Dominant Seifriedsberger jumps to first World Cup win of the season
Jan 26, 2025·Ski Jumping
Jacqueline Seifriedsberger (AUT) emerged victorious at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Zao, Japan, on Sunday, claiming her first win of the season. The 34-year-old had qualified in the top spot and continued with two solid jumps to finish 2.9 points clear of Eirin Maria Kvandal (NOR). Nika Prevc (SLO) finished in third and extended her lead in the World Cup standings.
Seifriedsberger laid the foundation for her success with an impressive first jump (traveling 99.0m, scoring 117.5 points) to take an early 1.4 point lead over Kvandal.
The Austrian held her nerve in the final round, scoring 117.9 points (94.5m) to secure her career-third World Cup win with a combined total of 253.4 points.
"It's amazing", Seifreidsberger said afterward. “I’m very happy about the victory. It was just perfect. The wind was good, the hill and the landings were perfect. I’m just happy.”
It's Seifriedsberger's second podium-finish this weekend after a third place in the Super Team event on Saturday. "Japan is a good place for me", she added. "I have shown I am able to do very well here. Yesterday's podium was nice, but today is the super day", she laughed.
Kvandal puts disappointment behind
Kvandal put her disappointment from Saturday's Super Team event behind to take second place with two strong jumps (232.5 points).
A day earlier, the Norwegian crashed on the landing of the final jump in the Super Team event, failing to secure an almost certain victory for Norway.
"After yesterday's fall I was not sure if I would be jumping today", Kvandal said. "But coming back and getting revenge against that hill was really worth it. I'm very happy."
World Cup leader Nika Prevc, who claimed victory in Friday's individual event in Zao, landed in third place (231.3 points). The Slovenian showed the furthest jump of the day (98.0) to reduce the gap with Seifriedsberger and Kvandal.
Prevc made perfect use of the (wind) conditions on her final jump (98m and 1201. points) to push Alexandria Loutitt (CAN) to fourth place (226.6).
Anna Odine Stroem (NOR) finished in fifth (220.7), with Thea Minyan Bjoerseth (NOR) in sixth (219.7). Sara Takanashi (JPN) entered the top 10 with two strong jumps for seventh place.
Prevc leaves Japan as the new World Cup leader
With third place, Prevc extended her lead in the World Cup standings, while runner-up Katharina Schmid (GER) missed out on the top 10.
Schmid finished twelfth in Zao, but maintained her second place in the overall ranking.
The difference between Prevc (893 points) and Schmid (848 points) is 45 points. Kvandal sits in third with 586 points.
Next up….
A long competition weekend in Zao came to an end on Sunday. Three competitions took place over the course of four days.
Nika Prevc (SLO) won the individual event on Friday, while Selina Freitag and Agnes Reisch (GER) claimed victory in the Super Team event a day later. Jacqueline Seifriedsberger (AUT) claimed victory in the individual event on Sunday.
While the women competed in Japan this weekend, the men take the hill in Oberstdorf, Germany, for their first Ski Flying World Cup weekend of the season. Individual events are scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. The first event of the weekend was won by Timi Zajc (SLO).
After this weekend, the world’s best ski jumpers will travel to Willingen (GER), where both men and women will compete in the World Cup.
