Ski flying: Kraft leads ÖSV-Adler in third place

The hosts, who celebrated a historic quadruple victory in the first of two individual competitions on Friday, ended up 24.2 points ahead of the Norwegians and 56.9 ahead of Austria. In the Nations Cup, the ÖSV team leads the top 30 before the season finale on Sunday with 5,694 points ahead of Slovenia (5,500), Germany (5,339) and Norway (5,222).

In addition to the Nations Cup, the overall World Cup ranking will also be awarded on Sunday (10 a.m., live on ORF1), where the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi has an 89-point lead over the German Karl Geiger. But it’s also about the little crystal balls in the Ski Flying World Cup. Kraft is third, 30 points behind leader Ziga Jelar and ten behind Timi Zajc (both SLO).

Incidentally, third place on Saturday was an ÖSV premiere in the team competitions this winter. Three victories in the World Cup (Wisla, Bischofshofen and Lahti) and the triumph at the Olympic Games faced fourth places at the World Championships in Vikersund and the World Cup in Zakopane.

“It’s really nice”

“I’m super happy that we’re on the podium,” said Kraft after his flights at 237.5 and 241.0 m in an ORF interview. “You have to congratulate Slovenia. Such weather, such an audience and long flights. It’s really nice again, in front of such a backdrop. We have to deliver tomorrow as well, but it will be very difficult against the Slovenians. I hope they don’t manage a quadruple win again.”

Fettner wasn’t entirely happy. “I’m happy with third place. There was nothing else inside. Not only Slovenia was extremely strong, but also the Norwegians. We definitely expected more, but I’m happy with the jumps. More was not possible. The jumping is at a high level here.” But Fettner can look back on a great season. At the age of 36, the Tyrolean, notorious for being a “non-flyer”, is also becoming a top performer on the largest hills, as his 222.0 and 224.5 m proved.

Excitement before the final day

Kraft also knows that the fight for the Nations Cup will be exciting on Sunday. “We have to make our jumps, we can’t slow down the Slovenians. If so, they can only hit themselves. It’s going to be very difficult for us, but I got a good feeling today.” Fettner also fared well, and on Sunday Daniel Huber and Jan Hörl are back in action. “Maybe Kobayashi or Marius Lindvik can annoy the Slovenians a bit,” said the Salzburger.

Even before the last jumps, Kraft drew a positive summary of the season: “We’re fighting for two balls on the last day, a mega season. We can be very proud. Tomorrow I’ll enjoy the day again, maybe the hillsize will run out again.” He was referring to his flight of 241 m in the second run, which was only 12.5 m shorter than his still valid world record. “Now I have my flight over the hillsize. I’ve been waiting for this for three weekends.”

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