The best ski jumpers will compete in Sapporo, Japan, this weekend. The eyes are, among other things, on World Cup returnee Noriaki Kasai. However, the “pterosaur” suffered a setback in qualifying on Friday.
Kasai (110.5 meters) came in 55th and missed the jump into the 50-strong starting field for the first competition on Saturday (from 7:15 a.m.). sport.de-Live ticker).
The victory in the qualification went to his compatriot Ryoyu Kobayashi (139 meters).
Philipp Raimund (129m) was the best German ski jumper in seventh place. Karl Geiger (29th place) and Luca Roth (39th) also made it into the 50-strong field for Saturday. Ben Bayer was eliminated from qualifying in 52nd place.
Old master Kasai celebrates World Cup comeback in ski jumping
Kasai is part of the Japanese team’s World Cup squad for the first time this ski jumping season. In addition to the six original starting places, the hosts were allowed to award four more tickets for the World Cup in Sapporo.
Kasai last competed in the World Cup last winter, also in Sapporo. The 1992 ski flying world champion set an age record at the age of 52. At the age of 53, Kasai could beat his own record again this weekend. To do this, however, the “pterosaur” would have to qualify for the second competition on Sunday.
Kasai made his ski jumping debut in 1988 at the age of 16. To put it into perspective: back then people still jumped in parallel style.
Kasai still hopes to take part in the 2026 Olympics, although his chances are slim due to the tough competition on the Japanese team. “It’s 99 percent impossible. But I’ll do my best and hope for the one percent,” said the 53-year-old himself about his prospects before the World Cup in Sapporo.
