A special 70th Four Hills Tournament has come to an end

The 70th edition of the Four Hills Tournament was again without a doubt a very unique and special one. From a sporting point of view, the focus for Michael Hayböck was on his comeback just three months after his disk surgery. For Stefan Kraft the focus was on getting more consistent after a mediocre summer preparation and some ups and downs in the course of the season so far. For the people in charge, the weather and the current Corona situation were challenging. Therefore, unfortunately – as in the previous year – no spectators could be allowed and the mascots “Fin and Claw” had to keep their fingers crossed in front of the TV.

 

Stefan Kraft

With one individual victory, two third places and one team victory, the 28-year-old from Salzburg arrived in Oberstdorf at a hill where he has already won two 4 Hills competetions as well as World Championship gold. Despite the previous successes, this tournament was under different circumstances. Due to a toe injury and torn ligaments in the ankle in the summer, the preparation did not go according to plan, the amount of training had to be significantly reduced. Even though Stefan Kraft has already achieved top jumps and top results occasionally this season, he is still looking for consistency.

Nevertheless, “Krafti” started the 70th edition of the Four Hills Tournament with solid jumps and a top 15 place in Oberstdorf. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where Stefan Kraft had already struggled in recent years, he unfortunately failed to qualify. However, Kraft did not let this get him down. After a training session on his “youth hill” in Seefeld, he took the opportunity to go cross-country skiing and curling on the rest day to clear his head. After no jumping could take place at the Bergisel due to wind, Kraft showed a fighting performance in difficult conditions with 23rd and 24th places in Bischofshofen. In a third World Cup event in Bischofshofen after the Tournament, he managed another improvement by jumping into the top 20.

Stefan Kraft is now taking a break from the World Cup and, in order to clear his head, will not travel to Zakopane. He will be training in calmness and will keep on pursuing his way continuously.

 

Michael Hayböck

For Michael Hayböck the 70th Four Hills Tournament started as part of the national group at the Bergisel. Just three months earlier, the 30-year-old underwent surgery for severe pain, numbness in his left leg and a slipped disk. Afterwards, a precise plan was set so that Michi could return to the World Cup as soon as possible. Many steps and patient work followed to be able to be part of the World Cup again after only 12 weeks! After a resting phase, walks and light trunk training, the first steps to full physical strain followed, until the Upper Austrian finally stood on the hill again for the first time in December. Due to the wind-related cancellation of the Bergisel jumping, the narrowly missed qualification was no longer a factor. This gave “Michi” two new chances in Bischofshofen, where he celebrated his first World Cup victory 7 years ago.

Michael Hayböck used this opportunity directly for himself. After good training performances, the 30-year-old also managed two very good jumps in the competition, with which he finished in a great 9th place in his comeback! The following day he confirmed his successful return to the World Cup with a 22nd place.

These two results show that the hard work in the last weeks really paid off. For Michael Hayböck it is now important to continue to work step by step, to regenerate well and to continue to take good care of his body, because the “missed” training weeks can still be noticed. Next on the agenda for “Michi” is Zakopane, where he will return to the World Cup.

 

Overall, the 70th Four Hills Tournament brought some ups and downs, cool jumps and difficult challenges for Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayböck. Despite the present Corona situation and the postponement of the Bergisel jumping to Bischofshofen, a unique and special tour came to a worthy end with Ryoyu Kobayashi’s second tour victory. However, what was also particularly missing this year were the thousands of fans who always provided a great mood and a unique atmosphere. The excitement is therefore enormous for a coming tour with its fans, colors, brilliant performances and icons of ski jumping.