Start of the women's Four Hills Tournament burst - anger at the DSV: "Outrageous"

Created: 12/30/2022, 2:28 p.m

By: Stefan Schmid

Luisa Görlich in the landing area of ​​Oberstdorf.

© Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON via www.imago-images.de

The women's Four Hills Tournament was supposed to start in the 2023/24 season, but this has now been postponed for another season due to the ÖSV's objection.

Oberstdorf - The German Ski Association (DSV), the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) and the FIS have actually agreed that the long-awaited Four Hills Tournament for women should start in the 2023/24 season.

While everything is done on the German side for the start of the coming season, Roswitha Stadlober, President of the ÖSV, rowed back before Christmas.

This not only upsets DSV team manager Horst Hüttel, but also active players speak of "impudence".

ÖSV President whistles back the start of the 2023/24 tour

In April 2022, the associations involved announced that the 2023/24 season would see the premiere of the women's Four Hills Tournament.

The DSV has already confirmed the venues of Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which, like the men's Four Hills Tournament, should be the first two stations.

The women should only start in the reverse order, so the women's New Year's competition should take place in Oberstdorf.

The Austrians wanted to use the remaining time "to clarify all open questions and the respective framework conditions together with all stakeholders".

However, it seems that the ÖSV did not get far enough in the negotiations.

At a press event, ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober explained that the new target was the 2024/25 season.

The explanation: "There are still many factors to be considered that do not allow for an earlier introduction".

Roswitha Stadlober is the President of the ÖSV.

© IMAGO/GEPA pictures/ David Geieregger

Incomprehension and anger at the DSV about the postponement

The postponement of the premiere to the 2024/25 season seems to come as a surprise to the other players involved in the women's Four Hills Tournament.

Accordingly, DSV team manager Horst Hüttel expresses his incomprehension.

"An absolute injustice.

Not because of a level playing field.

A huge opportunity is being given away here,” Hüttel is quoted as saying by the

.

The person responsible makes no secret of his disappointment: "Every year that no women's Four Hills Tournament is held is a lost year."

The athletes themselves also comment on the surprising process.

DSV jumper Luisa Görlich is not afraid to choose more drastic words than Hüttel.

“The competitions in Titisee and Lillehammer have shown locally and on the TV screens that the time is ripe for a women's Four Hills Tournament.

Against this background, it is outrageous, in the age of gender justice, to have postponed the decision to go on your own tour again!” she writes in her column on

.

She received approval from Olympic champion Maren Lundby, who announced on

: "It's time to bring women to the Four Hills Tournament."

Instead of the Four Hills Tournament, there will be a New Year's Tournament

The women's New Year's Tournament, which is taking place again this year, with two competitions each in Villach (Austria) and in Ljubno (Slovenia), was supposed to take place for the last time and be a transition to the planned Four Hills Tournament.

In the meantime, it seems to be becoming apparent that this two-hills tournament will have to serve as a substitute program next year.

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There is no lack of support from the German men's team, which did well at the start of the tour in Oberstdorf.

"I'm extremely sorry for the girls," said Karl Geiger, who has already won medals at the World Championships together with the DSV women in the mixed team.