Innauer warns of the first women’s ski flying: “The worst case will happen”

The World Cup medals have been awarded, the overall World Cup has been decided, but another special highlight awaits the ski jumpers before the end of the season.

After years of striving to introduce ski flying for women, this premiere is now taking place on Sunday (10.00 a.m., live ORF Sport +), and of all places on the world record hill in Vikersund. The anticipation is there, but also the warning from a former ski flying world record holder – Toni Innauer.

Innauer had already expressed his negative attitude towards women’s ski flying at the beginning of 2022 as a ZDF expert, and received criticism for it. In an open letter to the World Federation (FIS) last summer, the 1980 Olympic champion became more specific and thus reacted to the appointment for Vikersund, which had meanwhile been fixed. The Vorarlberger addressed “important biomechanical, medical, and ethically moral arguments” that stand in the way of women’s ski flying. Problems are to be expected with a typical ski flight fall.

Underestimated impact force

“The body of a woman trimmed for lightweight in our sport is less resistant than that of a man due to the gender-specific lower proportion of muscles in the total body weight,” explained the 64-year-old.

The combination of the increased run-up speed compared to the men and the resulting increased impact force could have fatal effects. “It would have been good to call in real experts – practitioners and scientists – for assessment and advice,” said Innauer.

He did receive an answer from the FIS, but this did not satisfy him. “There was a relatively general, gender-sensitive letter saying that you think women have evolved tremendously and that it’s time for them to take the next step. But you didn’t respond to my arguments.” At least he still thinks it’s good that only the top 15 of the Raw Air are allowed to compete. “In terms of performance level, this is a certain assurance that the field is more homogeneous.” On the other hand, extreme falls mostly happened to top athletes.

“With 100 percent certainty”

The man from Vorarlberg led the former ski flying world champions Thomas Morgenstern and Daniel Andre Tande, while the Norwegian was hit hard in Planica two years ago. He was temporarily placed in an induced coma. Innauer sees a similar case for women as inevitable: “There is this worst case that will happen over the years – with 100 percent certainty – because serious falls also occur again and again among men, even among the very best under certain conditions happen. Just hopefully not this time.”

In any case, Norway, in his opinion, “started this dynamic too early – including questionable protection from the trade union federation with the threat of EU lawsuits.” Austria’s ex-head coach and Nordic sports director hopes that his words have made one or the other athlete think.

“I would think it would be good if anyone who flies does it with the utmost determination and correctly interprets insecurities that they feel inside and says it makes more sense, I’ll pack the skis beforehand,” said Innauer.

Mühlbacher renounced

Newcomer Julia Mühlbacher announced that she was not going to compete during the course of the World Championships due to severely restricted preparation for the season and only a few large hill jumps. Coming 15th on Raw Air would have guaranteed her a ski flight ticket.

But now the Upper Austrian wants to enjoy the role of spectator: “I’m expecting a really cool spectacle with distances of up to 235 m.” Stefan Kraft set the men’s world record in Vikersund in 2017 with 253.5 m, the unofficial best performance for women was achieved by Danela Iraschko-Stolz in 2003 at a “flying day” at the Kulm with 200 m.

Among the Vikersund ski pilots will be Chiara Kreuzer and overall World Cup winner Eva Pinkelnig, two ÖSV athletes. Kreuzer had already expressed her determination at the World Championships with a “It’s about time”. Pinkelnig finally decided to start. Both and many more have pushed through a petition under the hashtag “letyukifly” for the unfortunate unqualified Japanese Yuki Ito to compete. On Friday, their ski flying premiere was postponed due to the weather, the training is now scheduled for Saturday (10:00 a.m.).