2025/26 FIS Ski Jumping Women’s World Cup Preview

Following a near-flawless history-making campaign, in which Nika Prevc (SLO) became one of the sport’s all-time greats despite still being in her teenage years, can anyone realistically stop the ‘Queen of Winter’ from achieving further record-breaking successes?

In short, given her age and relentless drive few would back anyone other than the Slovenian to claim a third-successive Crystal Globe and potentially a maiden Olympic title – or two – come Milano-Cortina 2026 in February.

However, with Abigail Strate (CAN) and Nozomi Maruyama (JPN) finishing ahead of her during the recent FIS Grand Prix series, perhaps there is hope for the rest of the pack.

An ‘outside’ contender could also come from the sport of Nordic Combined, with three-time World champion Gyda Westvold Hansen (NOR) making the switch to full-time ski jumping in a bid to compete for Norway at next year’s Olympic Winter Games.

As with the 2024/25 campaign, female and male athletes will begin in Lillehammer (NOR) with the Mixed Team contest on Friday (21 November), before individual World Cup double-headers across Saturday and Sunday (22-23 Nov).

The women’s field will, for the first time in FIS Ski Jumping history, have the opportunity to contest more individual World Cup events (33) than men (30) this season.

They will also compete under new equipment regulations, with FIS making ‘adaptations’ to improve safety following the knee-injuries suffered by reigning Olympic champion Alexandria Loutitt (CAN) and veteran Eva Pinkelnig (AUT), which will see them miss the 2026 Games.

Given their absence, the retirement of Pinkelnig’s former national rival Jacqueline Seifriedsberger (AUT) and the long-term injury absence of Thea Minyan Bjørseth (NOR) though, there will be opportunities for new names to emerge.

Ahead of the new season FIS takes a look at some of the main ones-to-watch.

WILL NIKA PREVC PREVAIL ONCE MORE?

Crystal Globe retained, Two-Nights Tour title defended, World Championship gold attained, at the double and a new women’s world record; Nika Prevc’s ‘main’ but far from her only achievements during one of the most outstanding seasons in the history of the sport. 

With 15 victories the Slovenian matched the previous best-ever season, achieved by Japanese pioneer Sara Takanashi (JPN) in 2015-16, but Prevc’s points total of 1,933 was new record, as it surpassed the previous mark set by Maren Lundby (NOR) in 2018-19.

What else in there to achieve? Well, the now 20-year-old stands level with Takanashi on ten successive World Cup victories and while setting a new landmark will be a target come the season-opener in Lillehammer, the main aim for this season will be to land Olympic gold.

FREITAG TARGETS CONSISTENT FORM IN THE OLYMPIC SEASON

Heading into the 2024/25 campaign Selina Freitag (GER) had gone over 18 months without a podium finish and had only attained three during her five seasons on the World Cup circuit.

Her honors list would expand significantly after taking second and third on the opening weekend in Lillehammer (NOR). A quieter period followed before a significant step up from the middle of January onwards, with her double silver at the World Championships – the first major solo medals of her career – a particular highlight.

Back on the World Cup circuit Freitag’s improved form saw her overhaul team-mate Katharina Schmid (GER) into second in the overall standings and she will be looking to maintain that momentum heading into the new campaign and her second Olympic Games.

SCHMID SEEKS SUSTAINED SUCCESS ONCE MORE

Seven World titles and two individual Olympic medals, together with three Crystal Globe runner-up spots helps identify Katharina Schmid (GER) as one of the most decorated and experienced athletes on the World Cup circuit. 

In 2024/25 she made the best start a season of her career with three wins and two second place finishes from the opening five contests and the battle with Nika Prevc looked set to become one of the most epic showdowns in recent years.

However, that did not materialise with Schmid’s form dipping. She placed third at the recent German Championships to secure her place on the World Cup circuit for 2025/26 and insists that she is “feeling better and better” ahead of the new campaign.

CAN KVANDAL CLIMB INTO OVERALL CONTENTION?

The Norwegian will enter the new season off the back of the two strong campaigns, claiming 10 and nine podium finishes respectively during 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Eirin Maria Kvandal (NOR) would likely have attained even further honours last season, but for opting to take time away from the World Cup circuit to better prepare for a home World Championships, which saw her claim two Team gold medals and individual bronze.

Her main focus now will be to secure a maiden Olympic medal come Milano-Cortina 2026 and a strong start to the World Cup season will certainly boost her prospects.

WILL EDER EASE INTO AUSTRIA’S ‘LEAD’ ROLE?

Following the retirement of Jacqueline Seifriedsberger and injury to Eva Pinkelnig – two of Austria’s line-up who helped claim World Team silver last season – Lisa Eder will now largely carry the sole burden of placing her nation on the World Cup podium this season.

The 24-year-old is ready for that responsibility though, having attained four podium finishes during the 2024/25 campaign and clearly improving season upon season. 

OTHER ONES-TO-WATCH

Anna Odine Stroem (NOR) enjoyed her best World Cup campaign back in 2022/23, where she attained 10 top-three results, including a hattrick of victories, but after a serious knee injury curtailed her ambitions during the following season, she is now edging back to her form of old.

Three runner-up positions in the latter stages of last season, together with an individual World Championship Normal Hill bronze, and a Grand Prix win at the new Olympic venue in Italy, underlines her ability to consistently challenge at the summit of the sport.

With three World titles and two overall World Cup victories Gyda Westvold Hansen (NOR) is the most dominant female Nordic Combined athlete of the modern era, but the sport is not currently part of the Olympic programme.

In order to have a chance of achieving her “dream” by representing Norway at an Olympic Games she has made the switch to full-time ski jumping and will make her World Cup bow in Lillehammer. 

Slovenia’s first-ever ski jumping World champion Ema Klinec (SLO) will be looking to attain a World Cup medal for the tenth season in a row during the 2025/26 campaign.

Abigail Strate (CAN) was part of Canada’s Olympic bronze medal winning Mixed Team line-up at Beijing 2022 and signalled her intentions to become a solo contender by winning gold in the FIS Grand Prix to be held at the new Olympic ski jumping hill for Milano-Cortina 2026.

That event saw her impressively finish ahead of a strong field which included double World champion Nika Prevc (SLO).

Rising star Ingvild Midtskogen (NOR) made her World Cup debut at start of the 2022/23 season, when she was just 14 years old and attained two encouraging fifth place finishes in Lillehammer last season, before going on to become World junior champion.

She was also part of Norway’s four-strong Team Normal Hill World champions squad and will be using this season to firmly establish herself as not only a regular part of her nation’s World Cup squad, but also make progress towards becoming the regular medal contender many feel she can become.

Eight seasons may have passed since Sara Takanashi (JPN) last dominated the World Cup circuit but the four-time Crystal Globe winner still draws the crowds and placed third in the recent Grand Prix series. Team-mate Nozomi Maruyama (JPN), who topped the standings after the nine events, will be seeking a first World Cup podium finish since 2023 this year.