Ski jumping after Christmas: Austrians dominate tour qualification – Paschke sixth

Austria’s ski jumpers dominated the first qualification at the Four Hills Tournament and also dominated the German team led by World Cup leader Pius Paschke. Co-favorite Daniel Tschofenig (141.5 meters) led the co-host’s remarkable five-fold success in Oberstdorf. Behind him were four other ÖSV eagles: Stefan Kraft, Michael Hayböck, Jan Hörl and Maximilian Ortner. Austria has been waiting ten years for a triumph on the tour since Kraft won the title in the 2014/15 season.

Paschke (139 meters), who looked weak in training, didn’t get past sixth place due to a shaky landing and seems to have lost some of his top form in the last two weeks.

During the run-out, the 34-year-old veteran seemed relieved about his qualifying jump. “Pius really showed a good jump,” said national coach Stefan Horngacher on ZDF. “He was a bit underpowered. The landing was no longer ideal, but that doesn’t really matter. We can start the competition well tomorrow.”

Karl Geiger (9th/134 meters) and Andreas Wellinger (13th/125.5 meters) were also unable to keep up with the impressive performances of their rivals in front of 16,500 spectators – a qualifying record in ski jumping according to the organizers.

Wellinger as last year’s winner

In addition to the three hopefuls Paschke, Wellinger and Geiger, Stephan Leyhe (33./124 meters), Philipp Raimund (39./123 meters) and (45./119 meters) also qualified for the competition of the best 50. After the competition in There will be a rest day in Oberstdorf before the qualification for the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is scheduled for December 31st. Last year, Olympic champion Wellinger won the start of the tour in Oberstdorf.