Four Hills: Can Paschke end 23-year German drought?

Dec 26, 2024·Ski Jumping

Paschke is the World Cup leader, with five victories this season. ©NordicFocus

The most highly-anticipated contest of the season commences on 28 December as world-leading male ski jumpers begin their latest quests for the Four Hills crown.

For those new to the sport, or in need of a quick reminder, the Four Hills tournament sees athletes compete across four different venues, two in Germany (Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen) as well as two in Austria (Innsbruck and Bischofshofen).

Action, for the 73^rd edition, starts with qualifying in Oberstdorf (GER) on 28 December and runs through to the finale in Bischofshofen (AUT) on 6 January. Click here for the full schedule.

The ski jumper with the best cumulative results attained across the four respective hills will be crowned the winner and claim the prestigious 2024/25 ‘golden eagle’ trophy.

“The hardest thing is that all the Four Hills are so unique and so different,” says four-time world medalist turned commentator Jernej Damjan (SVN).

“If you look at the past, it’s not always a rule, but generally if you won the Four Hills you were also good in the overall World Cup this season.”

Oberstdorf Orlen Arena. HS 137 is left

Who Can Perform Under Pressure?

Based on results so far this season, the winner is mostly to come from one of the two host nations, with Germany’s Pius Paschke topping the overall World Cup standings ahead of Austrian trio Daniel Tschofenig, Jan Hoerl and Stefan Kraft.

However, it is worth pointing out that is 23 years since the last Germany athlete claimed the golden eagle, which Sven Hannawald (GER) did in some style by winning on all four hills during the 2001/2 season.

Ten years have also passed since the last Austrian, Kraft, claimed the crown, back in 2014; with pre-tournament form not always an indicator of who will attain the title.

“Everyone knows, the more pressure the harder it is to win,” continues Damjan.

“It’s such an individual sport that it really depends from athlete to athlete and if they are prepared to have so much pressure.”

2002 Olympic champion Martin Schmitt (GER) experienced many high-pressure moments during his career and knows it is challenging for those taking seeking success in front of thousands of expectant crowds during the Four Hills event.

“For an Austrian guy, or a German guy, it’s probably a bit tough to win the golden eagle,” he says.

“The pressure is high, there’s a lot of media work and the feeling that everyone around is expecting a victory for sure, especially if you are among the favourites.”

How To Win The Four Hills:

As with the other World Cup events, the contests begin with qualification, from which the top 50 athletes progress to the first round. However, that is where symmetry ends.

Rather than take on another jump in an attempt to reach the top-30 for a place in the second and final round, the qualified athletes are instead divided into pairs 25 who face-off in duels.

The winners, together with five ‘lucky losers’ - who attained the highest points-score despite defeat - will then make up a top-30, who will then line-up for the final round of jumps.

In order to be eligible for the ‘golden eagle’ crown, athletes must reach the second round in each of the contests.

Their points total achieved across each of the four hills will then be combined to discover the overall winner.

©NordicFocus

Pius Paschke (GER) is currently enjoying his best season to date and tops the overall World Cup standings, having won five of the first 10 events.

However, he struggled last time out in Engelberg, Switzerland, placing tenth and 18^th during a frustrating weekend.

With the German off-form, Austrian duo Jan Hoerl and Daniel Tschofenig seized their opportunity to pick up a victory each, and their second wins of the season; boosting their World Cup points total, together with their confidence, heading into the Four Hills tournament.

They will be expected to mount serious challenges, while countryman Stefan Kraft, who won the 2023/24 World Cup crystal globe, was the last Austrian winner of the ‘golden eagle’ 10 years ago.

Although he is yet to recapture the form he showed last season, there have been some encouraging signs in recent events that Kraft may soon return to winning ways.

Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) claimed the Four Hills crown for the third time in his career last year, but achieved it for the first time without winning one of the individual contests.

Only Jens Weissflog (GER), with four and Janne Ahonen (FIN) who claimed five between 1998 and 2006 are ahead of the Japanese jumper in the all-time standings, however Ryoyu’s form this season suggests he is unlikely to be climbing up the rankings this season.

Andreas Wellinger (GER), the individual NH Olympic champion from PyeongChang 2018, has the pedigree to be considered among the wider contenders and was second in the overall standings last season, after winning the opening round in his homeland.

The 29-year-old has attained just one podium finish this campaign, but it was a victory, during the second round in Ruka, Finland.

Deschwanden an outside contender in Oberstdorf? ©NordicFocus

A man on the rise – and currently enjoying his best-ever season, with three podium finishes – is Gregor Deschwanden (SUI).

Although he is yet to celebrate a World Cup win, as Ryoyu (JPN) proved last season, the golden eagle can be attained without one.

“The Austrians had a winning streak which was enormous (2008/9-2014/15) and the team had confidence,” says four-time World champion Martin Schmitt (GER).

“It was normal, not a big deal to win the Four Hills tournament, just go out and ski jump and do your best and if you’re doing good then you will win it, but now it’s a bit different.

“They are waiting 10 years and of course the expectations are high also for Stefan Kraft to win it for a second time and for Stefan with his issues with the Garmisch-Partenkirchen hill, it’s really demanding for him, so we will see.

Schmitt concluded; “The pressure is high on Germany, on Austria but one day will be the day when one of these nations will take the golden eagle home.”

Ryoyu Kobayashi won the 2023/24 Four Hills 'Golden Eagle' ©NordicFocus

Four Hills Facts And Figures

The first edition of the tournament was held in 1953 and was won by Austrian Sepp Bradl.
At the maiden Four Hills event, held in Oberstdorft (GER), 27,000 spectators visited the Erdinger Arena.
Janne Ahonen (FIN) has recorded the most Four Hills victories, attaining five during a highly decorated career, which also included 17 World championship honours and two Olympic silver medals.
Jens Weissflog is Germany’s most successful Four Hills ski jumper, with four victories, while the Austrian record of two overall titles is shared between four athletes; Gregor Schierenzauer, Andreas Goldberger, Hubert Neuper and Ernst Vettori.
Austria is the most successful nation in the history of the Four Hills, with their athletes claiming a total of 50 podium finishes. Finland (35) is second, with Norway (32) third.