The German ski jumpers start the two-night tour. It may be the last one before the Four Hills Tournament comes for the jumpers.
When Selina Friday walks through the interview zone with her mint green skis on her shoulder and bright red cap after her strong jump in qualification, the fans cheer. At the start of the two-night tour in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, many of them dressed warmly. The wind whistles through the stadium with its large pillars and it is bitterly cold. But Selina Freitag is radiant.
When a group of women with pink hats and hot drinks in their thermos cups see them, they shout and sing – celebrating Friday for their start and hoping to get a selfie later with “Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee with him with him.”
Five Germans qualify
“It felt good”says the in-form German ski jumper in the interview, still within sight and earshot of the fan group. “It was a really good jump. I caught it well. I would have liked to jump another meter further. But all in all I’m satisfied.”
In the end it’s fourth place for Friday. Together with her teammates Agnes Reisch, Katharina Schmid, Juliane Seyfarth and Julina Kreibich, she has qualified and will be taking part in the first competition of the Two-Nights Tour in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the end of the year.
Four Hills Tournament: Floodlights should come on Bergisel
For the ski jumpers, however, this is the start of the “mini tour” – with two instead of four jumps, also a farewell to that two-night tour. The Four Hills Tournament for female ski jumpers is scheduled to take place in the 2026/27 season – that has been clear since the end of November. During the qualification, the official announcement was made again over the stadium loudspeakers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: the floodlights in Innsbruck are coming.
Austria’s sports director Mario Stecher had previously confirmed to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” that written approval was now available. The lack of floodlights on Bergisel had also previously served as an argument to explain why there is no Four Hills Tournament for female ski jumpers.
While the fans slap their thick gloves together to make a dull clap as the news comes over the loudspeakers, the ski jumpers are more reserved. “Of course I’m happy that there’s already such news, but after a long wait, I’d rather just wait and see.”says Friday. “I won’t believe it until it really starts”says teammate Agnes Reisch.
Schmid: “Step long overdue”
And yet the Four Hills Tournament has a special meaning. “As a child you watch them and many of them only got into ski jumping through the Four Hills Tournament”Reisch remembers. “When you as a woman always have to say: ‘We don’t have a format like that.’ Then people think we are too bad. But we are the best in the world and I’m looking forward to being able to jump in the Four Hills Tournament for the first time in Oberstdorf.”
While many of her teammates are still cautious, Katharina Schmid has something completely different in mind. “I think it’s a step that’s long overdue”she said and laughs. In recent years, Schmid has been one of those athletes who has stood up for equal opportunities for female ski jumpers, for visibility and sometimes a different self-image. Schmid is not bothered by the fact that she will no longer be there – should the Four Hills Tournament actually take place next season. “I’m just happy for all the girls who can enjoy it next year.”
Schmid looking forward to the home competition
A few days ago, Schmid announced the end of her career. It should be over at the end of the season and thus also after the Olympic Games in Italy. An emotional farewell, also for Schmid herself, who shaped ski jumpers, thrilled fans and fought battles like the one for the Four Hills Tournament. And yet the timing seems perfect for her. In response to a journalist’s surprised question as to whether she wanted to wait for the Four Hills Tournament for female ski jumpers, Schmid said at the press conference about the planned end of her career a few days ago: “I would never stop otherwise.”
The conviction with which she made this decision is visible, almost tangible. Schmid beams, waves to the cheering fans and then explains in the interview that she hasn’t quite made it to the qualification stage yet. Not satisfied with the width – but the smile remains. “Even though things may not have gone perfectly, I know what I have to do and I’m enjoying it.” Schmid can be seen looking forward to the two-night tour, but also to the jumping at home in Oberstdorf. “I’m looking forward to the competition at home and knowing that my family, my friends, are all there for me again. I’ll take that with me and enjoy it.”
Prize money instead of shower gel
Schmid’s teammates also want to show what they can do on the two-night tour – without saying goodbye. What they achieved together is already clear. Because unlike last year, the winner of the qualification no longer received shower gel, but 3,175 euros. Freitag, who won the qualification in Garmisch-Partenkirchen last year, was supposed to be content with shower gel, shampoo and a few towels – and made this massive difference to the men the subject of a live interview on ARD.
“It’s nice that all the hustle and bustle paid off. I would have liked to take it myself”she says now and laughs. “It’s nice that there is now prize money for the qualification.” Teammate Schmid also sees it this way: “Of course it’s always a shame that you have to make such a fuss for something to change. But: It has changed and we’re happy about it.”
National coach Kuttin optimistic
And perhaps the Four Hills Tournament for female ski jumpers will actually take place next winter – it has been firmly planned by the FIS, the International Ski Federation. National coach Heinz Kuttin is optimistic. “I came here with the mindset that it would be the last two-night tour. Hopefully next year there will be the first Four Hills Tournament for women.”he says. Selina Freitag has now walked a few meters further. The cheering fans get their selfies and beam into the cell phone cameras from under their pink hats.