Cool Kraft claims Oberstdorf Four Hills win

Dec 29, 2024·Ski Jumping

Kraft claimed his first win of the 2024/25 season in Oberstdorf. ©Reichert/NordicFocus

Three-time World champion Stefan Kraft topped an all-Austrian podium as the opening event of the 2024/25 Four Hills Tournament delivered drama in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Although the home fans had hoped to celebrate host-nation success, the 25,400-strong capacity crowd were nevertheless treated to high-quality entertainment.

World Cup leader Pius Paschke (GER) gave them hope, placing third after the first round.

However, ultimately Kraft, who attained an overall points haul of 335.1, together with Jan Hoerl (331.6) and Daniel Tschofenig (323.6) would move ahead.

“I wanted for the perfect timing it seems, those were the two best jumps of the season for me,” remarked Kraft, who won the 2023/24 Crystal Globe, but was without a victory during this campaign, until his success in Oberstdorf.

“Every win is special, but I had my first World Cup victory here in 2014 and that was perhaps a bit more emotional, but it’s crazy to jump in such a great amazing atmosphere, it’s always very emotional.

Kraft continued; “It was really high (standard of competition), really long jumps the audience had a great performance from us, a great show and yeah we give them a lot, but they give us a lot.”

Despite placing fourth Paschke retains position one in the overall World Cup rankings with 765 points, but Hoerl, who is second (711), has reduced his advantage to 54 points, with Tschofenig (696) third and Kraft (567) fourth.

The field will reconvene in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) on Tuesday, New Years’ Eve, during qualifying for the second Four Hills tournament, before the main contest on Wednesday.

The field will then move to Austria, with Innsbruck hosting the action from 3-4 January, before the conclusion to the Four Hills contest in Bischofshofen, 5-6 Jan.

How it worked: Four Hills – Oberstdorf

As with other World Cup events, the field had first come through qualifying to reaching the first round ‘proper’. However, that is where the similarities ended, for now.

The top 50 were then placed into a series of duels, with the top ranked athlete, facing the lowest ranked qualifier, and so on throughout the field.

The winner of each duel would progress, as would five ‘lucky losers’ who recorded points scores which ranked among the top five non-automatic qualifiers, from their first round.

The scores from the first round would be retained and added to the second round to determine the overall standings.

The points total from each of the contests during the 2024/25 Four Hills Tournament will be combined to determine who becomes this season’s overall winner and takes home the Golden Eagle title.

Austria's Hoerl (left), Kraft and Tschofenig. ©Reichert/NordicFocus

Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal (NOR) attained an impressive third-place finish at the Titisee-Neustadt World Cup just two weeks ago, but found himself in 27^th after qualification here.

The 2023 men’s large hill World silver medallist showed much improved form when it really mattered though and his jump of 134m, which scored 151.5 points, would see him not only ease into the second round, but also place seventh in the standings.

USA duo Kevin Bickner and Tate Frantz both impressively defeated strong opponents, in the form of Fredrik Villumstad (NOR) and Valentin Foubert (FRA) respectively, to ensure they would pick up strong World Cup points.

Andreas Wellinger (GER), who won on this hill in front of his fans, would not be repeating that success in 2024 though, with 129m (139.9 points) ensuring he progressed, but was well short of the leading pack.

Another who excelled during the 2023/24 campaign was the defending ‘Golden Eagle’ title-holder Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN).

He edged countryman Naoki Nakamura (JPN), but only by 0.7 points and that suggested the destination of the overall Four Hills crown was unlikely to be heading to a Japanese jumper.

©Reichert/NordicFocus

Pawel Wasek (POL) made the biggest progress between qualifying and the first round.

Having placed 42^nd the first time he leapt from the hill competitively, he improved dramatically to rank ninth heading into the decider – and also defeated Beijing 2022 Olympic bronze medallist Karl Geiger (GER) in the process.

Five Austrian athletes had held the top five places from qualifying, but first Andre Johann Forfang (NOR) and then World Cup leader Pius Paschke (GER) ensured there would be greater international representation in the upper levels of the leader board.

Paschke (GER) has won five World Cup contests this season, during his best-ever campaign on the circuit, but struggled last weekend in Engelberg, placing 10^th and 18^th.

The 34-year-old showed he was edging back towards his best with a jump of 138m, which scored 162.7 points.

Just two athletes, both from Austria, would better that; Jan Hoerl (134.5m / 165.9pts) and Stefan Kraft (138m / 167.2pts).

Together with the top 25 duel winners, Karl Geiger (GER), Naoki Nakamura (JPN), Fredrik Villumstad (NOR), Marius Lindvik (NOR), Valentin Foubert (FRA) joined them in round two after securing the five ‘lucky loser’ qualifying spots.

Japanese duo Ren Nikaido and Naoki Nakamura both made significant strides, rising six and five places respectively from round one to two, after recording impressive jumps of 142m and 140.5m respectively.

Climbing even higher – and delighting the German crowd – was one of their own, Karl Geiger, who won on the hill back in 2020. His 137m jump scored 157.2, which gave him an overall total of 300 points and an improvement of ten places.

Also celebrating after landing 140.5m / 168 points was Daniel Tschofenig (AUT). The winner of two World Cups this season, was seventh after the opening round, but his second jump score put him into podium contention.

Paschke’s grimace after landing suggested he did not think his effort (133.5m / 321.3 points total) would be enough and it was soon confirmed he would be fourth.

Paschke still leads the 2024/25 World Cup standings. ©Reichert/NordicFocus

Hoerl (AUT) is currently on-track to record his best-ever season on the tour and continues to demonstrate impressive consistency during 2024/25.

331.6 points, after jumps of 134.5m and 135m underlines predictions that he could win a first-ever Four Hills crown this season, with Tschofenig’s stunning second round not only securing him second behind Hoerl, but also renewing his title ambitions.

“It’s amazing,” said Tschofenig, of the Austrian podium sweep, before referring to team-mate Kraft – who won his first event of the season after jumps of 138m and 135.5m – as a “legend.”

“It was an amazing job from the whole team, the staff and the coaches who all did great and I’m sure we’ll take a lot going into Garmisch-Partenkirchen.”

Austrian head coach Andreas Widhoelzl (AUT) told FIS he was impressed with his team’s performance after backing up a strong showing in the qualifiers on Saturday.

“It was not easy after qualification (due to expectation and pressure), so I’m really glad the boys did a really good job today.

“We saw nerves were there and some did not jump so great, but for the team it’s a really successful day on a hill where last year we had problems.

“Ski jumping can be so easy and also so hard,” continued Widhoelzl. “Now it’s easy for us because the self-confidence is really good and strong results in Engelberg (last weekend) helped.”