Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – Slovenia’s Domen Prevc continued his impressive form, securing victory at the New Year’s ski jumping competition in Germany and extending his lead in the prestigious 74th Four Hills Tournament.Despite challenging conditions which included a brief lift malfunction delaying the second round, Prevc’s consistent jumps of 143 and 141 meters proved insurmountable for the competition, though German hopefuls Felix Hoffmann and Philipp Raimund remain within striking distance for a podium finish overall. The annual tournament,a highlight of the ski jumping season,is drawing large crowds and intense national pride as Germany seeks too break a 24-year winless streak.
Hopes for a Podium Finish Remain Alive…
Domen Prevc of Slovenia continued his dominant form, winning the New Year’s ski jumping competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Monday, January 1, following his victory in the opening event of the 74th Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf. The overall World Cup leader soared to victory with jumps of 143 and 141 meters, comfortably outpacing the competition. Germany’s Felix Hoffmann and Philipp Raimund also remain in contention.
The German team’s hopes for a strong showing were on display as Hoffmann and Raimund, watched by Raimund’s mother Kathrin, brother Fabian, and Hoffmann’s wife Sophia, both landed jumps of 134 meters in the first round, placing them fifth and sixth and within striking distance of the podium.
The second round experienced a delay due to technical issues with the lift at the Groß Olympiaschanze. After a brief pause and under challenging conditions, Raimund jumped 135 meters, while Hoffmann delivered an impressive leap of 136 meters.
The lift at the Groß Olympiaschanze in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
As a result, Hoffmann finished sixth and Raimund seventh, keeping Germany’s hopes alive for a podium finish in the overall tournament standings. Hoffmann currently sits in fourth place, with Raimund in sixth. Hoffmann is just 2.8 meters behind Stephan Embacher for third place.
DSV-Adler Felix Hoffmann (28)
Joining Prevc on the podium were Austria’s Jan Hörl (141 and 131.5 meters) and Japan’s Ren Nikaido (137.5 and 138 meters), along with Embacher (134 and 141 meters), all finishing ahead of the German team, coached by Stefan Horngacher. Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi also made a strong push, jumping 141 meters in his second attempt to surpass Raimund and Hoffmann.
Philipp Raimund’s brother Fabian (l.) and mother Kathrin at the Tournee opener in Oberstdorf
Germany has now gone 24 years without a victory in the Four Hills Tournament. The last German to win the overall title was Sven Hannawald in 2002, who made history by becoming the first ski jumper to win all four competitions. Prevc is now in a strong position to replicate that feat, holding a 35-point lead over second-place Hörl in the overall standings.
Geiger and Wellinger Fail to Reach Second Round
Pius Paschke was the third German to compete in the second round, eliminating five-time World Ski Jumping Champion Karl Geiger (122.5 meters) with a jump of 126 meters. Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger (124.5 meters) and Ben Bayer (120.5 meters) were eliminated in the first round.
Andreas Wellinger (30) missed the second round, as he did at the Tournee opener in Oberstdorf
Numerous Disqualifications Again
Several disqualifications were also handed out: American Jason Colby, Turkey’s Fatih Arda Ipcioglu, and Timi Zajc of Slovenia, who was also disqualified after finishing second in Oberstdorf, were all disqualified. Zajc exceeded the allowable step length by four millimeters, resulting in a suspension for the final two competitions in Innsbruck (January 4) and Bischofshofen (January 6).
The action continues on Saturday (2:30 PM local time) with qualifying for the competition in Innsbruck.
