They had to wait a long time, now it’s fixed: In 2023/24 there will be a Four Hills Tournament for women for the first time. The DSV has now announced this. But there are still a few questions to be answered.
The Four Hills Tournament for women ski jumpers is to celebrate its premiere the winter after next. The Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) announced this on Thursday after the ÖSV had previously reached an agreement with the German Ski Association (DSV) and the Ski World Association Fis. It should start in the 2023/24 season.
The 71st edition is coming up for men
“The time until the first jumping of the women’s tour should now be used to clarify all open questions and the respective framework conditions together with all stakeholders,” wrote the ÖSV in a statement.
This winter, the men already had the 70th edition of the traditional event, which always takes place around the turn of the year in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (both in Germany) as well as Innsbruck and Bischofshofen (both in Austria).
Order not like the men
It is initially planned that the stations in Germany will be crossed. That means: If the men start in Oberstdorf, the women start in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the big Olympic hill. It is still unclear how the locations will be dealt with in Austria.
According to the organizers, the aim is to create “a high-quality series of events in the long term” analogous to the men’s tour.
Althaus’ vehement demands
The ski jumping women around world-class athlete Katharina Althaus had recently demanded the introduction of the tour for women more and more vehemently.
“Of course we would like to have the competition in the same place. Otherwise it wouldn’t be a Four Hills Tournament,” Althaus clarified when alternatives in Austria and Slovenia were discussed around the turn of the year. This now appears to be off the table.