In the team competition, the Austrian quartet prevailed over hosts Slovenia. The DSV-Skiadler around Andreas Wellinger finished fifth.
On Saturday (April 1st, 2023) in Planica, Slovenia, the ski jumpers still had to jump the ski jump for the team event after the individual event. In front of the crowd of 35,000 spectators, the Austrian quartet with individual winner Stefan Kraft celebrated victory in front of the hosts around top jumper Anze Lanisek. High flyer Halvor Egner Granerud was third with Norway. Andreas Wellinger, Karl Geiger, Markus Eisenbichler and Felix Hoffmann were 237.7 points behind the winners. For the quartet it was only enough for fifth place.
Even before the last competition, Austria had won the national rankings ahead of Norway and Slovenia.
Planica briefly gives Wellinger wings
The DSV quartet was not one of the favorites for victory. The performances shown at the season finale were not enough for the big surprise either.
However, Andreas Wellinger stood out, who briefly got wings and sailed a whopping 240 meters in the first attempt. Relieved, the 27-year-old from SC Ruhpolding threw both arms up in the air. Unfortunately, it only went up to 206.5 meters after that. “The season really wasn’t easy for us,” said the world champion, for whom the season had gone best. “As a team, we definitely couldn’t call on the quality we’ve got“But you couldn’t always show it.”The quality, the ease that we can retrieve it in the long season, wasn’t there“Wellinger analyzed the sometimes disappointing performances in the World Cup winter.
Even Geiger can still do it
Geiger, ski flying world champion of 2020, managed to climb 27 meters compared to the individual competition that had just taken place. He was able to hang up 228 meters and was satisfied. “Git hasn’t fit yet. But close to it really happening“, said the 30-year-old from Oberstdorf after the first round in an ARD interview. However, it didn’t really go well in the second round either, because Geiger’s flight was over after a sobering 217 meters.
Eisenbichler: Crowbar wasn’t the right way
After all, Markus Eisenbichler (202.5/222.5m) still had a small sense of achievement. In the final jump he was able to pull his flight over the 220 meter mark. “II haven’t really gotten over the device in the last few days“, said Eisenbichler, who switched to harder skis at short notice and was satisfied with the result. Otherwise he was “yes, someone who likes to try it with a crowbar in ski flying, and that can also go haywire very quickly. Therefore be it so”another very good step” been.
Youngster Felix Hoffmann was not able to repeat his good performance from qualifying for the individual. In team jumping, he jumped 201.5 and 193.5 meters. Nevertheless, his conclusion was very positive. “Did a lot right,” beamed the 25-year-old.