Daniel Tschofenig soared to victory at the 73rd Vierschanzentournee, clinching the prestigious title amid dramatic performances and record-setting scores. This tournament finale, held on January 6, 2025, at the Paul-Außerleitner-Schanze in Bischofshofen, Austria, showcased Tschofenig's remarkable resilience and skill, solidifying Austrian dominance in the sport.
The event concluded with Tschofenig impressively jumping 136.0 and 140.5 meters, defeating fellow Austrian Jan Hörl by just 1.4 points, the narrowest margin seen in the tour's history for over 20 years. Austrian skiers swept the podium once again, with Stefan Kraft finishing third, marking another successful outing for the team.
"Natürlich rede ich mir oben ein, dass sie so lange warten, bis ich auch faire Bedingungen habe, dass ich gewinnen kann. Es war schon sehr lange, dann fehlt die letzte Spritzigkeit," admitted Kraft post-competition, reflecting on the pressure of waiting for favorable conditions before his final jump.
Tschofenig, who at just 22 years old is making waves in the ski jumping world, expressed surprise at his victory, saying, "Ich hatte alle Gefühle. Aber ich muss ehrlich sein, ich habe nicht geglaubt, dass ich irgendeine Chance habe. Kraft war die ganze Zeit so dominant." His modesty contrasts with the celebration surrounding his unprecedented triumph, as he became the first Austrian to win the title since 2015.
Austria's performance was nothing short of stellar throughout the tournament, with eleven of the twelve podium finishes occupied by Austrian athletes, smashing previous records. Tschofenig's overall score stood at 1194.4 points, breaking the former tour record held by Halvor Egner Granerud, who scored 1191.2 points. Jan Hörl also surpassed the previous mark with 1193 points.
Yet the championship was not without disappointments for the German team. Andreas Wellinger, the top German skier, finished ninth, labelling the competition as less than satisfying: "Wir sind mit großen Ambitionen reingegangen, aber leider eher schlechter als besser geworden," explained Stefan Horngacher, the German national coach.
Pius Paschke, another key player, landed sixth overall, though he lamented the lack of higher placements throughout the tournament. “Freuen kann ich mich nicht. Ich habe erstmal lernen müssen. Es gab coole Momente. Das Ergebnis geht genauso in Ordnung," he stated, acknowledging the effort put forth by himself and the team, even if it did not culminate as desired.
Camping behind the scenes was not without its highlights. A curious moment arose during the final round when a drone intended to film the event crashed on the slopes, causing laughter and surprise among the audience. Thankfully, the interruption was brief, as the ski jumping had already been paused due to varying wind conditions.
Reflecting on the overall performance, coach Horngacher indicated on the complexity of competition, reiterative, "Wir haben alles gegeben, die Jungs haben sich wirklich bemüht. Mehr ist leider heute nicht rausgekommen." The pressure is now on the German team as they focus on future tournaments, continuing their quest for the first Vierschanzentournee victory since Sven Hannawald's win 23 years ago.
The 73rd Vierschanzentournee has not only closed another chapter of thrilling ski jumping competitions but has also opened new pathways for Tschofenig and his peers, who now look forward to sustaining their momentum as they aim for greater heights on the international stage.