Tschofenig tops all-Austrian podium in World Cup return
Nov 22, 2025·Ski Jumping)
Reigning Crystal Globe champion Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) made the perfect start to his title defence by topping an all-Austrian FIS Ski Jumping World Cup podium in the first men’s event of the season in Lillehammer (NOR).
Tschofenig, who also won the 2024/25 Four Hills contest during an outstanding campaign, had missed much of the summer Grand Prix series as well as many weeks training while recovering from a knee injury.
As such, many were backing last season’s overall runner-up Jan Hoerl to challenge for the victory and while the Austrian was impressive he would have to settle for second.
Tschofenig took victory with a combined total of 311.5 points from two jumps, with Hoerl 4.3pts back and national team-mate Stefan Kraft a further 0.9pts behind, completing the top-three.
“It was an amazing day, for sure and I have to say it’s the most surprising win,” Tschofenig told FIS. I wasn’t where I wanted to be in training before, but as soon as the competition began it worked.”
The 23-year-old continued; “the conditions were tricky with it changing so quick from head wind to tail wind in the first round and then in the second round it was like, how much tail wind do you have? But the right decisions were taken and I’m happy.”
Following one of the most entertaining seasons history is no easy task, but each of those headline-grabbing stars who helped make the 2024/25 campaign so iconic all lined up again in Lillehammer, as they had done 12 months ago.
Then it was Pius Paschke (GER) who achieved a shock victory to kick start a stunning run of form which saw him wins in the first five of seven individual events.
His form since has unfortunately dropped though and the veteran jumper was unable to progress from the qualifying round a year on from that season-opening success.
Ever-popular four-time Olympic gold medalist Simon Ammann (SUI) enjoyed a more positive day, extending a record run of World Cup appearances by contesting the 29th season of his career.
The 44-year-old had stepped away from the circuit in the middle of December last year after a challenging run of form, but marked his return by with a strong showing in qualification before ultimately placing an encouraging 41st.
“I’ve worked really hard to find myself in a place where I can bring my jumps forward,” Ammann told FIS. “Since the World Championships in Trondheim (NOR) I’ve found my shape is getting better and better.”
2018 Olympic silver medallists Johann Andre Forfang (NOR) endured a challenging return to the circuit, dropping from 22nd after the opening round to a final placement of 30th.
Also dropping a number of places between the rounds was Ren Nikaido (JPN), who 24 hours after playing an important role in Japan’s Mixed Team victory, slipped from 13th to 20th, while Felix Hoffmann (GER) slipped from third to 10th.
Among those to make impressive improvements though were the likes of Manuel Fettner (AUT) and Vladimir Zografski (BUL) who rose five and six positions respectively, to place ninth and 12th.
Just 7.9 points separated the top-11 after the opening round, which also saw a three-way tie for fifth, with nothing to separate Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN), Anze Lanisek (SLO) and Jan Hoerl (AUT).
Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) was just ahead of them and he was clearly happy with his opening round effort of 133m, which scored 158.0 points, given his celebration after landing.
Stefan Kraft (AUT) and Domen Prevc (SLO) both achieved jumps of 138m in the opening round, but greater style points meant the Austrian would head the field going into the decider.
Worsening conditions meant those jumping later in the second round were unlikely to be able to match the distances achieved in the opener, but that did not impact the entertainment value.
Kobayashi would retain his fifth-place ranking, with Lanisek dropping to seventh, but Hoerl would make a significant move forward to, temporarily at least, top the standings.
Tschofenig’s 129m was the furthest achieved by any athlete in the second round and as we saw so often last season it was enough for him to edge ahead of Hoerl.
World champion Domen Prevc (SLO) looked frustrated after landing his 126m jump and it would soon become clear why, as he placed fourth overall.
Only three-time Crystal Globe winner Kraft could deny his team-mate victory, but he faced arguably the toughest conditions of the round.
An effort of 120m would see him place third, but meant he maintained he run of World Cup podium finishes which now extends to 14 successive seasons.
FIS SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP – LILLEHAMMER (NOR) SCHEDULE
23.11.2024
10:30 – QUA Women’s LH
12:00 – WC Women’s LH
14:30 – QUA Men’s LH
16:00 – WC Men’s LH
All times listed are CET.
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