Crystal globe winner Nika Prevc dazzles in World Cup return

Nov 23, 2024·Ski Jumping

Teenager Prevc has now claimed 14 podium finishes in three seasons ©Authamayou/NordicFocus

Nika Prevc (SLO) proved she is still the woman to beat as the reigning crystal globe winner opened her 2024/25 individual World Cup campaign with an impressive victory in Lillehammer, Norway.

The 19-year-old Slovenian, who claimed seven wins on the circuit last season, admitted she had trouble sleeping in recent days due to the increased pressure she now feels, trying to replicate that success.

However, she showed no signs of fatigue or frailty during the Women’s Individual HS140 competition.

Two stunning jumps, recorded at lengths of 138.5m and 138m, were far in excess of anything the rest of the field could conjure.

Prevc’s combined points total of 269.9 saw her finish 22.3 clear of Katharina Schmid (GER) (247.6) with team-mate Selina Freitag (GER) (244.4) third.

“I knew was well-prepared for the start of the new season but I was really curious if I could make such jumps in competition,” she told FIS.

“To be honest, I was not sleeping for two nights because I was really nervous. I hope it will (give confidence) and maybe I will sleep better tonight.”

Lillehammer Women’s World Cup 1 – How The Event Played Out

Shortly before the World Cup began it was revealed that European Games champion Jaci Seifriedsberger (AUT), who had topped the qualification standings earlier in the day by some margin, had been disqualified after an issue with her suit.

That offered many within the 40-strong field renewed hope of challenging at top-end of the standings.

Kira Maria Kapustikova (SVK) opened up the day’s competition 61.5 points, but the first significant – and perhaps surprising – score was delivered by Ingvild Synnoeve Midtskogen (NOR).

The 16-year-old, who won three stages on the Intercontinental Cup tour and Normal Hill Youth Olympic bronze last season, travelled an impressive 131.5m, which scored 119.2 points.

Midtskogen is one-to-watch this season ©Authamayou/NordicFocus

Selina Freitag (GER), who delivered a strong performance as part of Germany’s victorious Mixed Team World Cup relay line-up on Friday, continued that form into the individual competition with a score of 128.00 in the first round.

While conditions in Lillehammer were generally calm and near-perfect for ski jumping at the start of the competition, the wind was still changeable and Freitag’s team-mate Katharina Schmid (GER) adapted well to the challenge posed by the frequent gate moves.

She recorded a jump of 123m which attained a score of 129.40 and that would be enough to main the lead – despite a highly respectable effort from Lisa Eder (AUT) – until the last ski jumper took to the hill.

Nika Prevc (SLO) won the 2023/24 crystal globe and was in dazzling form during the season-opening Mixed Team event 24 hours earlier.

The Slovenian proved she is still the one to beat with the furthest jump 138.5m and colossal total point score of 141.00.

After the first jumps the bottom 10 ranked athletes were eliminated, leaving a final 30 to tussle it out for the medals.

It was, of course, realistically a much smaller number who possessed genuine podium potential though with scores from each round combined to form the final standings.

Not returning to the mountain for a second jump though was Prevc’s 2021 World champion team-mate Ema Klinec (SLO) and four-time World Cup winner Eirin Maria Kvandal (NOR) who were both disqualified by officials, citing suit violations.

While there are few certainties in a sport like ski jumping, their absence presented opportunities for others to push for the podium places.

Results after the second round also translate to World Cup points, which are would be crucial to starting positions for the second World Cup event in Lillehammer on Sunday.

Marita Kramer (AUT), who won the crystal globe for the 2021/22 season, was outside the top-20 after the opening round and was the biggest ‘mover’ in the second, with her combined score of 191.5 helping her climb six places to 16^th.

2023 World Normal Hill individual silver medallist Eva Pinkelnig (AUT) won the overall World Cup crown in 2022/23 and was second last season, had struggled in training and qualifying in Lillehammer but finally found her form in the competition and placed sixth.

Midtskogen (NOR) underlined her status as a key ‘one-to-watch’ in the seasons ahead by placing fifth, with Anna Odine Stroem (NOR) continuing her injury comeback with an encouraging fourth.

German team-mates Freitag and Schmid embraced one another as it was confirmed they would both place on the podium, after achieving combined scores of 244.4 and 247.6 points respectively.

Prevc showed no nerves though and while she only needed an average jump, by her standards, to secure victory, the Slovenian secured a second stunning points total (269.9) to confirm her spot at the top of the standings.