Next generation shines at FIS Youth Cup in Oberstdorf

The first FIS Youth Cup of the 2026/27 season got underway in Oberstdorf (GER) today, bringing together 129 young Nordic Combined athletes from 15 nations for two days of competition on the HS 60.

Traditionally, the Youth Cup is being held alongside the FIS Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix, giving the next generation the opportunity to compete in the same venue as their World Cup role models and connect with some of the sport’s biggest names.

Despite cloudy skies and rainy conditions, spirits remained high throughout the day. Several World Cup athletes also made their way to the jumping hill in the morning to support the youngsters from the sidelines.

Today’s Individual Gundersen competitions consisted of one jumping round followed by a cross-country run through Oberstdorf. Tomorrow, the athletes will return to the hill before exchanging their running shoes for roller skis.

Boys 1

The Boys 1 competition featured 33 athletes from 13 nations.

Aleksi Lappi (FIN) took the lead on the hill with the longest jump of the category, reaching 56.5 meters and scoring 112 points. He started first into the 3.9 km cross-country run through Oberstdorf.

Eric Foerschler (GER) ranked second with 54 meters and 104 points and began the race 24 seconds behind Lappi. Svit Marosek (SLO) followed in third after jumping 52.5 meters for 102.6 points, 28 seconds behind.

Lappi tried to hold onto his advantage, but Foerschler caught him during the opening lap and then produced an impressive performance at the front.

The 14-year-old German broke away from the rest of the field and never looked back, securing the second Youth Cup victory of his career with a 28-second advantage.

Behind him, Sverre Hov (NOR) delivered a strong comeback from eighth place after jumping to finish second.

Till Thumser (GER) made up even more ground. Starting the race from 12th position, he worked his way through the field to claim third place, reaching the finish 50.7 seconds behind the winner and giving Germany two athletes on the podium.

Girls 1

A total of 20 athletes from 13 nations lined up in the Girls 1 category.

Charlotte Starke (GER) set the pace in the morning, producing the longest jump of the competition with 56 meters and 106 points. The German therefore headed into the 1.3 km cross-country run as the leader.

Romina Otto (SUI) followed in second after jumping 54 meters and scoring 102 points, starting 12 seconds behind Starke. Olava Wesche Fossheim (NOR) ranked third with 54.5 meters and 99.6 points, 19 seconds behind the leader.

Starke held onto her advantage in the early stages of the race, but Mette Korhonen (FIN), who had started from fourth place, quickly closed the gap.

The Finn eventually moved into the lead and could not be caught, securing victory in her first-ever international competition.

Starke crossed the finish line in second place, 7.7 seconds behind the winner, while Fossheim defended her third position to complete the podium, 26.2 seconds back.

Boys 2

With 50 athletes from 14 nations, the Boys 2 category featured the largest field of the day.

Filippo Desilvestro (ITA) took a narrow lead after the jumping round with 54.5 meters and 108.3 points.

Jaka Pavec (SLO) also landed at 54.5 meters and scored just 0.1 points less with 108.2, meaning the two headed onto the 3.9 km course together. Gabriel Barkats Brandina (FRA) was close behind in third with 54.5 meters and 107.3 points, starting only three seconds later.

With ten athletes beginning the race within the first 20 seconds, the fight for the podium was wide open.

The standings changed dramatically once the race got underway. Desilvestro dropped back to 44th place, while Pavec fell to 28th and Brandina finished 30th.

Instead, Mattias Haller (SUI) produced one of the biggest comebacks of the day. After ranking 24th in jumping, the Swiss athlete worked his way through the field, took over the lead and opened a significant gap over the chasing group.

Haller reached the finish first to celebrate his maiden Youth Cup victory with a 17.8-second advantage.

Maks Grasic (SLO), 14th after jumping, climbed into second place, while Nico Voetter (AUT) made an impressive charge from 30th to third, finishing 22.2 seconds behind the winner.

Girls 2

A total of 26 athletes from 11 nations competed in the Girls 2 category.

Michele-Sophie Eller (GER) led after the jumping round with 55.5 meters and 107.2 points, earning the first starting position for the 2.6 km cross-country run.

Loa Jaentet (FRA) followed in second after reaching 53 meters and scoring 103.3 points, starting 12 seconds behind Eller.

Karina Kozlova (UKR) produced the longest jump of the category with 56.5 meters. Her 102.7 points put her in third place, 14 seconds behind the leader.

Eller tried to defend her advantage on the course, but Jaentet proved too strong and moved into the lead.

The 16 year-old French controlled the remainder of the race and crossed the finish line first to secure her maiden Youth Cup victory.

Her teammate Laly Pingat (FRA), who had started from fourth position, moved up to second and finished 17.3 seconds behind, giving France a one-two result.

The final podium place was decided in a dramatic sprint to the line between Mara Haefner (GER) and Caroline Chor (SGP). The two arrived side by side, but Haefner reached the line first and claimed third place, 48.7 seconds behind the winner.

Chor followed just 0.7 seconds later in fourth, finishing 49.4 seconds behind Jaentet.

With athletes from seven nations reaching the podium, the opening day marked a successful start to the FIS Youth Cup season.