Planica set for landmark ski jumping showdowns

Mar 25, 2026·Ski Jumping

Planica has hosted an end-of-season World Cup each year since 2023 - @NordicFocus

Another sensational ski jumping season has once again built towards what many anticipate will be an appropriately spectacular crescendo as the world’s best gather for a final World Cup weekend under the Ponce mountains in Planica (SLO).

The assembled athletes will take on four events between 26-29 March, with qualification for the first men’s World Cup taking place on Thursday, before that initial contest on Friday.

Saturday will see the women’s field make history as they contest a ski flying discipline from the iconic Letalnica bratov Gorisek hill for the first time, before the men line-up for their team event.

The ‘Planiac weekend’ will then conclude with one further men’s individual World Cup, after which the prestigious ‘Planica 7’ title, given to the most consistent performer over the four days of competition, will be awarded; as will the Ski Flying Crystal Globe.

Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend the Planica Nordic Skiing Centre and the vast majority of those spectators will be hoping to witness significant host nation successes.

Last season Domen Prevc (SLO) set a new world record of 254.5m and won one of the two men’s contests on his home hill, with compatriot Anze Lanisek (SLO) securing victory in the other.

Prevc will again be among the favorites, given his dominant season.

Over the last six months the Slovenian has completed a career grand slam of major honors; with an Olympic gold, Ski Flying World title, Crystal Globe and Four Hill Tour success, adding to the Ski Jumping World Championships victory he secured during the 2024/25 campaign.

He is just two victories short of equalling the most men’s World Cup wins in a season, with the mark of 15 currently held by brother Peter Prevc from 2015/16.

However, the Olympic champion is currently experiencing his worst run of form this season, having been unable to attain a podium finish across his last three events.

“We must not forget how we got to the world record,” said Domen Prevc. “We must take a step back, focus on the things that got us there and if we have good conditions and good jumps then we will create something that the public will really enjoy.”

In his absence Olympic Super Team gold medal-winner Stephan Embacher (AUT) stepped up to secure the first World Cup victory of his career in Vikersund (NOR), following up further maiden successes by veteran duo Gregor Deschwanden (SUI) and Tomofumi Naito (JPN) in Oslo (NOR) the previous weekend.

While Prevc has long-since secured the overall World Cup crown and Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) is safe in second, less than 100 points separate five contenders for the final top-three position.

Last season’s Crystal Globe winner Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) has fought back into content following an improvement in his form over recent months and currently holds that slot on 1,049pts.

Japan’s Ren Nikaido (1,015pts), Philipp Raimund of Germany (961pts), Austria’s Stephan Embacher (958pts) and home favorite Anze Lanisek (953) are all mathematically capable of catching Tschofenig, subject to the final placements.

The destination of one major award is still undecided however, with Embacher currently holding a narrow lead of 15 points over Prevc in the overall ski flying standings.

A man who will not be competing in Planica however is Kacper Tomasiak (POL), who suffered a fall ahead of the wind-impacted second World Cup in Vikersund (NOR) at the weekend, which was cancelled soon after his accident.

The teenager, who shocked followers of the sport by securing three medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games last month, has taken to social media though to assure fans that he suffered no long-term concerns, posting “everything is fine” soon after the incident.

The Polish line-up will though feature legendary three-time Olympic gold medal-winner Kamil Stoch, who will compete in the final events of his incredible career, before retirement. He is not the only athlete set to end their time as a competitive ski jumper in Planica though

Two-time Olympic podium finisher Manuel Fettner (AUT) will also bow out following the conclusion of the men’s competitions, while on the women’s side of the sport fans in Planica will have the opportunity to see six-time World champion and double Olympic silver medalist Katharina Schmid (GER) compete for the last time.

“I'm incredibly excited for Planica, I can really enjoy it now that I've finally broken the 200m mark in Vikersund,” Schmid said. “I'm looking forward to soaking everything up.

“Planica has been a very special place in my career since the World Championships (in 2023 when she claimed three gold medals). It always feels a bit like coming home and then there's the backdrop of the surrounding mountains.

“To be able to enjoy all of that one last time, bring my friends and family along and end my career in style, I’m just so incredibly excited!"

The women’s field will feature up to 15 of the top athletes from the overall ski jumping World Cup standings, with a reduced field for their first-ever ski flying World Cup in Planica seen as a step towards greater inclusion within the sport.

Crystal Globe winner Nika Prevc (SLO) has already set a new record for World Cup wins (17) and podium finishes (27), as well as a record points haul of 2,576pts, which surpassed the previous best attained by brother Peter Prevc (2,303) in 2015/16.

In a season which has seen her retain the Two Night Tour crown and ski jumping Crystal Globe as well as Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals; Prevc does though face something of a fight to attain the ski flying overall title.

Eirin Maria Kvandal (NOR) currently leads that race after two victories in Vikersund (NOR) last weekend. Prevc finished second and third respectively in those and while she is well-placed in second, double Olympic champion Anna Odine Stroem (NOR) is another strong contender.

Double Olympic bronze medalist Nozomi Maruyama (JPN) will also be looking to round-off a stunning breakthrough season with a strong finale, with the 27-year-old having attained 18 top-three results during the 2025/26 campaign, having only previously attained two throughout the rest of her career.