Andreas Wellinger has emerged victorious at the ski flying competition held at Vikersund on March 15, 2025, marking his second win of the season and showcasing his impressive skills as he surpassed his competitors with remarkable jumps.
Wellinger soared to 228 meters and followed it up with an even greater jump of 229.5 meters, finishing with a total score of 436.1 points. This victory not only earned him his ninth World Cup win but also solidified his lead in the overall standings of the Raw Air tournament, with 1003.0 points, 15.9 points clear of Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi, who finished fourth.
His performance lit up the day, generating excitement among fans and commentators alike. Eurosport expert Werner Schuster couldn’t help but sing praises for Wellinger, stating, "A fantastic flight. I am completely taken aback." His excitement mirrored the sentiments shared by the athlete himself, who described the day as "mega geil"—a feeling of overwhelming joy and excitement.
Wellinger clearly displayed resilience and skill, particularly noteworthy as there were no trial jumps due to adverse weather conditions. The skiers faced variable winds, causing delays and interruptions throughout the competition. Despite this, the 29-year-old skater remained focused, executing his jumps with "flow, determination, and lightness," as he himself shared. "I knew exactly what I had to do," he added, underlining his mental preparation for the event.
The day also revealed some surprising results from other competitors. Timi Zajc from Slovenia earned second place with jumps of 234 meters and 208 meters, scoring 427.8 points, showcasing his consistency but still falling short of Wellinger's heights. Anze Lanisek rounded out the podium, finishing third with jumps of 208 meters and 225 meters, totaling 422.7 points.
The competition took a turn for the dramatic when Domen Prevc, who achieved the longest jump of the day at 239 meters, unfortunately crashed upon landing. Despite the fall, Prevc was unharmed and completed the event, finishing fifth overall. His earlier performance had many, including commentators and fans, expecting him to contend strongly for the title, but the incident hampered his chances for victory.
Markus Eisenbichler, another German athlete competing, gave fans something to cheer about as he secured 15th place with jumps of 184 meters and 219 meters. He expressed his passion for ski flying, exclaiming, "I love this!" as he celebrated his second jump. Along with Eisenbichler, Pius Paschke also made his mark by finishing ninth with flights of 204.5 meters and 211.5 meters—his strong showing marking another positive outcome for the German team.
The overall standings of the Raw Air series see Wellinger at the forefront as he aims for the prize of 60,000 Euros scheduled for the concluding competition on March 16, 2025. Wellinger's victory today serves not only as redemption for the previous competitions but also positions him as the front-runner for the championship title—a chance he aims to secure by defending his lead during the final flights.
Wellinger shared his determination, reflecting on his previous experience at Vikersund back in 2017, where he misstepped on the last jump and lost the overall lead. This time, he stated, "I know what it’s like to be leading up to the last jump. I will approach it flight by flight," showcasing the mental strategy he plans to employ moving forward.
Before Wellinger's winning jump, Selina Freitag also made headlines during the women's competition, where she flew 200 meters to secure third place. The event saw Nika Prevc take her eighth World Cup victory with 213.5 meters, illustrating the strong competition present at Vikersund.
With the Raw Air competition wrapping up, the spotlight will now intensify on the upcoming final rounds. The excitement among spectators continues to build for the next competition slated to commence at 15:05, leading up to the individual events scheduled for 16:35 on March 16, 2025, fully broadcasted via skispringen.com.
Wellinger's outstanding achievement at Vikersund already feeds anticipation for the subsequent competitions, as he heads to Lahti and Planica and the challenge to not only maintain his form but also clinch his first Raw Air title. With his recent performances, fans are left eager to see if he can continue his winning streak and step onto the podium again.