With the best distance of 153 meters, ski jumper Johann Andre Forfang won the qualification in Willingen on Friday (February 2, 2024). Andreas Wellinger starts the competition in eighth place.
“I was already able to win in Willingen and show long flights. I’ll do that again this weekend. And then hopefully we will have something to celebrate again“, Wellinger, who was victorious in 2017, said in advance. With a distance of 139.5 meters and eighth place, he did not fully support this wish, but he is still one of the favorites in the competition on Saturday (February 3, 2024).
The 28-year-old made it onto the podium in three of the last four competitions since his second place at the Four Hills Tournament, and he most recently won the silver medal at the Ski Flying World Championships. But in Willingen it should be his second win of the season after the success in Oberstdorf.
Forfang does it like Muranka
With conditions favorable for large distances over large parts, Forfang set the hill record and won the qualification with the same number of points as Ryoyu Kobayashi (144 meters). Like Klemens Muranka, the Norwegian landed a flight over 153 meters in 2021. But: After his jump, the jury reacted and shortened the run-up, so there were no further distances beyond 150 meters after him. Like Forfang, Junshiro Kobayashi also benefited from optimal conditions and a longer run-up and came third with a distance of 148 meters.
Karl Geiger made the best of the circumstances, which were nowhere near as ideal as many jumpers before him, and landed at 133 meters, which put him in twelfth place. Immediately after him, Pius Paschke didn’t cope with the wind nearly as well and was only 32nd with just 129 meters.
Hoffmann surprised
Felix Hoffmann (18th) was in very good form with 137 meters. “I’m glad I made it and can jump again in front of so many spectators on Saturday“, said the 26-year-old, who competed in the Continental Cup in Willingen last week and finished second and 15th.
Philipp Raimund, on the other hand, couldn’t completely convince in 24th place with 133.5 meters, local hero Stephan Leyhe had big problems, who couldn’t get past 122.5 meters and came in 42nd place.
Pedersen also exceeds the 150-meter mark
The fact that the Mühlenkopfschanze in Willingen, the largest ski jump in the world, is always good for surprises was evident right from the start of the qualification. Robin Pedersen was one of the first jumpers to fly 150.5 meters, only 2.5 meters less than Muranka three years ago. The Norwegian qualified for Saturday’s competition in sixth place with the second longest distance of the day.