Everything you need to know about the ski jumping season: Mat jumping is open

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A novelty at a ski jumping World Cup: Approach is on an ice track, landing on green plastic mats

Photo:

Mateusz Birecki / IMAGO

The exceptionally mild October with summer temperatures in parts of Europe has just ended and the new season is already beginning for ski jumpers.

Also in Wisla, Poland, where the opening event takes place at the weekend (Saturday, 12 p.m. (women), 4 p.m. (men), TV: ARD, Eurosport), it was still 20 degrees warm.

So there is no sign of snow on the Adam-Malysz-Schanze.

At least for artificial snow, this is the intention, for the first time in the World Cup, Karl Geiger and Co. land on green mats instead of white wet.

Why does the season last so extraordinarily long?

It starts on November 5th, which is earlier than ever.

In addition, the season for winter sports enthusiasts ends on April 2nd - and thus later than ever.

The reason is the World Cup.

During the preliminary round in Qatar, ski jumping in many countries sees no chance of being broadcast on TV.

After the kick-off in Wisla, it's only on 26./27.

November in Kuusamo, Finland.

The first snow has already fallen there, and the temperatures are already below freezing during the day.

And what are the mats for?

As paradoxical as it sounds: Ski jumpers don't need snow - not even the artificial variant, which is produced with a lot of energy.

Because you approach in a lane of ice, you land on the plastic mats.

In view of the early start to the season, the world association Fis had therefore allowed World Cup competitions on the snow-free green for the first time.

In the wake of the energy crisis and climate change, this could make the discipline less dependent on winters with little snow.

Ski jumping race director Sandro Pertile told the "Heilbronner Voice" that a deal had also been made with the organizers.

"Our agreement with the Poles was: You save the money for energy, but you invest the money in the women." Poland had not previously organized a World Cup for women ski jumpers.

Does jumping without snow have sporting advantages?

Yes, because landing can reduce the risk of injury compared to a poorly groomed or icy slope.

In addition, the conditions are the same for everyone, says national ski jumping coach Stefan Horngacher.

The athletes are used to mat jumping anyway.

"We do that in training anyway," said two-time Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger.

Summer ski jumping also takes place on mats.

What are the highlights of the season?

The first is traditionally around the turn of the year, when the DSV-Adler hope for the first German triumph in 21 years at the Four Hills Tournament.

The World Championships in Planica, Slovenia, will follow on February 21 as the second major event.

With Titisee-Neustadt (December 10th/11th), the show jumping competitions in Oberstdorf (December 29th) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (January 1st) and Willingen (February 4th/5th), four competitions will take place in Germany.

Who are the favourites?

It looks like the usual suspects: Japanese superflyer Ryoyu Kobayashi, winner of last season's Tournament and Overall World Cup, looks set to be the man to beat.

In the second half of last year's season, Marius Lindvik emerged as his main rival.

The Poles also presented themselves strongly in the summer with ex-world champion Dawid Kubacki and his compatriot Kamil Stoch.

And then there is the Norwegian Halvor Egner Granerud.

And the favourites?

After her overall World Cup victory last season, Austrian Sara Marita Kramer is one of the favorites again this year.

Slovenia also presented itself strongly in the summer with the Olympic medal winners Ursa Bogataj and Nika Kriznar.

Former dominator Maren Lundby is also returning after a year's break.

The Norwegian had skipped the previous season due to weight requirements.

What chances do the Germans have?

For men, hopes rest on Karl Geiger, second in the overall World Cup last winter and third twice at the Olympics, and six-time world champion Markus Eisenbichler.

But Wellinger also wants to attack again after difficult years and several injuries.

Also at the start in Wisla are Philipp Raimund, Pius Paschke and Constantin Schmid.

Stephan Leyhe, on the other hand, did not make it into the team at first.

For women, Katharina Althaus, who came second at the Olympics, is considered the German hope.

In the absence of Althaus Selina Freitag, sister of the former ski jumper Richard Freitag, became German champion.

She is part of the squad for the World Cup opener in Wisla, as are Luisa Görlich, Pauline Hessler, Agnes Reisch and Anna Rupprecht.

“The main goal is a medal at the World Championships.

I also hope that everyone in the team gets a little closer to the top of the world," said national coach Maximilian Mechler to the sports show.  

What is different?

A new format celebrates its premiere: In the »Super Team«, only two jumpers from one nation compete per team instead of the usual four.

For this, the number of passes is increased to three.

The duo competition is primarily intended to accommodate smaller nations that cannot field a four-person team.

The women will start the new competition on January 14 in Zao (Japan), the men will choose the »Super Team« twice in Lake Placid (USA/February 11) and Rasnov (Romania/February 18).

For the first time, women will also perform ski flying.

The premiere is scheduled for March 19, 2023 at »Monsterbakken« in Vikersund.

The top 15 jumpers from the Raw Air series (the Norwegian equivalent of the tour)

are at least 18 years old are eligible.

In the 2023/2024 season, the first Four Hills Tournament for the athletes will take place.

With material from dpa and sid