Former Four Hills Tournament winner Sven Hannawald identified communication errors at the German Ski Association in an exclusive interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de – which may have played a role in this year’s tour.
Despite missing a podium place at the Four Hills Tournament, ski jumping icon Sven Hannawald can “not blame” the German team from a sporting perspective, as he said in an interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de emphasized (The entire interview runs in the video above instead of the article image). “Because I notice how hard and intensive the work was – regardless of whether it concerns the material or other construction sites.”
The opportunities in Germany are different than those of the Austrians, who ultimately celebrated a triple victory. Daniel Tschofenig won the Golden Eagle ahead of Jan Hörl and Stefan Kraft, the best German was the current overall World Cup leader Pius Paschke in sixth place.
But what is always noticeable, according to the ARD expert: As soon as the Four Hills Tournament approaches in the calendar, the tension at the German Ski Association (DSV) is noticeably greater. He notices this especially in communication, says the ex-jumper. “And I think that’s reflected in the boys.”
ARD expert Hannawald: “I notice slight errors in communication”
A good example was the last World Cup before the tour in Engelberg. In his role as a TV expert, Hannawald only found out at very short notice that the great German hope Pius Paschke was able to train less in advance due to illness. “Communication was difficult, I only found out on Sunday after the last jump that Pius Paschke was sick during the week and not completely fit. If you communicate that in advance, I approach the analysis of the jumpers completely differently.”
Paschke himself wouldn’t have been under so much pressure to have to show top jumps shortly before the tour. In Switzerland he only ended up in tenth and 18th place.
“I notice slight errors in communication. It’s not easy to go on tour as a favorite,” said the 50-year-old. Instead, you have to approach the matter “lightly and relaxed,” said Hannawald, who was the last German to win the prestigious Four Hills Tournament in 2001/02.