What a turbulent start to 2024 for the German ski jumpers. Agnes Reisch had a promising fall at the World Cup in Villach on Wednesday (January 4th, 2024), Selina Freitag was thrown off course after a confusing measurement error and Anna Rupprecht fell from second to ninth place.
It looked so good. At halftime, Rupprecht and Reisch were second and seventh on course for the podium, but in the end the German ski jumpers also came away empty-handed in Villach. Rupprecht fell back to ninth place after just 84 meters, but was still the best German.
“The first jump showed what I could do. Then I lost my nerves after the difficult time. Nevertheless, it was a really big step in the right direction for our team.”said Rupprecht on ZDF. The change of coach shortly before the season did “caused quite a bit of unrest”Rupprecht admitted, but said: “Everything is alright.”
Prevc wins by a big margin
The outstanding Nika Prevc from Slovenia secured victory. The sister of the Prevc brothers already had an XXL lead after the first round and easily achieved victory in the first World Cup competition in 2024. After 96.5 meters she sailed to 92 meters in the final and celebrated a dominant victory.
Eva Pinkelnig made hosts Austria celebrate with a fantastic comeback. After a dream jump of 95 meters, Pinkelnig moved up from eighth to second place. Abigail Strate from Canada came third.
Nika Prevc was in a league of her own in Villach.
Shocking moment for Agnes Reisch
Agnes Reisch was lying in wait in seventh place after the first round. The podium was only two points away. As with his first attempt (93 m), Reisch caught the jump well, sailed to 90 meters, but fell when landing and fell back to 23rd place.
The 24-year-old had problems landing on the icy slope on her first attempt and later explained this weakness: “I still have my knee in the back of my head when I land.” In May 2021, Reisch tore a cruciate ligament in his right knee during a training jump in Tschagguns.
Downgraded Friday after “measurement error.”
Selina went through a rollercoaster of emotions on Friday. The Oberwiesenthaler celebrated her first jump over a supposed 93.5 meters and second place. The joy was short-lived. The FIS had identified a measurement error and checked it again. Result: Friday landed three meters earlier and was therefore not second, but eleventh.
This confusion and demotion did not leave Friday unmoved. With 87.5 meters in the second round, the 22-year-old fell back and missed the top ten in 13th place.
Heßler misses the final
Luisa Görlich from WSV Lauscha landed twice at exactly 87 meters, finishing the first competition of the year in 18th place and particularly struggling with her landing. “I like large hills better. I find it a bit difficult here”said Görlich on ZDF. The four-time World Cup winner Juliane Seyfarth (Ruhla) lost a few places after 24th place at halftime with 84 meters and had to settle for 28th place in the final tally.
For Pauline Heßler from WSV Lauscha, the competition was over after just one jump. At 83 meters, Heßler was just a spectator in the final.
Ski jumper Schmid misses the Villach World Cup
The second World Cup competition continues in Villach on Thursday (January 4th, 2024, 12.30 p.m. in the live ticker and live on Erste). Then again without the seven-time world champion Katharina Schmid, formerly Althaus. She forgoes the World Cup and instead works on her form at home. As 14th in the overall World Cup, Germany’s best ski jumper is still behind the world leaders this season.