Nika Prevc “confident” after opening 'Two Nights Tour' win

Dec 31, 2024·Ski Jumping

Nika Prevc now has three World Cup wins in 2024/25 ©Volk/NordicFocus

Defending champion Nika Prevc (SLO) made a winning start to the 2024/25 Two Nights Tournament in Germany with an impressive victory in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen World Cup.

The 19-year-old, who won the FIS Ski Jumping 2023/24 Crystal Globe, also secured success on the same hill last season, ahead of her overall victory in the first-ever ‘Two Nights Tour’ contest.

Prevc had claimed World Cup titles in Lillehammer (NOR), as well as Engelberg (SUI), during the current campaign and successfully built on her first-round lead here, to claim a third win of the season.

Her total of 275.8, from the two rounds, put her 7.2 points ahead of second-placed Norway’s Eirin Maria Kvandal (268,6).

Eva Pinkelnig of Austria (259.3) set a new hill record, of 137.5m, in the second round, to complete the the podium places.

“Maybe because of last year I felt pretty confident today on the hill,” Prevc told FIS. “I'm super happy and excited with my result and super satisfied with two such good jumps.

"I hope to repeat my jumps (in Oberstdoft) and be satisfied with the competition."

"I really like the hill and just being here is quite special. I've seen it on television since I was a child, but it's something extra when you're here and I'm really happy with my race today," said Kvandal.

Pickelnig was just as delighted with her first podium finish of the season, together with the new hill record.

"I was just thinking about my jumps this morning and not a record, but what an incredible way to finish 2024, it's been amazing with so many highlights," Pinkelnig told FIS after the event.

"It's time to say thank you to so many people as it's all about team-work, there are so many people working behind the scenes you never see, but they're the reason I'm fit, health and in a good mental state so I can jump a new hill record."

The women’s field will now make the 90-minute journey to Oberstdorf (GER), ahead of the second and final stage of the ‘2024/25 Two Nights Tour’, with qualifying and the main event both taking place on Wednesday, 1 January 2025.

How it worked: Two Nights Tour – Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The event, which was originally known as the ‘Silvester Tour’ and took place across Austria and Slovenia, was rebranded as the ‘Two Nights Tour’ for the 2023/24 campaign.

It now takes place in Germany, matching the start of the men’s Four Hills Tournament, with each of the two legs taking place in the reverse order to the men’s competition, with Garmisch-Partenkirchen World Cup first (30-31 Dec), followed by Oberstdorf (1 Jan).

A 60-strong field had taken to the hill on Monday for qualification, with the top 30 athletes qualifying for the first round.

Unlike other World Cup events, those progressing were then placed into 15 duels, with the top-ranked ski jumper – Selina Freitag (GER) – taking on Liu Qi (CHN) who was 30^th.

The 15 winners would progress, together with five ‘lucky losers’ who recorded the highest points score, despite defeat to their respective opponents.

Totals achieved in the first round would then be added to a more traditional second round to determine the podium places.

The points achieve in the first leg of the ‘Two Nights Tour’ would then be added to those achieved in Oberstdorf, to declare an overall winner.

How it played out: Two Nights Tour – Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The women’s field returned to World Cup action for the first time since the previous event – the second in Engelberg (SUI) – was cancelled due to poor weather.

Agnes Reisch (GER) had a best-place finish of 13^th this season heading into the Two Nights Tour, but achieved a hill record of 136m in qualifying.

Her style marks had seen her place ninth, but it was still an encouraging start and she ranked third after the first round with 130.5m, which scored 125.8 points.

World champion Alexandria Loutitt (CAN) had referred to the ‘Two Nights Tour’ as “massive step” for women’s ski jumping ahead of this year’s event, and was looking for her first podium finish of the season after a challenging campaign.

She was just 17^th in qualifying and tenth after the first round, but would at least progress, unlike Josephine Pagnier (FRA) who would not.

The French jumper won silver and bronze medals at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games before making an explosive start to last season, with two victories. However, the now 22-year-old has been unable to recapture that form since and she was easily beaten by Lisa Eder (AUT).

Selina Freitag (GER) enjoyed an impressive start to the season with second and third place finishes in Lillehammer (NOR), before struggles in Zhangjiakou (CHN) and Engelberg (SUI).

The German impressed in qualifying by topping the standings, but she was ninth after the opening round in her homeland.

World Cup leader Katharina Schmid (GER) comfortably progressed in the dual against countrywoman Alvine Holz (GER), who only just managed to make a last-moment mid-air adjustment to save herself from a painful landing after unbalanced take-off.

Four-time World championship medalist Eva Pinkelnig (AUT) was the first to hit the 134m mark, which ultimately placed her fifth, and celebrated the impressive jump by punching the air.

2023/24 crystal globe winner Nika Prevc (SLO) matched that distance, with her style marks helping her top the standings with 133.1 points, with Eirin Maria Kvandal (128.6) second, Reishch (125.8) third and Schmid (125.6) fourth.

Joining the top-15 in the final round were ‘lucky losers’ Juliane Seyfarth (GER), Nozomi Maruyama (JPN), Jenny Rautionaho (FIN), Julia Muehlbacher (AUT) and Kurumi Ichinohe (JPN)

2021 Normal Hill World champion Ema Klinec (SLO) was the first to throw down a jump of over 130m in the second round, recording 131m, but she was soon passed by Juliane Seyfarth (GER), who achieved 133.5m.

The competition intensity continued to rise as the higher ranked athletes made their final leaps and the fans were treated to a moment of history with last season’s crystal globe runner-up Eva Pinkelnig (AUT) achieving a significant new hill record of 137.5m.

Her celebrations suggested she was fully aware the score of 133.9 (and total of 259.3) was likely to put her in contention for a first podium of the 2024/25 campaign.

That was soon confirmed as World Cup leader Schmid and fellow German Reisch were unable to better the Austrian’s total.

Kvandal (NOR) would and matched her best result of the season, previously achieved in Zhangjiakou just over two weeks ago, with another second.

Defending champion Prevc (SLO) had cleared 140m twice during training and was expected to deliver big when it mattered most.

Gate changes arguably denied her the opportunity to secure a new record jump, but 135.5m in the final round was more than enough to secure the teenager her third win of the season.