When the last jumps of the season were flown and the last interviews were given, the German ski jumpers were exhausted and relieved. Almost all German ski jumping eagles were happy on Sunday (March 27th, 2022) in the bright sunshine of Planica that this winter was finally over after 40 competitions.
Karl Geiger: “Tired”
“You can tell everyone is tired”said Karl Geiger. “The batteries are empty”, stated the sporting director of the ski jumpers, Horst Hüttel. National coach Stefan Horngacher summed it up that he had to go to the season finale “a smiling and a crying eye”. And Severin Freund, who ended his career on the last day of the ski jumping winter, said: “It’s the right time. Thank you. It was beautiful.”
Horngacher: “Medals at every major event”
The German jumpers are happy that the season is over. Can you also be satisfied? Yes, say Horngacher and Hüttel in unison: “All in all, we had a good season”says Hüttel. “The overall balance is positive”Horngacher looks back on the past four months with a similar mood. “We’ve won a medal or two at every major event.”
Karl Geiger flies ahead
The outstanding jumper among the German men was once again Karl Geiger. The 29-year-old finished second in the overall World Cup and wore the yellow jersey for a long time. The man from Oberstdorf won Olympic bronze on the large hill, celebrated four World Cup victories and finished second in the Raw Air Tour. In addition to Geiger, Markus Eisenbichler also flew onto the World Cup podium – after a fall in the summer, the Bavarian was not as consistent as in previous years.
As a team, the Germans also took bronze on the large hill and silver at the Ski Flying World Championships. “Six different people won a medal. That’s also extraordinary”, Honrgacher summed up. In the national classification, the Germans ended the season third – behind Austria and Slovenia and ahead of Norway.
self-doubt and withdrawal
Karl Geiger was a constant in the successes. The currently best DSV-Adler is characterized by being able to focus and reflect. In terms of sport, the former “small hill Karle” has made a name for himself at the latest by winning the ski flyingWM 2021 also developed into a man for the big hills.
But the man from Oberstdorf is not completely without self-doubt either. “I’ve come second so many times in Big Points, but I haven’t won that many times.”said Geiger, dejected and self-critical, after it was clear in Planica that his dream of the overall World Cup would no longer come true.
The unfulfilled touring dream
Another dream remained unfulfilled again. The dream of the first German Four Hills Tournament victory since 2002. Geiger was also one of the top favorites here, but after the second competition he had to bury his winning ambitions. “One or two things didn’t go well for us. Karl then dug in a bit, that wasn’t ideal.”said Horngacher after the tour, which Geier only finished fourth.
With a little distance, Karl Geiger reflected on the winter like this: “It was the same this year: I started well, then I got worse because I went in the wrong direction, and then it got better again.”
Hüttel: “Lack of consistency and mental freshness”
Horngacher summed up the whole team as having each other “Always have to dig out of a hole. But we’ve proven again and again that we can do it.” Hüttel sees a starting point for working towards next winter here:
“We’ll think about a few methodical things”says the association official on Deutschlandfunk and mentions two specific points: “Consistency in the long run is necessary” and using the example of the mixed results of the season finale: “It’s a mental freshness that’s gone.”
Wellinger: “Season can start tomorrow”
Which is no longer there in almost the entire team would have to be added correctly. The winter could only go on for one person: After a long period of suffering due to injury, Andreas Wellinger finally rediscovered his ability to fly at the season finale. “I am fully motivated and would like to do a few more flights. We can start a new season tomorrow.”said Wellinger in Planica.
At the beginning of the season, the 26-year-old repeatedly missed the final of the top 30, had to watch the Olympics, but at the end of the season flew with the team to silver in the ski flying competition.WM. Like Welllinger, Stephan Leyhe, who has also recovered from a cruciate ligament rupture, was able to convince in certain areas. In addition, Justin Lisso and Philipp Raimund, two young jumpers, collected their first World Cup points.
Is Czech Michal Dolezal coming?
Stefan Horngacher, as national coach, will continue to prepare the German ski jumpers for the two highlights of winter 2022/23, the Four Hills Tournament and the Nordic World Ski Championships in Planica. Hüttel said that on the sidelines of the season finale in Planica.
They are also working on a further contract extension with the Austrian. Additional support could come from the Polish team: the German Ski Association is in talks with the Czech Michal Dolezal, whose contract as head coach of the Poles is expiring. Also the confirmed Hüttel in Planica.