Youth Cup: Record breaking start in Oberstdorf

The new FIS Youth Cup season began in Oberstdorf (GER) with a historic opening: a record 137 young athletes from 13 different nations lined up for the first events of the 2025/26 season.

Over two days, the youngsters will compete in one Individual Gundersen race per category. Tuesday and Wednesday’s program is staged on the HS60 hill in Oberstdorf’s Orlen Arena, with the cross-country courses winding through the village – 1.3 km for Youth I and longer distances for Youth II.

Boys I

In the Boys I competition, France’s Gabriel Barkats Brandina delivered the strongest Ski Jumping result. He flew 60 meters, scoring 121.7 points, which gave him a narrow advantage over Germany’s Eric Foerschler, who landed at 58 meters (118.7 pts) and started the run just 9 seconds behind. Austria’s Maximilian Ferner followed in third place after a 57.5 m jump (114.4 pts), 22 seconds back.

But the cross-country phase reshuffled the standings. Slovenia’s Maks Grasic, only 13th after Ski Jumping, produced a brilliant 2.6 km race in 10:51 minutes – the fastest time of the day – to claim the victory. Foerschler defended second place, while Brandina had to settle for third after slipping two positions.

Results: IG, Boys I – 26.8.25 Oberstdorf

Girls I

The Ski Jumping section of the Girls I category was led by Germany’s Michele-Sophie Eller, who jumped 54.5 meters for 108.2 points. Just behind was Charlotte Starke with 55.5 meters (106.4 pts), only five seconds off the leader. Their teammate Mara Haefner followed in third with 54 meters (106.3 pts), 6 seconds back.

On the 1.3 km cross run, Haefner proved strongest, overtaking Eller early on and pushing into the lead. Austria’s Lena Gollmitzer, 5th after Ski Jumping, also closed in on the front group, but couldn’t quite catch the German. Haefner crossed the line first, with Gollmitzer just 5.1 seconds behind. Starke claimed third after a thrilling finish sprint, only 5.6 seconds off the winner.

Results: IG, Girls I – 26.8.25 Oberstdorf

Boys II

Austria’s Simon Grossegger took control in the Ski Jumping part of Boys II. A 57.5 m effort and 115 points secured him a comfortable 23-second lead for the 3.9 km cross run. Slovenia’s Lovro Percl Serucnik sat in second with 55 m (107.4 pts), while Norway’s Syver Bjerke Lunde followed in third at 56 m (104 pts), 33 seconds back.

The race, however, told a different story. Grossegger could not maintain his advantage and slipped to 6th, while Serucnik surged ahead and confidently carried his lead to the finish, taking a clear win with a 22.5-second margin. Behind him, the biggest surprises came from further down the field: Switzerland’s Mael Niedhart stormed through from 19th after jumping, clocking the day’s fastest time of 16:01.7 minutes, to grab second. France’s Loris Lecomte produced an equally stunning run, climbing from 29th to third, finishing 49.3 seconds behind the winner.

Results: IG, Boys II – 26.8.25 Oberstdorf

Girls II

In the Girls II category, Ukraine’s Karina Kozlova topped the Ski Jumping round with 54.5 m (104.7 pts). Italy’s Ludovica Del Bianco followed with 53 m (99.5 pts), starting the 2.6 km run 16 seconds later. Slovakia’s Lucia Siragiova placed third after a 49.5 m jump (89.1 pts), 47 seconds behind.

On the course, Switzerland’s Giulia Belz quickly turned the race upside down. Starting in 4th after Ski Jumping, she surged into the lead already on the first lap and never looked back, finishing with an impressive 52-second gap. Kozlova managed to hold on to second place, while Norway’s Kristiane Tyrom, climbing up from 8th after jumping, secured third place 1:01.7 minutes behind Belz.

Results: IG, Girls II – 26.8.25 Oberstdorf