World Cup in Bad Mitterndorf: Only Two Poles in the Main Competition

The qualifications for the first ski flying competition of the season on the mammoth hill in Bad Mitterndorf exposed a deep crisis of form for Polish ski jumpers. After a brief period of optimism following their Olympic performances, the White-and-Reds experienced one of their worst reality checks in the last decade. From a five-man squad, only the two most experienced athletes—Piotr Żyła and Kamil Stoch—managed to secure a ticket to Saturday's competition. The other Poles, including a visibly dejected Paweł Wąsek, were eliminated already in the preliminary rounds, marking the worst result for the Polish team in over eleven years. Sports media emphasize that such a painful verification of the Polish training system has not been seen in over four thousand days. The competition on the mammoth hill was dominated by representatives from Slovenia, specifically Domen Prevc, who won both the training series and the qualifications themselves. However, it was not the sporting results but the rigorous equipment checks that became the main topic of discussion behind the scenes. Judges mercilessly eliminated jumpers for violations in suit dimensions. Among the victims of the regulations were top Norwegians, whose suits turned out to be too loose by a mere three millimeters. In the Polish camp, Piotr Żyła admitted that his jump was risky and, although it allowed him to advance, it was marred by technical errors resulting from an excessive desire to achieve a long distance. The Kulm hill in Bad Mitterndorf, opened in 1950, is one of only five active mammoth hills in the world. Its specific nature often verifies athletes' form, as ski flying requires a different technique than jumping on large hills.The situation for fans was further complicated by technical problems on the broadcasters' side. A signal failure at Eurosport prevented many fans from following the live broadcast, sparking a wave of outrage on social media. In the background of the sporting competition, questions also arise about the future of the discipline and the organization of upcoming major events, including the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alps. For Polish ski jumping, this weekend in Austria has become a symbol of regression, requiring immediate analysis by the coaching staff before the end of the season and the approaching flights in Planica. „Chciałem za daleko skoczyć i przedobrzyłem w kwalifikacjach.” (I wanted to jump too far and overdid it in the qualifications.) — Piotr Żyła