The four-time winner of the tour Jens Weißflog hopes for the end of the German dry spell at the traditional ski-jumping festivals in Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Innsbruck and Bischofshofen.
The Germans have won almost everything in the past few years, but when the tour is not included, many people say:”That was nothing,”said Weißflog to the Heilbronn voice:”The tour remains very strongly in memory. Maybe that’s one of the reasons we alumni are still known.”
Since Sven Hannawald’s unique Grand Slam with the victories on all four ski jumps in the winter of 2001/02, the ski jumping nation Germany has been waiting for a Tournee-Champion. Weißflog had won the overall ranking in 1984,1985,1991 and 1996.
The 53-year-old has been running a hotel in his native Oberwiesenthal for years – and still benefits from his popularity as a ski jumper. Every guest will receive an autograph of the four-time Olympic champion, 20,000 he has written in the last two years, he said.
More than 20 years after the end of his career, Weißflog still misses the spectacular jumps from the hill, even though he doesn’t live in the past:”First and foremost it’s the sport that is fun,”he said:”Today there’s only the danger that the athletes can’t cope with the hype. After the jump they have to pass the pack, everyone wants an autograph. That used to be the case with us, but now they’re expecting a selfie.”
At the 66. Four Hills Tournament, which starts on Saturday in Oberstdorf, World Cup leader Richard Freitag is one of the favourites. Freitag was born like Weißflog and Hannawald in Erlabrunn, Saxony.