December 29, 2015 – Anticipation is rising among athletes, teams, the media and fans alike as Ski Jumping gets ready for its traditional highlight: the 64th edition of the 4-Hills-Tournament as part of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup presented by Viessmann.

Flying high in Innsbruck © Nordic Focus

The tour traditionally stops at Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (both GER), Innsbruck and Bischofshofen (both AUT) between 28th December 2015 and 6th January 2016.

For the past seven years, Austrian athletes have dominated the prestigious tournament. But with Peter Prevc (SLO), Severin Freund (GER) and Kenneth Gangnes (NOR) leading the current World Cup standings, the podium for the upcoming edition is wide open.

A good start is important but no guarantee for success

In the past ten years, nine of the ten overall winners scored a podium result in the first competition in Oberstdorf. 25 athletes who won in Oberstdorf also took the overall title.

But victories are no guarantee for success: Ingolf Mork (NOR, 1970/71), Yukio Kasaya (JPN, 1971/72), Karl Schnabl (AUT, 1974/75) and Toni Innauer (AUT, 1975/76) all won three competitions each, but none of them won the overall title.

On the contrary, eight jumpers were crowned overall champions without a single victory. The most famous and recent one is Janne Ahonen (FIN) who took the title in 1998/99.

Sven Hannawald (GER, 2001/02) still remains the only ski jumper to win all four events in one tournament, a historic achievement in the sport.

For further facts and figures, click here.

To view the schedule of the 4-Hills Tournament, click here.