The 30-year-old from Salzburg, who also became ski flying world champion this season, sailed down to 244.5 m in Vikersund and celebrated his 13th win of the season. Behind him, another Austrian, Daniel Huber, who flew at 247.5 m, came in second. Domen Prevc (SLO) came third.
“Yes, cheesy. A dream day so far and it’s only half over. The conditions are great and I finally just got out, definitely my best jump so far,” said Kraft. He was also happy that “Hubsi, one of my best friends, is second next to me.”
Perfect start to the season
The ski flying world champion also summed up the season briefly: “A perfect start with four wins in a row. It was a three-way battle for a long time, very nerve-wracking. I slept less a few times because Ryoyu was in my dreams,” he admitted and laughed . “This is my best season so far.”
Kraft showed nerves of steel on Sunday. He was the last to leave the Bakken, on which he had flown the still valid ski flying world record seven years ago, and immediately in front of him it was shortened once more to Luke 10. The athletes in front of him had not flown all the way down following a shortening following Huber’s giant set.
Kraft, who simply had to stay ahead of his last remaining pursuer, Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN), in order to secure the overall World Cup in the first Sunday competition, did not allow himself to be irritated and sailed to his 13th victory of the season. In the all-time best ranking he is now only ten wins behind Gregor Schlierenzauer and three behind second-placed Finn Matti Nykänen.
For Kraft it is the third big ball following 2016/17 and 2019/20. Like Andreas Goldberger, he is a three-time overall winner, only Nykänen and Adam Malysz (POL) have won more times with four victories each.
After many setbacks, Huber was also able to celebrate not only a new personal best, but also his first podium finish of the season (his fifth overall). “Behind Krafti, coming second is super cool, a really cool result. We’ve known each other for 20 years and now we’ve done the double,” said Huber and added regarding his flight: “I was totally on the wave, then I got it no longer resisted. It was a sensationally awesome flight.”
