At the Nordic Ski World Cup in Trondheim there was the first medals for the German team on Friday. They were celebrated with confetti, corks and the crown prince.
In thick knitting sweaters and heavy shoes, many fans in Trondheim are on their way out of the city early on-into the forest, where the large steel stands were built, cross-trailer prepared and colorful World Cup banners have been set up between the trees. They put small Norwegian flags on their backpacks, hung bells with the engraving “Trondheim 2025” around their necks and equipped themselves with snacks for a long World Cup day. The hype – he is real in Trondheim.
Over 200,000 tickets were sold on Wednesday before the opening ceremony. With a “Heihei” fans and law enforcement officers greet each other, many brought folding chairs with them, painted Norwegian flags in the face or the mascot as a plush toy under their arms. The highlight for domestic fans on Friday: the mixed team competition in the Nordic combination.
Friday: “Silver medal? This is incredible”
The Norwegian team is a favorite early on and so the fans celebrate the expected World Cup title and Crown Prince Haakon, who is one of the most prominent fans in a bright red sweater before the finish. On Friday, he not only bobs the songs that roar from the big boxes in the stadium, but also sees the first two medals of the German team.
When the ski jumpers go into the decision in the second round, pouring rain begins – Selina Freitag is unimpressed, stays with him and fetches silver. The victory goes to Nika Prevc from Slovenia. “A silver medal? This is incredible,” says Friday after her long way through the interview zone – the hair from the rain soaks, she grins and keeps shaking her head almost incredulously.
Friday and Schmid cheer together
Strong jumps call on Friday almost at the moment. In the past few days, however, there has been much talk of a feeling for the small but difficult to discuss ski jump in Trondheim – even on Fridays Feeling was not always right. But: “The two competition jumps were really liberating because I could simply take the flow with me and the jump collapsed. It just was great fun.”
And that also because their teammates are feverish, happy for Friday and they supported. In the run they cheer together and Katharina Schmid, who won five medals at the Nordic Ski World Cup in Planica, reveals after the competition: “I was more nervous for the Seli than before my jumps.” You should just enjoy your moment on Friday. “It’s just overwhelming.”
Cork and confetti
Together, the two had already laid out solutions for any problems before the decision – such as the onset of rain. “I thought to myself: This is everything confetti that comes down,” says Freitag – the confetti could add banging corks in the evening. “In any case, they’ll pop, but whether we drink so much – let’s take a look,” jokes Friday and warns: “It goes on.”
This already applies in the Nordic combination, while on Friday there are still interviews. In the trail, the German team lurks for mistakes by the Norwegian favorite. The host’s mixed team acts confidently, fans and royals carry them with Norwegian flags and a lot of euphoria to the finish and gold. The German team goes on track with Jenny Nowak, Nathalie Armbruster, Julian Schmid and Vinzenz Geiger in difficult conditions – and get silver. Armbruster, which was sixth on Thursday, shines at the finish line. The 19-year-old’s relief is tangible.
Euphoria in the pouring rain
“We are very, very happy,” she says: “What Norway did – that was impressive.” And not only in competition, the fans also ensure goosebumps regardless of the large, heavy raindrops that patter on their jacket. “This is a moment that you never forget when so many people shout so loudly.” The fact that the many Norwegian flags softened after hours of rain in the evening, wavy of moisture, sink into a mixture of mud and snow, should also not matter to all-after a World Cup day with Norwegian euphoria and the first medals for the German team.
Team Germany Julian Schmid, Jenny Nowak, Nathalie Armbruster and Vinzenz Geiger, from left, celebrate in the finish area after second place at the Nordic Combined Mixed Team Normal HS102/4x5km competition at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Friday, February 28, 2025.