Record beckons

Will ÖSV eagle Kraft make history in Planica?

Stefan Kraft is simply unstoppable.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

For Stefan Kraft, the small crystal globe is still at stake in Planica. Austria's high-flyer could be the first to win the Ski Flying World Cup for the fourth time.

After the Nordic combined and cross-country skiers, the ski jumpers also finish their World Cup season this weekend. The traditional venue is Planica. For the first time, the women will also be taking part, but only from the normal hill. For the newly crowned overall World Cup winner Stefan Kraft, a lot of pressure has been taken off, but the ski flying world champion still has the small crystal globe at stake. The 30-year-old from Salzburg is also leading in this ranking.

Stefan Kraft

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Huber as the first challenger
With 340 points from four of six individual competitions, Kraft is just ahead of one of his best friends. Daniel Huber, who recently hit top form, is 91 points behind. However, the latter has few illusions that he can still challenge the high-flyer of the season.

Daniel Huber

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

"Defending points against the Krafti in ski flying is difficult enough, but making up 91 points won't quite be enough. No, that's not the point at all," explained the 31-year-old from Salzburg. "I'm looking forward to every flight with cool conditions that we have." He is already very happy about his finish to the season and wants to take the momentum from his second World Cup victory in Vikersund with him. "Now I have the 240 meters in Oberstdorf and Vikersund, of course Planica is still missing," is his goal.

What will Slovenia achieve?
But the battle for the final decision in the men's event is not a duel. The strong Slovenians also have a say on their home hill. First and foremost Timi Zajc and Peter Prevc, who are still in with a chance with 94 and 98 points respectively. Peter Prevc will be particularly motivated, as the overall World Cup winner in 2015/16 is ending his successful career in Planica. Incidentally, he triumphed 15 times that season. Kraft could set this record with a single double at the weekend.

And when it comes to the small ball, the ski flying world champion can once again set himself apart from the competition, including those from the past: If he takes his fourth ski flying globe after 2017, 2020 and 2023, he will leave Gregor Schlierenzauer and the aforementioned Peter Prevc (three small globes each) behind him.

Kraft: "The feeling is addictive"
"The ski flying weekend in Vikersund was a dream. Having it already fixed helps me to enjoy it all now," said a delighted Kraft. The 43-time World Cup winner wouldn't mind if the anthem rang out for him again. "The feeling is addictive, you want to have it again and again."

Stefan Kraft

(Bild: Geir Olsen / NTB)

Kraft has also held the world record for seven years now with 253.5 meters (18.3.2017/Vikersund). It is still almost impossible to break it in Planica before a planned conversion. However, Gregor Schlierenzauer (2018) once landed at exactly the world record distance in optimal conditions in Planica - but sledded and was not ranked. The program in Planica, where the qualification takes place on Thursday (10 a.m.), includes a normal hill competition for women (Friday) as well as two individual competitions for men (Friday and Sunday) and a team competition (Saturday).