Fettner is the record man

“The 400 will certainly still work out for me”

Manuel Fettner has often had bad luck with the wind this winter.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Richard A. Brooks)

The Holmenkollen ski jump was not a good place for Manuel Fettner, who finished 19th and 29th. The Innsbruck native was able to celebrate a record in Oslo. With 368 World Cup starts, he is Austria's new number one. "Fetti" is hoping for better results at the World Championship dress rehearsal in Trondheim.

There was no official award for Manuel Fettner at the legendary Holmenkollen, but since Sunday's competition in Oslo, the Innsbruck native is Austria's new record jumper with 368 World Cup starts: "The 400 is still possible for me."

A World Cup season has an average of 30 competitions. However, the 38-year-old can even imagine competing at the 2026 Olympic Games: "As long as I'm fit and I enjoy it, there's no reason for me to stop."

A new ski jump is always cool. But it's no longer as exciting, the new buildings all have a very similar profile"

Manuel Fettner

Especially as a major event is already on the agenda next season with the Nordic World Ski Championships in 2025. The current Raw Air Tour will be the first time that the new Bakken in Trondheim will be used to compete for World Cup points. "A new hill is always cool. But it's no longer as exciting, the new constructions all have a very similar profile," says Fettner.

Hope for fair competitions
After the windy competitions in Lahti and Oslo, the experienced athlete is hoping for fair competitions on Tuesday and Wednesday in Trondheim: "Because it's been a recurring theme throughout the winter that I've had bad luck in changing conditions."

Fettner believes the World Ski Federation has a role to play when it comes to fair conditions: "You have to take a close look at where the wind nets and anemometers are installed. Something has to be done about this in the future. We won't be able to switch off the wind."