While the men fight for fame, honor and the golden eagle at the Four Hills Tournament in Germany and Austria, there is only the “Two Nights Tour” for the best female ski jumpers. The German Ski Association (DSV) has announced its line-up for the “Mini Four Hills Tournament” in advance.
The overall World Cup leader Katharina Schmid leads the six-strong squad of German ski jumpers in the “Two Nights Tour” in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf. Selina Freitag, Juliane Seyfarth, Anna Hollandt, Alvine Holz and Agnes Reisch were also nominated by the DSV.
It starts on Tuesday (4:20 p.m.) with an individual competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where the final of the Four Hills Tournament takes place on Wednesday (2:40 p.m.). On New Year’s Day the women will be in Oberstdorf (4:15 p.m.).
Ski jumping: Good training jumps from Selina Freitag
Schmid’s anticipation is enormous, even though she would have liked to jump on all four jumps like the men. “Even if it’s only half a tour, for me the glass is half full: I’m glad that we’re having the Two Nights Tour. I hope that a lot of spectators come to cheer us on. The weather should be pretty good,” said the 28-year-old. Jumping at home in front of your own audience is “something very special,” said Schmid, who has achieved three first and two second places in a total of five competitions so far this season.
Seyfarth also emphasized that the “Two Nights Tour”, which was only held for the second time, was the “first highlight of the season”: “I’m particularly looking forward to Garmisch because it’s one of my favorite ski jumps.” At the first event last year, the Slovenian Nika Prevc secured overall victory.
Heinz Kuttin, national coach of the German ski jumpers, is looking forward to “perfect conditions” on the two ski jumps. The training on Saturday in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was “really good”. “Selina Freitag jumped really well; she achieved a new best distance of 140 meters,” emphasized Kuttin.