrian trio?

Potentially, yes. Realistically, probably not.

Gregor Deschwanden (SUI) is one of the most talked-about athletes of the season, because despite being 33-years-of-age he is currently enjoying the best run of form of his career.

He has placed second three-times during the 2024/25 campaign and a first-ever World Cup victory could yet bring him back into Four Hills contention.

However, given he trails third-placed Tschofenig by 22.5 points, he would likely not only have to win, but require all three lead Austrians to underperform.

“My goal is again to make at least two great jumps for the Four Hills,” Deschwanden told FIS.

“I need to hope for a really weak day of the top-three which we haven’t seen this season, but maybe that would be more of a miracle!”

“It’s super-hard to say (who is the favourite for the ‘Golden Eagle’ trophy), but Stefan (Kraft) is always really strong in Bischofshofen.

“He is the one to beat, but the other two (Hoerl and Tschofenig) are jumping really well and have great technique which you see in the results, but my money is on Stefan.”