The Slovenian team triumphed in the mixed team competition at the opening of the Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix. In Tschagguns, Austria, the German team finished third, following Norway. Additionally, the FIS Youth Cup for young Nordic Combined athletes took place, attracting a record 129 participants.
France Takes the Lead After Jumping
Coach Alex Mougin (FRA), Vincent Descombes Sevoie (FRA), Louison Descombes Sevoie (FRA) (lr) © Sandra Volk
France narrowly secured victory in the jumping round. Lena Brocard (90m), Matteo Baud (95m), Laurent Mühlethaler (96m), and Romane Baud (89.5m) took the lead with a three-second advantage over Germany I and Austria I. Nathalie Armbruster (91m), Jakob Lange (91m), Simon Mach (98m), and Jenny Nowak (96.5m) also demonstrated impressive jumping skills and started the running course simultaneously with the Austrian team behind them. However, the athlete with the longest jump of the day came from Team Austria II, which was in seventh place despite Franz-Josef Rehrl’s jump of 99.5m and Lisa Hirner’s 97.5m—the longest jump by a woman. The second German team, consisting of Anne Häckel, Jan Andersen, Jonathan Gräbert, and Maria Gerboth, initially placed fifth behind Slovenia.
Nowak Excels in Running
Maria Gerboth (GER II) © Sandra Volk
The men’s race began with two laps. Matteo Baud, Simon Mach, and Martin Fritz set off for the leading teams. However, Mach struggled to keep pace with his two competitors and handed over to Jenny Nowak in fifth place, who was matched against the top runner in the field, Ida Marie Hagen (NOR), during her leg. Romane Baud ran for France, while Annalena Slamik represented Austria, but Slamik could not maintain the Austrian lead. Nowak played a crucial role in this, regaining the lead. “I felt really strong and was surprised and happy that I could hand over in first place,” said the race winner. At this point, Slovenia was in second place, just 0.2 seconds behind Nowak. Tia Malovhr also had a very strong leg, propelling Slovenia to the front. However, the leading group remained tight, with six nations within seven seconds of each other at the second changeover. Ema Volavsek (SLO) and Nathalie Armbruster (GER) handed off to their respective final runners almost simultaneously. In this decisive moment, Slovenian Gasper Brecl managed to break away from his pursuers in the final meters. In the end, he secured victory with a 2.7-second lead over Norway, whose runner, Einar Luraas Oftebro, nearly overcame the 16.2-second deficit inherited from Hagen thanks to the fastest running time. Jakob Lange (GER) and Domenico Mariotti (ITA) competed for third place, with the German coming out on top.
Interim Results Jump Mixed TeamFinal Standings Mixed Team
Youth Cup: German Victories for Young Talents
Aaron Hochenegg (AUT), Hannes Mey (GER), Victor Hugo Sivle (NOR), Leon Kristoffer Kjoellestad (NOR), Maximilian Ferner (AUT), (lr) at the Youth Cup © Sandra Volk
During the first of two Youth Cup events, the athletes made jumps from the HS 66 ski jump. The girls and younger boys (Youth II – born between 2007-2009) completed a 2.4-kilometer cross-country run, while the older boys (Youth I – born between 2010-2012) ran 3.6 kilometers. The podium results were as follows: Youth I boys: 1. Simon Grossegger (AUT), 2. Leon Kristoffer Kjoellestad (NOR), 3. Marek Potancok (SVK), with Till Messerschmitt (GER) and Max Mammey (GER) finishing fourth and fifth; Youth II boys: 1. Alvin Le (NOR), 2. Lovro Percl Seruncik (SLO), 3. Mikolaj Wantulok (POL); Youth I girls: 1. Michele-Sophie Eller (GER), 2. Mareike Züfle (GER), 3. Capucine Mesnil (FRA); Youth II girls: 1. Giulia Belz (SUI), 2. Masa Likozar Brankovic (SLO), 3. Marion Droz Vincent (FRA).
On the second day, the jumping was followed by a roller ski competition. Here again, the older boys competed in the longest distance of 5.6 kilometers, while the younger boys and girls ran 2.8 kilometers. The podium results were: Youth I boys: 1. Max Mammey (GER), 2. Simon Grossegger (AUT), 3. Till Messerschmitt (GER); Youth II boys: 1. Alvin Le (NOR), 2. Anze Brecl (SLO), 3. Hektor Kapustik (SVK); Youth I girls: 1. Michele-Sophie Eller (GER), 2. Anna Brandner (AUT), 3. Mareike Züfle (GER); Youth II girls: 1. Masa Likozar Brankovic (SLO), 2. Marion Droz Vincent (FRA), 3. Manca Kobentar (SLO).
Youth Cup Results
Boys I 23.08.24
Boys I 24.08.24
Boys II 23.08.24
Boys II 24.08.24
Girls I 23.08.24
Girls I 24.08.24
Girls II 23.08.24
Girls II 24.08.24
Photo Gallery
Gasper Brecl (SLO I) © Sandra Volk
Team Slovenia secured a stunning victory in the mixed team competition at the Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix held in Tschagguns, Austria. The competition saw Team Germany finishing third, while Norway clinched the second position. Additionally, the FIS Youth Cup attracted a record participation of 129 young Nordic Combined athletes, showcasing promising talent in the sport.
France Ahead After Jumping
Coach Alex Mougin (FRA), Vincent Descombes Sevoie (FRA), Louison Descombes Sevoie (FRA) (lr) © Sandra Volk
In the jumping round, France narrowly took the lead, thanks to impressive performances from Lena Brocard (90m), Matteo Baud (95m), Laurent Mühlethaler (96m), and Romane Baud (89.5m). They finished with a three-second advantage over Team Germany I and Austria I. Team Germany showcased their skills as Nathalie Armbruster (91m), Jakob Lange (91m), Simon Mach (98m), and Jenny Nowak (96.5m) registered successful jumps, positioning them strongly for the upcoming race. Interestingly, Team Austria II, despite having the day’s longest jump of 99.5m by Franz-Josef Rehrl, finished seventh as they struggled to gain momentum in the overall standings.
Nowak Running Strong
Maria Gerboth (GER II) © Sandra Volk
As the competition transitioned to the running segment, the men’s race began with intense energy on the track. Matteo Baud, Simon Mach, and Martin Fritz spearheaded the leading teams. Despite a valiant effort, Mach struggled to maintain pace and handed over to Jenny Nowak for Team Germany, who faced the formidable Ida Marie Hagen from Norway. Team France’s Romane Baud and Austria’s Annalena Slamik followed closely behind. In a surprising turn, Nowak regained the lead, expressing her excitement post-race: “I felt pretty strong and was surprised and pleased that I was able to hand over in first place.”
Slovenia’s Tia Malovhr significantly contributed to her team’s performance, pulling into a competitive position. By the end of the race, Slovenia’s Gasper Brecl pulled ahead during the final meters, ultimately winning the event with a lead of 2.7 seconds over Norway’s Einar Luraas Oftebro, who showcased an exceptional running time. Germany’s Jakob Lange and Italy’s Domenico Mariotti fought fiercely for third place, with Germany emerging victorious.
Interim Results: Mixed Team Jump Competition
| Place | Team | Jump Distance (m) | Final Time (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slovenia | Varied | Overall Winner’s Time |
| 2 | Norway | Varied | Overall Time +2.7s |
| 3 | Germany | Varied | Close Time |
Youth Cup: German Victories for Young Talent
Aaron Hochenegg (AUT), Hannes Mey (GER), Victor Hugo Sivle (NOR), Leon Kristoffer Kjoellestad (NOR), Maximilian Ferner (AUT), (lr) at the Youth Cup © Sandra Volk
The Youth Cup featured a thrilling first event where athletes competed from the HS 66 ski jump. Participants were divided by age, completing varying distances in cross-country running. In Youth I boys, Simon Grossegger (AUT) claimed the top spot, followed by Leon Kristoffer Kjoellestad (NOR) and Marek Potancok (SVK). Youth II boys saw Alvin Le (NOR) earning the gold, while Youth I girls crowned Michele-Sophie Eller (GER) as the champion. In Youth II girls, Giulia Belz (SUI) emerged victorious.
Results Summary: Youth Cup
| Category | Winner | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth I Boys | Simon Grossegger (AUT) | Leon Kristoffer Kjoellestad (NOR) | Marek Potancok (SVK) |
| Youth II Boys | Alvin Le (NOR) | Lovro Percl Seruncik (SLO) | Mikolaj Wantulok (POL) |
| Youth I Girls | Michele-Sophie Eller (GER) | Mareikle Züfle (GER) | Capucine Mesnil (FRA) |
| Youth II Girls | Giulia Belz (SUI) | Masa Likozar Brankovic (SLO) | Marion Droz Vincent (FRA) |
On the second day of the Youth Cup, athletes engaged in roller skiing competitions shortly after the jumping event. The older boys showcased their strength over 5.6 kilometers, while younger boys and girls tackled a 2.8-kilometer distance. The results for this day similarly exhibited promising talent, affirming the future of Nordic Combined athletics in these young competitors.
Photo Gallery