44 minutes to bliss – that’s exactly how long it took for the 30 best ski pilots in the world to finish their last big air show. There were good reasons why Andreas Wellinger and Stefan Kraft were beaming afterwards. Thanks to a fantastic flight, Germany’s best ski jumper managed to improve from fourth place to second.
World Cup silver for Wellinger, who was “extremely happy and relieved”. His final flight at 229 meters resembled something out of a ski flying picture book. “Andi was the best in the whole field,” said Stefan Horngacher. In his analysis in the interview zone of the ski flying hill in Bad Mitterndorf, which was well attended with 18,500 spectators, the national coach emphasized that “it is always very good when you are the next winner behind Stefan Kraft.
Krafti is the man who always jumps over the green line, no matter where it is.” Kraft has been the benchmark in ski jumping for many years. He has been the world record holder in ski flying since his flight to 253.5 meters seven years ago on the Norwegian Riesenbakken in Vikersund. And now finally world champions. “Today was the most emotional day of my career,” said the 30-year-old Austrian. “I’ve never heard so many people sing along to the national anthem. That’s really heartwarming.”
“Long and difficult day”
What happened in the hours before around the ski jump at Kulm got on my nerves. The jury repeatedly had to postpone the third round due to strong and constantly changing winds. There was no longer enough time for a fourth, which the regulations normally provide for. There are no floodlights on the Kulm, and so the 30 finalists were sent over the Bakken in record time two hours after the original start time.
It was “a long and difficult day,” as Oberstdorfer Karl Geiger, who finished in 19th place, later said. With a happy ending for the German flying artists. The fact that Wellinger was only 1.83 meters short of surpassing Kraft in the overall ranking after his flight of 229 meters still filled him with great satisfaction.
“Until an hour ago, I could have gone home in third place with a clean sheet and 0.5 points behind,” he told the FAZ. “I won silver and didn’t lose gold. I started the race in fourth place.” National coach Horngacher was sure: “Andi’s medal can pull the others along.” An assessment that came true on Sunday.
In the final team competition, which was watched by 11,250 visitors at the ski jumping facility on the Kulm, which was spruced up for the World Championships, in wonderful meteorological conditions for a long time, the German quartet consisting of Wellinger, Geiger, Stephan Leyhe and Pius Paschke secured third place. The title went to the dominant ski flying nation of Slovenia.
Host Austria came second. The German team was even in the lead at one point. But because each of the eight jumps actually counts, there wasn’t enough in the final tally. Leyhe’s first flight at 198.5 meters caused Horngacher’s team to fall back to third place. The second only led Leyhe to 164.5 meters.
Great respect for Wellinger
The fact that things are not always 100% fair in ski flying was evident at the World Championships in Bad Mitterndorf on Friday and Saturday, which were accompanied by rain and wind. The Slovenian Timi Zajc, who was leading after the first two rounds, had the worst wind conditions compared to Wellinger and Kraft. The supporting air cushion that was available to him at the moment of his flight allowed him to land at 209.5 meters – and in third place.
There was great joy in the German camp over Wellinger’s silver. “I am very, very happy,” said Horst Hüttel, the sports director of the German Ski Association. The way in which the 28-year-old Wellinger managed to deliver his best performance at a moment of maximum tension commanded Horngacher the greatest respect. “I’m very excited,” said the national coach, who was actually trying to maintain his composure. Horngacher was one of the first from the German crew to hug the athletes, coaches and supervisors.
Ralf Weitbrecht, Bad Mitterndorf Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1 Ralf Weitbrecht, Bad Mitterndorf Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1 Ralf Weitbrecht, Bad Mitterndorf Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
Ski flying – the Champions League of ski jumpers. World champion Kraft is right in his assessment. “My heart beat even faster today,” said the man from Pongau. Kraft was almost overwhelmed that he had still managed to fly away from Zajc, who was in the lead. “I celebrated my first home win here at the Kulm and have now won gold here. Unbelievable.” And Wellinger took silver. “This is what ski flying must feel like,” said the enthusiastic Olympic champion.
