A big weekend in the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup tour is coming up. While the men settle down in Titisee-Neustadt (GER) for their fourth stop of the season, the world’s best female ski jumpers return to action in Zhangjiakou (CHN) after a two-week break.
Men’s World Cup leader Pius Paschke (GER) landed on the podium in five out of six individual events so far this season, and with three wins under his belt, he is looking to add more: this time on home snow. On the women’s side, Katharina Schmid (GER) returns to a competition venue she has fond memories of.
The Snow Ruyi hill in Zhangjiakou (CHN) might be a brand new venue on the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, but the site is remembered by many from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.
Women’s World Cup leader Katharina Schmid (née Althaus), who won Olympic silver in 2022, is one of them. “I like the hill,” Schmid said. “It suits me quite well. I’m very much looking forward to the competition this weekend. I’m feeling good and ready. Hopefully, I can do even better than the past weeks. I hope to show the jumps that I’ve been training for.”
Schmid has shown to be in good shape, given her two big wins in the Intercontinental Cup in Zhangjiakou last weekend, making her one of the favourites for the second World Cup stop.
At the first stop in Lillehammer (NOR), Schmid landed on the podium twice with a first and second place. Reigning Crystal Globe winner Nika Prevc (SLO) and winner of the opening World Cup event in Lillehammer, will be one of Schmid’s main challengers in Zhangjiakou. Selina Freitag (GER), who finished second and third in Norway, is also amongst the favourites for the podium.
But the European stars will face stiff competition from the Chinese athletes competing on home soil, who are getting stronger and stronger. Liu Qi (CHN) finished second in one of the Intercontinental Cups last weekend.
Paschke hopes to continue winning ways
On the men’s side, World Cup leader Pius Paschke (GER) hopes to continue winning ways. After wins in Lillehammer, Ruka and Wisla, the 34-year-old now aims to land on top of the podium on home soil. “I’m looking forward to when we compete in Titisee-Neustadt (GER), the first World Cup on home soil for me this season”, he said after his win in Wisla (POL) last week.
Paschke has 476 points in the World Cup standings, a 96-point advantage over Daniel Tschofenig (AUT), who is among the favourites for a podium finish in Germany.
Other favourites include Jan Hoerl (AUT), 2023/24 Crystal Globe winner Stefan Kraft (AUT), Gregor Deschwanden (AUT) and Andreas Wellinger (GER).
The men’s World Cup in Titisee-Neustadt (GER) starts with the Super Team Large Hill event on Friday 13 December, followed by two individual World Cup events on Saturday and Sunday.
The women also begin competing on Friday 13 December: they start with qualifications in Zhangjiakou (CHN), before two World Cup events on Saturday and Sunday.
Women
• The women compete in their second World Cup of the season and take the stage in Zhangjiakou, China.
• The Snow Ruyi hill in Zhangjiakou (CHN) hosted the Ski Jumping competition during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.
• This weekend’s World Cup in Zhangjiakou (CHN) is the first-ever FIS World Cup to take place at the facility. Back in 2022, the Olympic title in the women’s event was won by Ursa Bogataj (SLO), followed by Katharina Schmid (née Althaus) and Nika Kriznar (SLO).
Men
• The men compete in their fourth World Cup of the season and take the stage in Titisee-Neustadt (GER).
• Home favourite Pius Paschke (GER) landed on the podium in five out of six individual World Cup events so far this season. He managed to top the podium at each of the three hills that were contested so far this season (Lillehammer, Ruka, Wisla).
• Paschke has a 96-point advantage over Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) in the World Cup ranking.
• The last time Titisee-Neustadt hosted a FIS Ski Jumping World Cup was in 2022, when Karl Geiger (GER) claimed victory.
13.12.2024
15:45 – Super Team Large Hill event
14.12.2024
14:30 – Start Trial Round – WC Men’s LH
16.00 – Competition Start – WC Men’s LH
15.12.2024
14.30 – Start Qualification – QUA WC Men LH
16.00 – Competition Start – WC Men’s LH
All times listed are CET (Central European Time) and are subject to change.
13.12.2024
16:00 – Training
18:00 – QUA Women’s NH
14.12.2024
16:00 – Start Trial Round – WC Women NH
17:00 – Competition start – WC Women NH
18:30 – Prize giving ceremony – WC Women NH
15.12.2024
16:00 – Start Qualification – WC Women NH
17:00 – Competition start – WC Women NH
18:30 – Prize giving ceremony – WC Women NH
All times listed are CST (China Standard Time) and are subject to change.
