After the disappointing performance at the World Cup in Zakopane, there is a mood of crisis among the German ski jumpers. Since the Four Hills Tournament, the DSV Eagles have completely lost their rhythm – and that’s four weeks before the World Cup. But there is also hope.
Pius Paschke experienced the negative climax of his personal crisis in the final individual competition in Zakopane. On the Wielka Krokiew he didn’t even make it into the second round. “The bottom line is that every jump was just a long way away.”said Paschke and added: “I can’t get any height right now. Yesterday I tried using the crowbar. First and foremost, the position has to be right again.“
But it’s not just Paschke that’s stuck. The other DSV Adler also botched the restart after the Four Hills Tournament, which was disappointing from a German perspective. The best Germans were Karl Geiger (8th) and Andreas Wellinger (11th). Of six Germans, only three qualified for the second round. The seventh jumper didn’t even make it through the qualification. Coach Stefan Horngacher’s team is currently a long way from the performances at the start of the season.
Who will untie the DSV knot?
At that time, the DSV Adler and in particular Pius Paschke dominated. Since the Austrian festival at the Four Hills Tournament, Paschke and Co. have completely lost track of things. The national coach is also trying to find solutions, but cannot find any concrete ones.
There’s no point in pushing frustration, he said in the sports show: “We must not tighten the knots any further. We have to make sure we bring in a bit of calm and a rhythm.“
The knot seems to be quite tight and not easy to untie as of now. Horngacher is still confident that Geiger and Wellinger will soon be able to untangle their personal knot.
Wellinger: “The ski is my friend and not my enemy”
Wellinger also noted that all the jumps this weekend were “in the right direction”. His problem lies more with the take-off table. “I don’t take the pressure under the ski with me, but instead fall with my hips” said the man from SC Ruhpolding and attested to himself “cramped flying“.
It must be clear to him again: “The ski is my friend and not my enemy.” Karl Geiger was satisfied as the best German. His recovery, which started during the tour, continued in Zakopane and now the home game awaits.
Ski flying in Oberstdorf as a great hope
Next weekend there is ski flying in Oberstdorf on the program, to which the Germans arrive with some hopes. “The faster approach speed means you have more pressure under the ski and it’s a little looser and easier“, explained sports show expert Sven Hannawald. “I hope that something clicks with our boys.“
Of course, those spoken to hope so too, but they appeared a little more defensive. “It can loosen a few knots, but it can also pull the knots even tighter. Everything is possible in ski flying” said Horngacher. Wellinger spoke of “Curse and blessing“, but also found: “It was the right step for ski flying today.“
Karl Geiger sees it much more positively. “I’m really looking forward to ski flying” beamed the athlete from SC Oberstdorf. “If everything fits together, then I could really have fun in Oberstdorf.“
Eisenbichler is still completely left out
Markus Eisenbichler will not be there again. The Siegsdorfer had already been removed from the World Cup squad before the Four Hills Tournament and, after eleven World Cup competitions this winter, had to compete in the Continental Cup last weekend. He was also disappointing there: when jumping in Bischofshofen he missed the top 20 twice, and on Sunday he even came in 40th.
So he won’t help the German team in the current crisis.