At the annual “JumpandReach for friends” there was every reason to celebrate again this year. In addition to the sporting successes of Johannes Lamparter, Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayböck, it was above all the stories and tales from many years of professional work in top-level sport and the focus on sustainable attention to the values lived together such as togetherness, respect, spirit, openness and enthusiasm that were in the foreground.

Founder and “family dad” Patrick Murnig invited former JaR athletes and employees as well as mentors, closest partners and friends of JumpandReach to a festive get-together with the Seyrling family at the Hotel Klosterbräu***** in Seefeld.

The family reunion was opened with an aperitif from “Organics by Red Bull” and a multi-course gourmet dinner in the beautiful premises of the Klosterbräu. Together with the top athletes, the guests reminisced about many shared memories of the “JumpandReach family” and laughed heartily about entertaining stories and tales.

On the second day, after a strengthening breakfast at the hotel, it went “off to the top” in the Seefeld region. The hike to the Nördlinger Hütte with the mastery of 1050 meters in altitude gain was rewarded with excellent Kaiserschmarrn and the view of the impressive panorama of the Seefeld plateau. The “JumpandReach family” enjoyed the afternoon in Innsbruck. After a delicious dinner, Stermann’s first cabaret solo at the Treibhaus was on the agenda. An extremely funny evening that led to one or two “laugh-flashes”.

The family reunion concluded with a relaxed morning at the Golfacademy Seefeld Reith. Michael Hayböck, Stefan Kraft and Christian Deuschl started off on a 9-hole round together with their strategic coach Patrick Murnig, while everyone else had a lot of fun with their first attempts at golfing – guided by a pro.

5 World Cup medals in Planica 2023 – 25 World Cup medals since 2015 (!)

After the winter season, the three successful athletes of the JumpandReach family Stefan Kraft, Michael Hayböck and Johannes Lamparter were available to answer questions at the final media day in the Red Bull Arena Salzburg.

Athletic development, personality development, consistency, summer program and future development goals were the main topics of the successful athletes. Their long-time personal mentor and strategic coach Mag. Patrick Murnig opened the meeting with fitting words on the topic of “Values and personality development as a foundation” and also gave a little insight into their joint work.

“Behind the scenes” video from the Red Bull Arena Salzburg: https://bit.ly/41G1Ppq

A media day entirely dedicated to the JumpandReach family, where for the first time all 25 medals won since the World Championships in Falun 2015 could be admired in one room. An impressive picture that shows the consistency, longevity and above all the perseverance of those involved – in addition to the successes shining in gold, silver and bronze, there were of course always low points to overcome and to rebuild again.

The location for the press conference was the home team’s dressing room in the Red Bull Arena. The reason for this is a long-standing friendly relationship between the club FC Red Bull Salzburg and the JumpandReach family and the fact that all the athletes involved are closely “connected” to soccer. With Nicolas Seiwald, Patrick Murnig welcomed another sympathetic Austrian athlete, who gave insights into his current goals and next steps in the summer, on the way to the German Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.

Afterwards, Stefan Kraft, Michael Hayböck and Johannes Lamparter were at the media’s disposal for interviews and photos. In addition to the review of the past season, the private and sporting activities, plans and ideas for the next few months were also a topic – before the athletes, companions and media went into the well-deserved “summer break”…

A long season has come to an end. Victories, crystal globe, milestone, top results, award and a warm welcome at home – for Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayböck the season 2022/2023 brought a lot with it.

Stefan Kraft can once again look back on a magnificent season! The Salzburg native was not only able to win the Ski Flying World Cup, but also ranked a strong second in the overall World Cup, behind season dominator Granerud (NOR). At the Nordic World Championships he jumped to his already 13th World Championship medal – the bronze in the team. “On Top” Stefan set a new milestone with his podium finishes: currently he holds with 98(!) podiums and is thus the sole runner-up in the best list of podium finishes behind Ahonen (FIN), as well as the best Austrian. In this season he celebrated an impressive 6 victories and stood on the podium 17 times!

In addition to his sporting successes, Stefan was awarded his fifth “Goldenen Löwen” for the “Sportsman of the Year in Salzburg” by the audience and fans at the Leonidas Gala.

Michael Hayböck can also look back with satisfaction on his first full season since his comeback after an intervertebral disc operation in October 2021: the Upper Austrian and Salzburg native by choice reached the top 10 13 times. He jumped with the team to World Championships bronze in Planica – his already 6th World Championships medal! In addition, he was able to celebrate 4 victories together with Austria. In the overall World Cup ranking Michi finished in 12th place, which proves his consistency!

At the end of a long season, his home club UVB Hinzenbach in Upper Austria hosted a great reception. Together with family, friends and the motivated children of the junior ski jumping team Michi could celebrate his World Championships medal and let the season sink in.

What a World Championships for the JaR family! We look back on ten days full of “ups and downs”, incredible experiences, hard moments and great support from fans, friends and family. In the end, valuable insights and further developments remain as well as an impressive 5 bronze medals for Johannes Lamparter, Michael Hayböck and Stefan Kraft! Since Falun 2015, the JumpandReach family has won outstanding 25 medals!

3x Bronze for Shooting Star Johannes Lamparter

With 7 season victories and the yellow jersey of the overall World Cup leader in the luggage, it set a very bumpy start to the World Championships and it needed for Johannes “get up again, refocus and continue to attack”. Easier said than done, but a medal run should follow: Bronze at the first edition of the mixed team competition in the context of a World Championships for the remarkably young Austrian team! Bronze in the team competition on the large hill after a strong performance of all 4 athletes! And to crown it all, an individual medal! After a good jump “Jo” delivered a hard fight in the cross-country skiing, showed an outstanding performance and got his well-deserved third medal. The shooting star of the Nordic combined now holds a total of 6 World Championship medals: 2x gold and 4x bronze – and that with only 21 years!

Bronze for the “Eagles” Michael Hayböck and Stefan Kraft

In the first three competitions of the ski jumpers, which were also characterized by changing wind, it just wasn’t meant to be and the disappointment was written in their faces: Stefan Kraft became 4th and 6th in the individual jumps as well as again ungrateful 4th with the mixed team, Michael Hayböck landed twice on place 15. However, continuous work, persistence and team spirit should pay off on the last day. Team Austria delivered and “Michi” and “Krafti” were happy with their teammates about a well-deserved and hard-fought bronze medal!
World Championship medal No. 13 makes Stefan Kraft the most successful Austrian Nordic athlete at World Championships! Michael Hayböck proved once again that you can always rely on him – his 6th World Championships team medal! Since Falun 2015, the two have always brought home precious metal, an impressive series!

“The Methodology” or “Medal No. 25 for the JaR family”

The unifying element of the three successful athletes has been their strategic coach Patrick Murnig for many years. With his special methodology of individual support of personalities, he fought with his protégés since Falun 2015 at 5 Nordic World Championships meanwhile indescribable 25 World Championship medals, 5 of them in gold!

The “strategic helmsman” was also in demand in Planica. Patrick was present throughout the entire World Championships and always at the side of “his” boys. With performance meetings as well as coaching directly in competition mode, it was always a matter of reacting to new situations, keeping the balance, adapting and realigning concepts and never losing focus on the essentials. The proud series of the past years at world championships could be extended once again!

The final goals of the season are already in sight. While Stefan and Michi are attacking at the Raw Air Tour in Norway, Johannes Lamparter is fighting for the overall World Cup – there is still a lot of work to do, but as always we are happy about everyone keeping their fingers crossed!

Last weekend was the most important event in the Nordic Combined calendar besides the World Championships – the Triple in Seefeld. Johannes Lamparter already performed well on Friday with a strong 2nd place, before he took the day’s victory on Saturday and finally won the entire triple on Sunday. The only 21-year-old is the first Austrian to win the Triple at home in Seefeld!

Besides Lamparter, Christian Deuschl also competed at the home World Cup and delivered a strong jump on Friday – but then unfortunately had to withdraw from the competition on Saturday due to physical problems.

On Saturday Johannes delivered a great jump on the hill and was the first to go on the track. With a 20-second lead over the two Germans Vinzenz Geiger and Julian Schmid, he skied towards his first home World Cup success in front of enthusiastic Austrian fans. The increase should still follow…

On the last day of the triple he managed another excellent jump and was again in the lead in front of the strong runner Vinzenz Geiger, before it went to the all-decisive cross-country race. Despite the challenging starting position, “Jo” showed an impressive race in the cross-country and continued to outrun his pursuers. Alone on the track, the Tyrolean was the first Austrian to win the triple in Seefeld!

At home in his “living room” in Seefeld, where he trains a lot in summer and winter, he could celebrate this triumph with his family and friends. The fans who traveled to the event created an incredible atmosphere throughout all three days. The JumpandReach family, around Johannes’ strategic coach Patrick Murnig, was of course also on site and could be there live when Johannes celebrated this historic victory.

We look back on a great weekend and are already looking forward to the next World Cup stations in Oberstorf and Schonach before the World Championships!

Johannes Lamparter:
“Winning the triple at home is one of the most beautiful feelings that you can experience as a Nordic Combined athlete in Austria and it is ranked very high for me. The feeling is indescribable, I really enjoyed it. The way is right, the world championship is not far away.”