Ski jumping legend Noriaki Kasai set for Sapporo World Cup return

Feb 13, 2025·Ski Jumping

Kasai made his FIS World Cup debut in 1988 - ©Modica/NordicFocus

Legendary Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai is set to further extend his World Cup appearance record, at the age of 52, during the latest stage of the men’s tour in Sapporo.

The 1972 Winter Olympic Games host venue was also the scene of Kasai’s World Cup debut, back in 1988, when he recorded 31^st and 26^th place-finishes in his homeland.

In the years since he has become a three-time Olympic medallist and attained eight World Championship medals, including gold in the Ski Flying discipline in 1992.

The now 52-year-old, competed in the last of his 578 World Cup contests 11months ago in Planica (SLO) and has to date spent the 2024/25 season competing in the second-tier FIS Continental Cup circuit.

"This is just another step for me; I aim to reach 600 competitions," Kasai stated to local media ahead of his latest international outing for Japan.

Last year Kasai, who has appeared at a record eight Olympic Games, stated “I still have a lot left in me, so my intension is to keep on with it until 60.”

He is far from the only Japanese star who will be on show in Sapporo with reigning Olympic Normal Hill champion Ryoyu Kobayashi among the headline names.

“I am delighted to be part of such a competitive team,” stated Kobayashi who finished second twice on the Okurayama HS137 Hill last season and won two of three events in Sapporo back in 2023.

The three-time Four Hills Tournament winner has endured a difficult season though and is still seeking a first World Cup podium.

He and team-mate Ren Nikaido showed improved form at stages during last week’s World Cup double header in Lake Placid (USA) and will aim to build on that on their home hill.

The man to beat though is, still, Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) with the 2024/25 Four Hills Tournament winner continuing to astound during his breakthrough season.

The 22-year-old entered this year’s campaign with five World Cup podium finishes to his name, but without a victory.

To date, he has secured eight wins, together with two second and five third-place finishes, giving him a commanding 203-point lead at the top of the overall standings.

Countryman Jan Hoerl (AUT) is without an individual victory since 21 December in Engelberg (SUI), but has placed in the top-three in each of his last four World Cup events and is second in the standings, with last year’s Crystal Globe winner Stefan Kraft third.

Johann Andre Forfang (NOR) is up to fourth after victory in Lake Placid topped off an impressive run of form since the turn of the year.

Early season leader Pius Paschke (GER) is down to fifth after skipping the last leg in Lake Placid (USA) to focus on preparations for the rest of the season, in a bid to halt his alarming drop in form.

The veteran raced into a strong World Cup lead with five wins from the opening seven events, but he is without a podium finish in his last eleven individual races, placing 27^th and 31^st in Willingen (GER) during his last outing at the beginning of the month.

“I trained at home for a week and I had a lot of fun with some very good sessions,” Paschke told FIS ahead of his return. “I like that I’m now back at the World Cup, I hope that we have good weather and that the trip is worth it.”

Sapporo World Cup – Facts and Figures:

The venue was opened in 1931 and has undergone renovations in 1953, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1996, 1998 and 2007.
Sapporo appeared as an FIS Ski Jumping World Cup host for the first time in 1980 and has been a regular feature ever since.
In addition to hosting the ski jumping contests at the 1972 Olympic Winter Games, the venue also held the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
In 2023/24 the men’s FIS Ski Jumping World Cup events were won by Stefan Kraft (AUT) and Domen Prevc (SLO) respectively, with home favourite Ryoyu Kobayashi second in each.
The large (HS137) hill is known as Ōkurayama and the hill record of 148.5m was set by Kamil Stoch (POL) in 2019.