Two and a half weeks before the start of the Four Hills Tournament, the first favorites for the Golden Eagle have emerged. The name of the defending champion has so far flown under the radar: Ryoyu Kobayashi.
It’s been a while since Ryoyu Kobayashi last made headlines. In April, his sponsor Red Bull released a video in which the Japanese pilot allegedly flew 291 meters on a makeshift ski jump in Iceland – thereby shattering the world record by almost 40 meters.
Ultimately, what remained of the PR stunt was just a number, as crazy as it may seem. After all, world record attempts are only recognized in official competitions run by the world association FIS. With a view to the new season, the jump still promised excitement. It’s not for nothing that Kobayashi once again started the World Cup this winter as the big favorite.
Kobayashi not yet in shape
So far, however, the headlines have been written by others. From a German perspective, above all Pius Paschke, whose chances at the Four Hills Tournament are anything but dreams after his fantastic start. In addition, the Austrians around overall World Cup winner Stefan Kraft, Daniel Tschofenig and Jan Hörl have positioned themselves with consistent performances.
However, things have become quiet around Kobayashi. The Olympic champion in Beijing has so far flown under the radar. Although he has always been in the finals of the six World Cup competitions so far, the ski jumping star has been waiting in vain for a top result. 13th place last Sunday in Wisla should be his best performance so far this winter. In the race for the big crystal ball, the two-time overall winner is already lagging behind Paschke by almost 400 points.
Without injury through preparation
There are no obvious reasons for his stuttering start to the season. Kobayashi made it through the preparation without any injuries and nothing changed in his flying system. Nevertheless, the form makes you think. Two World Cups in Titisee-Neustadt and Engelberg remain to gain self-confidence and top results before the season highlight that begins on December 28th with the qualification in Oberstdorf.
Kobayashi probably won’t be too nervous about this. Despite being only 28 years old, he is already one of the best ski jumpers of all time with three tour victories. He shares the “Grand Slam” for winning all four individual competitions on the tour with Sven Hannawald and Kamil Stoch.
Like last winter?
He is also familiar with setbacks and has regularly managed to reach the peak of the season in his career. This was also the case last year. Kobayashi had started the new season well, but had not had a win by the end of December. Back then, too, the role of favorite belonged to others – especially Andreas Wellinger and Stefan Kraft. Both started well, Wellinger even with the victory in Oberstdorf. But there was a lack of consistency. Keyword: Innsbruck. And in the slipstream of the two, Kobayashi rose to peak performance. Although he wasn’t granted a victory, the introverted Japanese finished in second place at all four stations. Keyword: consistency.
No daily victory on the 2023/24 tour – but the overall winner was Ryoyu Kobayashi.
“There’s no other way but to just get started”
A word that is currently tailor-made for ski jumping veteran Pius Paschke. After three World Cup victories this winter, it is not for nothing that German hopes rest on the 34-year-old late bloomer. But, and Paschke also knows this, the tour is made of different cloth. A different kind of pressure that has already caused many to fail before him. Kobayashi knows exactly how to deal with this pressure, channeling it at the right moments so that it can inspire. “There is no other way than to just get started. Even if I worry, I have no choice“, he once explained his simple recipe for success.
Little has changed since his first jumps at a young age. Kobayashi rests within himself, lets himself “Don’t get too caught up in the results“, even when things don’t go as planned. His ability to adapt flexibly to the respective situation has already led him from success to success in the past. This comes with an immense wealth of experience: Hardly anyone in the current World Cup circus has mastered this all four tour ski jumps as perfect as Kobayashi, who can fly more perfectly than almost anyone else.
Kobayashi could catch up with Weißflog
Even if a fourth success on the tour would be surprising given his current form, the idea of Kobayashi lifting the Golden Eagle on January 6, 2025 in Bischofshofen is anything but unrealistic.
By the way, he would catch up with Jens Weißflog, who of course did not miss Kobayashi’s unofficial world record flight up to the 300 meter mark described at the beginning. “Now he has provided proof that it is possible to penetrate this dimension“, said the German ski jumping legend. One thing is certain: it probably won’t be the last time that Ryoyu Kobayashi made headlines.