Andreas Wellinger has marked his name once again in the world of ski jumping by winning the prestigious Skiflug-Weltcup held at Vikersund on March 15, 2025. This victory has not only ended the drought for German ski jumpers but also celebrated Wellinger’s ninth career win.
The 29-year-old Bavarian displayed remarkable skill, flying impressive distances of 228 and 229.5 meters. His performance was enough to secure his place atop the podium, finishing well ahead of Slovenia's Timi Zajc and Anže Lanišek, who took second and third place, respectively.
This win is particularly significant for the German team, as it is the first individual victory for Germany in three months. The last triumph came from Pius Paschke at Titisee-Neustadt back in December 2024. For Wellinger, this accomplishment adds another accolade to his name, being the first win on a ski flying hill—a format characterized by longer jumps than traditional ski jumping.
Notably, Wellinger had previously earned a silver medal at the Nordic Ski World Championships which concluded just two weeks earlier, trailing only the suspended Norwegian skier Marius Lindvik, whose victory has since been overshadowed by controversy arising from the ski suit scandal.
Wellinger’s win has re-energized the German ski jumping scene, which has faced challenges lately and sees this victory as hope for future competitions.
Behind Wellinger’s remarkable performance, four other German ski jumpers also secured World Cup points at Vikersund. Pius Paschke finished ninth, followed closely by Karl Geiger, who came in eleventh. Former world champion Markus Eisenbichler, who is set to retire at the end of this season, managed to achieve position fifteen with two impressive flights totaling 219 meters, outperforming Philipp Raimund who finished at the 20th spot.
The excitement doesn't end here, as another ski flying event is scheduled for the next day, March 16, 2025, at 15:05 local time, which will also determine the overall winner of this season's Raw Air competition series, shortened this year due to the World Championships held earlier.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Nika Prevc from Slovenia triumphed, winning the competition held earlier on the same day. Prevc's day was historic as she set a new world record with her training flight of 236 meters—a feat celebrated, especially on her 20th birthday. Ema Klinec from Slovenia finished second and Germany's Selina Freitag secured third place with her jump landing at exactly 200 meters.
This weekend’s competition is pivotal for all competitors, as it not only showcases the talent and endurance of these athletes but also indicates the growing prominence of ski jumping as both a thrilling sport and competitive event.
Looking back at the events of the season, Wellinger's success serves as both inspiration and resurgence for German competitors, who are rallying to bring home more victories. The upcoming weeks promise to be exciting as the team prepares for additional competitions slated for Lahti, Finland, and Planica, Slovenia, adding to their rigorous schedule.
Overall, the thrill of being atop the leaderboard highlights the excitement and unpredictability inherent to the sport of ski jumping—a spectacle where every meter counts and every jump is watched with bated breath by fans worldwide.