Paschke and Schmid seek sustained success in Switzerland
Dec 20, 2024·Ski Jumping
The best ski jumpers on the planet will unite for only the second time this season – from 20-22 December – as the men’s and women’s tours merge in Engelberg, Switzerland.
It will be the last stop on their respective calendars before the prestigious Four-Hills and Two-Night events, which take place over the festive period.
Looking to maintain his momentum after a stunning start to the season will be Pius Paschke (GER), who has recorded five World Cup wins already during this campaign.
Engelberg also holds a special meaning to the German, as he made both his World Cup debut from the Gross-Titlis hill, back in 2013, and Paschke celebrated his first-ever victory at this level here, just over 12 months ago.
Countrywoman Katharina Schmid (GER), the individual Normal Hill Olympic silver medallist at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, heads the women’s standings after four events across Lillehammer (NOR) and Zhangjiakou (CHN).
She will be looking to place on the World Cup podium for the first time in Switzerland, with the Engelberg venue having only previously hosted one World Cup event for women, last season, when Schmid finished 13th and 24th.
“I’m really looking forward to Engelberg,” Schmid told FIS.
“Unfortunately, last year I couldn’t quite crack the jump, but I’m trying to go there with good feelings and to stay in this flow throughout my jumps.
“I’ll concentrate and see what comes of it, but I hope that many spectators will come and I’m looking forward to being together with the men against in one place, so I’m definitely excited.”
Stories To Watch - Engelberg World Cup
Heading into the 2024/25 season Paschke (GER) had only claimed three World Cup podium finishes during a lengthy career on the circuit which began back in 2013.
However, the 34-year-old has now more than doubled that figure this season alone, with three successive individual wins taking his seasonal total to five and an overall total of seven top-three results.
As such, he holds a commanding lead at the top of the top of the men’s overall standings with 676 points.
Also impressing and keen to narrow that gap in Switzerland is rising star Daniel Tschofenig (AUT).
The 22-year-old Austrian, a four-time World Junior champion, has consistently impressed during the early stages this season, with four podiums, including one victory.
However, a surprise 15th place finish in his last World Cup outing saw him lose ground on his German rival, something he will be keen to correct in Engelberg.
National team-mate Jan Hoerl (AUT) is just five points in the overall standings behind Tschogenig and placed second at the second World Cup in Switzerland last season.
Home favorite Gregor Deschwanden (SUI) is enjoying his best World Cup season to date, having recorded second-place finishes in both Wisla (POL) and Titisee-Neustadt (GER) this month.
World junior bronze medallist Markus Mueller (AUT) is back in the Austrian World Cup team for the first time in almost two years.
After placing 31st in Kulm Mitterndorf, in his homeland, in January 2023 he made a solid switch to the second tier FIS Continental Cup circuit.
His double podium success in Ruka, Finland, last weekend has seen him replace Manuel Fettner (AUT).
Despite placing sixth in Titisee-Neustadt last weekend, the Beijing 2022 Olympic silver medallist has dropped down the nation’s overall standings after a challenging start to the season.
Katharina Schmid (GER) holds a strong 151 point lead over nearest rival Nika Prevc (SLO) in the overall World Cup standings after four events across two venues this season.
The German has won three of those four and placed second in the other, with Prevc – last season’s overall World Cup crystal globe winner – landing two podium results – including one victory and therefore yet to fully rediscover her form from 2023/24.
That said, she did win the second World Cup in Engelberg during that campaign and will again be among the strong favourites for success in Switzerland.
Rounding off the current top-three in the standings is Selina Freitag (GER), who is just one top-three finish away from matching her best season to date, which came back in 2022/23.
After mixed team success with Germany on the opening day of the season, the 23-year-old followed that with impressive third and second place finishes individually in Lillehammer (NOR).
However, she would place 17th and six in Zhangjoakou (CHN) last week and will be aiming for significant improvements in Switzerland.
FIS Ski Jumping World Cup
Engelberg (SUI) Schedule
20.12.2024
12:30 – Training
15:15 – Training
17:30 – QUA Men’s LH
21.12.2024
10:00 – Start Qualification - QUA Women's LH
11:30 – Competition start - WC Women's LH
14:30 – Start Trial Round - WC Men's LH
16:00 – Competition start - WC Men LH
22.12.2024
10:00 – Start Qualification - QUA Women's LH
11:30 – Competition start - WC Women's LH
14:30 – Start Trial Round - QUA Men's LH
16:00 – Competition start - WC Men LH
All times listed are CET (Central European Time) and are subject to change.
Facts And Figures - Engelberg World Cup
Facts And Figures - Engelberg World Cup
Engelberg is home to the largest natural ski jumping facility in Switzerland.
Engelberg is a HS140m hill, with a K-Point of 124m and a overall height of 135m.
It first constructed in 1967, with renovations as well as modernisations carried out in 1983, 2000, 2006 and 2016.
Engelberg has a stadium capacity of 20,000.
Women competed in an Engelberg World Cup for the first time in history last year. Josephine Pagnier (FRA) won the inaugural competition, with Nika Prevc (SLO) taking the second title 24 hours later.
Engelberg has a strong reputation for world-leading ski jumpers to attain significant career ‘firsts’. Pius Paschke (GER) claimed his maiden World Cup win here in 2023, as did Nika Prevc (SLO) in the same year. Karl Geiger (GER) secured his maiden World Cup title from the hill in 2018, while Jan Hoerl (AUT) claimed his earliest individual World Cup podium finish - with third - in 2019.
