Winter sports
A bright spot after a difficult start: Hoffmann jumped to the podium
Felix Hoffmann is celebrating the premiere of a special ski jump in Lillehammer. In contrast, his older teammates had problems – especially Andreas Wellinger.
Felix Hoffmann laughs and celebrates his podium debut with his teammates. The 28-year-old gave Germany’s ski jumping team a reason to celebrate over a tough World Cup weekend. “That’s really cool, I’m very happy,” said Hoffmann at ARD. Then he rushed to the awards ceremony.
Hoffmann jumped to third place in Lillehammer, Norway, and finished on the World Cup podium for the first time in his career. The image of his smile contrasts with the disappointed faces of his experienced teammates.
Wellinger: The process of creeping as a “sour dog”
Andreas Wellinger seemed to be looking for a solution to his jumping problem when he talked to himself immediately after landing. The 2018 Olympic champion started the XXL season with bitter disappointments at the Four Hills Tournament, Olympics and World Flying Championships in Oberstdorf. Wellinger crashed out of qualifying on Saturday and missed the second round in 40th place the following day.
“It’s far from easy or confident,” Wellinger said at ARD after his final jump of a chaotic weekend at 123.5 metres. “Now it is important for me to build feelings again.” But it’s clear: This won’t happen overnight.
While you can adjust a lot of things in ski jumping, often you don’t feel the effects right away, explains Wellinger. This gradual process is sometimes “messy,” the 30-year-old said.
The day before he had chosen clear words and said: “I am hanging in the corner like a dead bird.” The fact that the material has changed as a result of rule changes following the scandal surrounding the manipulation of Norway’s jumpsuits at the last World Cup doesn’t make things any easier.
Geiger and Paschke are also not at their best
Wellinger is not the only veteran player in national coach Stefan Horngacher’s team who is currently experiencing difficulties. Karl Geiger finished 23rd on Sunday. His first attempt at 127 meters gave him hope. “I know that I have to make a little roll at the moment. But this is going in the right direction,” said the 32-year-old and confirmed that impression after his second attempt at 126.5 meters. Pius Paschke, who was three years older, finished in 27th place.
Hoffmann, on the other hand, jumped to heights of 139 and 138 meters. He won outright ahead of fourth-placed teammate Philipp Raimund. I am very satisfied. “Of course you prefer to hand over the podium to your teammates,” said the 25-year-old racer.
Ryoyu Kobayashi from Japan secured the win, second place went to Domen Prevc from Slovenia. The day before, Austria had dominated. Four Hills Tournament winner Daniel Tschofenig won ahead of his two teammates Jan Hörl and Stefan Kraft.
The athletes will continue in the next World Cup on Tuesday in Falun, Sweden.
dpa
