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Raimund: The German ski jumping hopeful breaks the curse!
Philipp Raimund is off to a promising start in the 2025 Four Hills Tournament. He is considered Germany's hope in ski jumping.
Raimund: The German ski jumping hopeful breaks the curse!
The snow-covered Oberstdorf is ready for the most important ski jumping event of the year. The 74th Four Hills Tournament starts on December 28, 2025, and all eyes are on the German hopeful Philipp Raimund. The 25-year-old from Göppingen has already shown impressive performances this season and is the best German candidate for overall victory since Sven Hannawald, who last triumphed in 2002. Radio Herford reports that Raimund is described as extroverted and positively different. This is also reflected in his approach: instead of subjecting himself to the pressure of social media over Christmas, he preferred to spend his time playing golf and being with his family.
The first competition of the tour will take place next Monday at 4:30 p.m. and will be broadcast by both ARD and Eurosport. In addition to Raimund, the other German ski jumpers, including Felix Hoffmann, Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger, will also compete. According to SWR, a total of around 16,000 fans are expected to qualify and are watching the spectacle with great anticipation.
The challenges of the German ski jumpers
The German ski jumping team has not won the Four Hills Tournament in the last 23 years. Michael Draksal, sports scientist and president of the German Mental Trainer Academy, explains that many of these setbacks are due to the enormous pressure and expectations generated not only from outside, but also from the athletes themselves. Jumping is extremely risky and requires maximum mental focus to make the right decision in the crucial second. Draksal points out that exposure to stressful situations and possible mistakes can have a significant impact on performance. He recommends techniques such as “digital detox” to free athletes from external stress and help them focus on the here and now. You can find details on Skisprung.com.
Raimund is optimistic and sees the tour as four individual competitions, which means he can ease the enormous pressure on himself. Nevertheless, he also has to learn to deal with the media interest and the high expectations that come with his status as a sought-after DSV eagle.
Insights into the favorite competition
The favorites for overall victory are clear: Domen Prevc from Slovenia and the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi, who recently shone in Engelberg. With the Austrian ski jumpers proving less strong this season, Germany could finally have a chance to win. However, Raimund must not allow himself to be influenced by the so-called “Hannawald curse”, which has weighed on German ski jumpers for over two decades. The time seems ripe for a new era and the young jumper has the potential to break the spell.
Philipp Raimund faces the biggest challenge of his career with a strong focus on his goals and a fresh mental approach. The fans in Oberstdorf can look forward to exciting competitions as they cheer on their home team with great hope and joy.