Nika Prevc, the young Slovenian ski jumper, demonstrated her remarkable talent by clinching the title at the first event of the Women’s Two Nights Tour held on December 31, 2024, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This victory marks her third of the season, solidifying her reputation as one of the leading figures in women's ski jumping.
Prevc dominated the competition with remarkable jumps of 134 meters and 135.5 meters, securing a total score of 275.8 points. This impressive performance placed her 7.2 points ahead of Norway’s Eirin Maria Kvandal, who earned second place with jumps of 132.5 meters and 135 meters. Austrian jumper Eva Pinkelnig rounded out the podium, jumping 134 meters and setting a new hill record with her latter jump of 137.5 meters, finishing with 259.3 points.
“I’m super happy and excited with my result and super satisfied with two such good jumps,” said Prevc, reflecting on her performance and the confidence she brought to the hill after winning the previous year as well. Prevc continues to build on her successful campaign this season, which included victories earlier at Lillehammer and Engelberg. This win not only showcased her prowess but also underlined her ambition as she heads to the next event.
The competition was notable not only for Prevc's spectacular jumps but for its new knockout format, which saw 30 athletes from the traditional 40 compete head-to-head. Each round's winners advanced, adding an exciting edge to the tournament. Agnes Reisch, the top German competitor, made headlines by finishing fourth, marking her best career performance. "Ich hatte noch eine Rechnung mit der Schanze offen. Ich bin froh, dass es so geklappt hat und genieße es einfach," she commented, celebrating her achievement.
Meanwhile, Katharina Schmid, the overall World Cup leader, faced difficulties and finished fifth after jumps of 127.5 meters and 123 meters. This marked the first time this season she has missed the podium, disappointing her supporters. Coach Heinz Kuttin expressed his sentiments, stating, "Schade, dass ausgerechnet hier die Podestserie gerissen ist,” indicating surprise at the break in their podium streak.
Despite the competitive spirit, there were discussions surrounding the disparities between the men's and women's events, particularly concerning prize distribution. Selina Freitag criticized the current system stating, "Trotzdem ist das bei uns immer so eine abgespeckte Version,” referring to the lack of equal recognition compared to the male counterparts. For her performance, Freitag received basic prizes including shower gel and towels, contrasting sharply with the significant financial awards typically associated with the men's events.
The Two Nights Tour aims to represent progress for women’s ski jumping, especially since this year marked the first time female athletes competed alongside men on the same hill during the same event days. The athletes expressed hope for future inclusion of events similar to the men's Four Hills Tournament, with ambitions for full participation by 2026-27.
With her victory, Nika Prevc not only maintains her momentum heading to the second part of the competition scheduled for January 1, 2025, but also reinforces her position as the defending champion. The excitement surrounding her potential to repeat last year’s success continues to build, particularly after such strong performances this early in the season. Now, all eyes will be on Oberstdorf as the competition heats up and another chapter of the thrilling Two Nights Tour approaches.