Prevc leads after first day of Ski Flying World Championships

Domen Prevc (SLO) leads the way after the first day of competition at the 2026 FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany.

At the halfway stage of the four-round competition, World Cup leader Prevc holds a 14.0-point lead over Ren Nikaido (JPN). 2022 World Ski Flying Champion Marius Lindvik (NOR) is in third.

Lindvik, who claimed gold in Vikersund four years ago, led the way after the first round following a 226.5m jump, scoring 214.6 points to take a 1.4-point lead over Prevc. Nikaido was third after the first round.

Prevc traveled 204.0m and scored 213.2 points in the first round, before improving in the second round with a 224.5m jump and 229.0 points to take over the lead with a combined total of 442.2 points.

"I didn’t make my best jump in the first round, and the conditions weren’t the best either", Prevc said afterward. "Now the battle has really heated up."

"The wind conditions were very changeable, and quite a few jumpers were unlucky, including the young Stephan Embacher. If you don’t have pressure under your skis, you can’t fly far", Prevc added.

"I’m very happy that I managed a good jump in the second round. Now I can go to sleep calmly and continue the fight tomorrow."

The 2024/25 Ski Flying Crystal Globe winner has twice won team gold with Slovenia at the Ski Flying World Championships (2022 and 2024) but has yet to reach the individual podium.

Can Domen follow in the footsteps of his brother?

The 26-year-old could become the third Slovenian male ski jumper to win the individual world title in ski flying, after Robert Kranjec in 2012 (Vikersund, NOR) and his brother Peter Prevc in 2016 (Bad Mitterndorf/Tauplitz (AUT)). 

2022 World champion Lindvik said he is already looking forward to the battle for the medals on Saturday. "We have one day left and there are opportunities for sure", he said when asked about his expectations. "I will try my best. I'm very happy with my two good jumps today. I've been working hard to get in shape, and it’s starting to come together."

"Ski Flying is the most epic thing we have in ski jumping - it’s the most fun. I really enjoy it", he added with a smile, showing he can't wait for some more competition jumps.

Jan Hoerl (AUT) and Anze Lanisek (SLO) completed the top five after the first day, while 2024 World Ski Flying champion Stefan Kraft (AUT) sits in tenth place.

2020 World Ski Flying champion Karl Geiger (GER) delivered the best result for the host nation in 11th place after day one.

Timi Zajc (SLO), who already has a world silver (2022) and bronze (2024) in ski flying to his name, landed a disappointing 17th place on the opening day of competition.

2010 World champion Simon Amman (SUI), who competed in his 12th Ski Flying World Championships, failed to qualify for the second round in Oberstdorf.

Decisive final rounds on Saturday

The final two rounds will take place on Saturday. A team competition is then scheduled to take place on Sunday. 

Ski flying is a non-Olympic ski jumping discipline, in which the FIS organises World Championships only for men.